Aspire Gettysburg Hotel

Snow from the storm sweeping across the country forced me to extend my trip after I checked in last night. I'd made it from Lil Burn, GA toward Long Island, NY, and was grateful to reach Gettysburg. The desk staff were very kind when I arrived at 2 a.m. It would be nice if travelers stuck by severe weather could get a discounted rate for safety, but my experience was very nice overall. Angie is a superhero. I'll always remember how kind she was.

The staff were mostly friendly, though there weren't many of them, and it was hard to tell who worked there since they wore street clothes without uniforms or name tags. Breakfast was free, but left a lot to be desired. The bar and restaurant don't open until 5 p.m., and there's nothing within walking distance. The room was spacious and clean, with a comfortable bed and pillows. The noisy heat and AC unit kept waking me during the night.

We booked through Expedia because we wanted the restaurant, lounge, and other amenities. At check-in we learned nothing was open and were told those amenities were only available on weekends. If that had been stated, we would have changed our plans or stayed somewhere else. Then at checkout Expedia charged almost $100 more than the room itself cost. We contacted both Expedia and the hotel and were told it was unfortunate but could happen. I don't understand being charged over $200 when none of the amenities we wanted were available. Our first-floor room by the door was convenient, but the curtains wouldn't close, so people could look straight in. Around 10 p.m. a group of bikers arrived, and four or five men stared into the room while my son and I watched TV. It was a very odd place. My wife and son stayed, but the beds were so hard I left that night and drove all the way home. I was very upset. What a waste.

The rooms were large, clean, and comfortable. Breakfast was free; the waffles were okay, but I didn't care for the wet eggs or hard potatoes. My main gripe was the sour welcome from Kathy at the front desk. No greeting, no welcome, and nothing about breakfast or anything else. She just asked for my ID and credit card and handed over a key. Thankfully, the other staff were warmer and more helpful.