Hampton Inn & Suites Grafton

We took our three grandchildren for the first weekend of Christmas break, and the pool was the main draw. They had a great time in both the pool and hot tub. Check-in took only a few minutes, housekeeping left us with a very clean room, and breakfast was great, especially the blueberry waffles. Thanks for a fun weekend.

I was traveling for work and was glad to find a Hilton property conveniently close to the interstate. The place is well maintained, and the staff were super friendly. Carolyn and Vernette at the front desk were helpful, Kiera in housekeeping took especially good care of me, and Sue made a yummy breakfast with bacon. It's an older property, and even-numbered rooms face away from the highway, which is a good choice if noise bothers you. I noticed some scuffs, heard the TV next door and noise in the hall, and missed having an auto-fan option on the thermostat. Still, I had a great stay and would come back when I'm traveling through again.

I've been a Hilton member for a while, but found that my membership hadn't been entered into the system. I work for the government and was told I could get the government rate. The next day, the front desk manager called and said she would decline it. I'm not sure if this is Hilton's in Wisconsin's issue, but this is the second time I've had a poor experience booking a reservation with Hilton's.

If you're a race fan, this might be the place for you. Trying to sleep here felt like drifting off beside a Formula 1 race. The hotel sits right by an expressway so busy it could pass for a discount-day Autobahn, with 18-wheelers doing nightly air-brake and Jake-brake concerts alongside motorcycles and cargo vans fighting for lanes. Every window looks out on headlights, brake lights, and horns. They leave complimentary earplugs in the room, a classy little touch that feels like putting a bandage on a shark bite. There's no clock, either. At first I thought they'd forgotten it, then figured maybe it was deliberate. When your sense of time comes from sirens, horns, and cars rushing past, bedtime and morning stop meaning much. You just exist in traffic's timeless rhythm. The shower had its own starter pack waiting: a bright orange, slightly used toothbrush, a gently used bar of soap, and a partly full bottle of mouthwash. Very eco-friendly, apparently. Why have freshly wrapped toiletries when you can enjoy a shared history with a stranger you'll never meet?