Hilton Garden Inn Grand Rapids East

We finally found our place to stay around Grand Rapids. I’m from the state but not this area, and in the past three years we’ve been back at least 12 times. We’ll book here from now on. Our room was quiet, and we slept wonderfully. The beds felt a little firm, maybe just new, and the sheets were clean and smelled really nice. We stayed up watching TV until around midnight and never heard anyone in the hall or other rooms, even in the morning. Room 228 had a balcony overlooking the lobby roof, so not much of a view, but I was there to sleep anyway. The cleanliness really stood out to me as a cleaning business owner. I couldn’t find dust, clutter, or garbage anywhere, even outside. Staff were attentive to the grounds and guests, and everyone we met was kind, respectful, friendly, and happy. It had the family feel you want when you’re away from home. The pool is shaped like the great mitten state, which I thought was a fun touch. The indoor-outdoor hot tub was its own little getaway. The pool area was well kept, towels were replenished several times during my 18-hour stay, and the chlorine seemed right. We didn’t smell it through the building or get burning eyes. The shop had healthy choices and snacks. We skipped breakfast and the full bar this time, but both looked fantastic, and I regretted not adding breakfast. There was plenty of parking. Shops, restaurants, and the mall are conveniently close.

Daniela was so kind and a pleasure to work with. The kids had a great time in the mitten-shaped pool and the indoor-outdoor hot tub, and all the snow made the outdoor part of the tub interesting. We first stayed here for a staycation about 4.5 years ago, then came back on New Year’s Day 2026. Both visits were just as good. The hotel looks and feels new, and it’s exceptionally clean. I’d highly recommend it for a stay on the southeast side of GR.

There’s a sports bar right beside the hotel parking lot, and the location worked out great. The indoor-outdoor jacuzzi was fantastic, too. It’s split between inside and outside, so you can enjoy it in different weather and seasons. My only suggestion: put shower gel in the rooms. There was soap, but no shower gel, which surprised me since the nice hotels I’ve stayed at usually have both. Still, it was a good stay.

Marcellus and Jocelyn were the people who made sure we felt heard. They were incredibly helpful and professional, treated us respectfully, and are escalating what happened to higher management. The way other staff handled this left us feeling dismissed, and they were the only reason the experience didn’t feel entirely that way. We thought breakfast came with our stay. On the first day we got one plate, and nobody told us breakfast wasn’t included or warned us there might be an issue. Then on the third day, while we were at the pool, we were locked out of our room over that one plate from the first day. It was embarrassing and stressful, and could have been avoided with clear communication from the start. Staff need to communicate better and be more consistent. Guests shouldn’t be locked out over a misunderstanding that was never explained.