Spark by Hilton Hamburg

After a long day of travel, I expected to get into my room and relax. Instead, the stay was frustrating and not relaxing at all. My digital key wouldn’t open the room door, and neither would the physical key card from the desk clerk, so they had to assign me a different room. Once I finally got in, the TV remote didn’t work. They gave me a replacement, but then the TV itself had a bunch of problems: no sound, turning itself on and off, and “no signal” errors. This is a new hotel, so I understand there may be glitches, but my stay felt like nothing but glitches.

I was considering this new hotel, but after seeing the rooms I decided against booking. It’s basically a Super 8 with new plywood furniture in the rooms. Very disappointing.

The stay was disappointing, and I wouldn’t recommend this hotel. Although it says it’s been upgraded, both the room and bathroom were small. There was hair and yellow staining on the shower wall, just one tissue left in the box, and the shower shelf was crooked so things fell off. Water leaked from behind the toilet or the side of the shower. The bedroom ceiling had been painted over, but the old water damage still showed through. Breakfast was very limited: mostly boiled eggs, bagels, muffins, cereal, apples, mandarins, and a yogurt dispenser. Drinks were just coffee, apple juice, and orange juice. There was no coffee maker or microwave in the room, and ladies, don’t expect makeup remover wipes. The website said the pool was under maintenance two weeks before our stay, and it was still closed when we arrived. The front desk didn’t mention that the elevator was also out for “maintenance” at check-in. We only discovered it after being assigned a room on the second floor.

Update: I’m changing my review because of the way charges, holds, and pet fees were handled and explained during my stay. Staff were polite and friendly, but billing was frustrating and poorly managed. I suggest checking the company’s charges carefully. I had extra charges I didn’t expect and never received the refund I was told I’d get for the hold or deposit on my account. Clear communication and accurate billing matter as much as good service, and that part fell short. I treated the property with a lot of respect: cleaned the room thoroughly before leaving, stripped the bed to help housekeeping, and tried to be an easy guest. Even so, I felt overcharged and unsupported when I tried to sort the issue out. The hotel was clean, modern, and quiet, and the staff were kind, but professionalism also means handling money transparently and correctly. I personally wouldn’t stay here again. My initial review was very positive. I’d had trouble with Priceline during booking, but the hotel staff went above and beyond to help. The woman at check-in was especially kind, professional, and helpful, and the man working in the morning was wonderful too. Everyone I dealt with was polite, friendly, and seemed to care about guests. The hotel was clean, the price was reasonable, and their service made a stressful situation easier. I said I’d book directly with the hotel next time instead of using third-party sites, and that I’d stay there again when back in the area. Thanks to the staff for being so helpful and welcoming.