Spark by Hilton Harrisonburg University Area

The room was spotless, in great shape, and bigger than the other Spark rooms we’ve stayed in. A lovely woman at the desk got us checked in quickly, and the location right by I-81 is very convenient. Parking, though, is extremely tight, so load your things into the trunk, not the back seat. The heater sounded like a thunderstorm and seemed close to giving out, so we had to switch it off. Breakfast was disappointing too: at 7 a.m., two of the four cereal bins were empty, there was no fruit or granola, and the yogurt machine was broken. They did have two Chibani yogurts sitting on ice. Great staff and a good room, but those are some big things to fall short on.

I booked this one by mistake, but I’ve stayed at Spark properties twice and they’re nice. This location is right off the highway in a safe area, and the staff are friendly. Breakfast isn’t bad, either. There was Quaker instant oatmeal in four flavors, plus yogurt and toppings, fresh blueberries, sliced almonds, craisins, toast, bagels, English muffins, muffins, spreads, juice, coffee, and several kinds of tea. Still, I prefer the bigger breakfast at Home 2 Suites, where for a little more per night you can get freshly made waffles, meat, eggs, and more.

Cameron at the front desk gave us such a warm welcome, even though we arrived at 11:30 at night. She was awesome and really friendly. The rooms were immaculate, the air conditioning was cold, and the TV was modern. Breakfast felt very limited compared with what I’m used to at Hampton Inn, but I’d stay here again. The spot just off I-81 is perfect.

The room was immaculate and the location was perfect, so no complaints there. Breakfast, though, was basically just complimentary sandwich bread to toast. I wasn’t expecting bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns, but they could at least add a muffin or danish. They need to do better.