Home2 Suites by Hilton Helena

The complimentary breakfast was the best I've had at a hotel. There were bacon and cheese egg bites, ingredients for making breakfast sandwiches, feta and spinach stuffed croissants, and other options, plus a waffle maker. The hotel itself was really clean and nice, with fairly modern construction and decor.

The rooms were very clean, and I would recommend this hotel. Most of the employees were friendly and personable. The night-shift staff were especially nice when our dog had to go out at 2 a.m. each morning, and offered him a treat whenever we came back in. Breakfast was good, plentiful, and changed from day to day. The pretzel rolls were great with egg and ham, and just the right size. We did have some inconveniences: we were evacuated twice in one week, once because of a gas leak and once for a fire. After the all-clear, the staff did their best to get everyone back inside. An elevator was out for a day, and water from people walking back to their rooms from the pool soaked the floor. One desk employee was just so-so.

Of all the hotels I've tried in the area, this one has been the cleanest, newest, and most accommodating so far. I've stayed in plenty nearby, and I don't often give five stars across the board, but this place exceeded what I expected.

We were in town for business for one night. My first impression was good, and I didn't mind the hard floor, which felt like plywood under a very thin layer of carpet with no padding or insulation. Comfort-wise, flooring matters least to me. By 7 p.m., I was in bed and could hear what sounded like 8-12 kids running through the hallways on every floor, playing tag and hide-and-seek and going back and forth to the pool in swim trunks. It was 7, so I get that it wasn't quiet time yet. I have kids myself, though I wouldn't let mine run in the halls constantly. The noise continued at 8, 9, and 10, and the lack of insulation became obvious. I should have called the desk, and I regret not doing that. Still, the adults in charge of the kids and the front desk staff must have heard it and could have stepped in. It finally settled around 10:30 or 11, then started up again at 7 the next morning. The kids were still running in and out of the pool, and after breakfast they kept asking the desk staff to turn the juice machine back on. She did it for them repeatedly. Staff need to manage what's going on in the hotel and remember there are other guests trying to rest. I wish a parent had been there to talk to.