Spark by Hilton Homewood Birmingham

I saw a $100 charge after my stay and called to ask about it. They said it was a required deposit that would be refunded in a few days, but again there was no greeting, thanks, or sense that my business mattered. I won't stay at this Spark again or recommend it, and probably won't stay at any Sparks if this is what they're like. The room didn't have coffee, a fridge, or the amenities I expect. The walls were thin enough that I could hear the TV next door. At breakfast, the coffee was cold and had been sitting overnight; the attendant didn't greet us or smile. Fresh coffee wasn't much better, it tasted like stale Folgers. The staff felt unfriendly throughout. When my key stopped working, I explained the problem and got no apology or explanation. The man reset it and handed it back without saying a word. That was the kind of service I got the whole time. This wasn't what I expected from a Hilton property.

The hotel is clean, remodeled, and a good deal for the money, but it's really noisy. I stayed at a Fairfield recently where they require complete quiet after 10:00 pm or you get fined. If this hotel had that policy, I'd rate it five stars. If you want to relax and you're a light sleeper, this probably isn't the place for you.

We were pleasantly surprised when a nearby reservation got moved to this hotel. It's new, tidy, spacious, and has what you need. The shampoo, conditioner, body wash, hand soap, and lotion are Zero%, a brand without sulfates or parabens and that doesn't test on animals. They smell luxurious and work well. Housekeeping is every other day. On our first night, trash and towels only was exactly the right amount for us. Glad we found this place, and I'd stay here again.

The bathroom was awful. The tub and shower were discolored with brown rings, the toilet sat very low, and the toilet paper holder under the counter was out of reach. The rooms were laid out poorly, too. This is one of the worst Hilton hotels I've stayed at. The staff barely spoke and didn't engage with customers. They weren't friendly. They're not Americans, and I'm not sure they like Americans; their English seemed limited. Breakfast was sparse, just old bread and packaged muffins, with no eggs, meat, pancakes, or waffles. The coffee was terrible. I won't recommend Spark by Hilton to anyone.