Hampton Inn Houston-Willowbrook Mall

I wasn't told when booking that the hotel was being renovated, and the room I got was a mess. The floor and carpet were partly torn up, the walls had only been primed, and there were open HVAC ducts in the drywall. Even the door labels were just paper. On top of all that, the place smelled strongly of paint. I don't think they should be renting rooms in that condition. I wouldn't stay here again.

The renovation made the stay less than ideal, but the staff and management worked hard to keep us comfortable, which is why I'm giving four stars. The location is great, and both the front desk and housekeeping were friendly and helpful.

The front desk clerk was candid at check-in about the renovation and the condition of the rooms, and offered to help if we ran into any problems. The location is convenient, and the reduced price made sense for a hotel with older rooms and construction underway. The website clearly says renovations are happening, so I expected the rooms to be dated. That combination earned my five-star rating.

The room smelled like mildew and wet dog, the toilets were dirty, and we only got two large towels. The AC didn't really work, so everything felt humid, almost like a swamp cooler instead of refrigerated air. Breakfast was mediocre. The night staff were great, but the morning staff could use an attitude adjustment. Some staff can be really nice, but I also saw a guest singled out rudely at breakfast. The front desk attendant questioned whether he was staying there in front of everyone, seemingly because he was Black and carrying a plastic bag. He answered politely that he was a guest. Maybe others didn't think it was rude, but I would have been livid if it had happened to me.