Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore Hunt Valley

We stayed overnight because my grandson was having surgery at Hopkins. We didn’t know until the last minute that we might need another night, and the hotel booked us in easily. They told me kindly to call once we knew, and that I wouldn’t be charged for the second night if we didn’t need it. We didn’t, and they didn’t charge me. The staff were superb throughout. I had to make several calls and explain myself to different people, and every one of them was kind, pleasant, and accommodating. The room was very clean and cozy, though the highway noise was loud. The hotel itself could use some long overdue care. Some things in the room were dated and patched up, one elevator was broken, the hot tub was broken, and I don’t think parking should cost extra when there’s ample space.

I’m staying here now, and it’s 80 degrees in the room because there’s no air conditioning. The fire alarm system had two “false alarms” on the first night, the room phones are dead, and the elevators are down for “renovations.” There’s a sign describing their “elevator journey” and saying the renovations show they’ve “listened” to guests, instead of acknowledging that an eight-story hotel without working elevators isn’t acceptable. There are cheaper places with more working amenities. Don’t spend your money here.

Carol was very nice and accommodating when she checked me in, and the breakfast had good choices. The hotel is clean, too. My main problem was the temperature in the room. I turned the unit down to 65, but it definitely wasn’t that cool. Opening the sliding door wasn’t a solution because the highway noise was too loud. And why charge for parking? There’s plenty of it, and this hotel is in a suburb. Do better!

The staff were wonderful, kind, polite, and very helpful. They’re doing their best, and I can’t fault them. It’s the GM who needs a good shake awake. My room was clean, but old and cheaply patched together. The fridge wasn’t cold, its temperature knob was missing, the AC and coffee maker didn’t work, and the window was broken. The bathroom floor was so sticky I had to wear shoes in there, then threw them away. Only two elevators were running, and they were very slow. The parking charge is outrageous for this location. I’ve worked at a massive hotel corporation’s local corporate headquarters, and I can tell this GM is likely one of the poorest performers on the eastern seaboard. If they hate the business this much, they should pack up and sell before they end up in bankruptcy.