Homewood Suites by Hilton Jacksonville Deerwood Park

We drove eight hours from North Carolina expecting a relaxing stay, and the pool was one of the main reasons we booked. Finding it closed for repairs was frustrating. It was disappointing all around, especially as Hilton Honors members. There was no working phone in our room, so even reaching the front desk about problems was difficult. There also wasn't any ice on our floor. After such a long trip, we expected more comfort and reliability. This fell far short of what we're used to and left us very discouraged.

The hot tub was nice, though it seemed like they’d used way too many chemicals, and the location was quiet. The room itself was older but okay. Still, there was hair all over the shower curtain, and I had to flush a cockroach that showed up. They’d promoted a Wednesday social with drinks and appetizers, then said there’d be no alcohol on the day, without explaining why. I was there four days and housekeeping never came.

I was disappointed by how the room was kept and won’t stay at this location again, even though I have training nearby in a few weeks. I travel for work a lot and don’t expect much from a room, but the sheets clearly hadn’t been changed. There were different kinds of hair from other guests throughout the bed, and that was still the case on multiple days or visits. The pillows smelled strongly of mildew and mold, and there was hair in the shower too. A lot of the furniture was damaged or outdated. The staff were very friendly and helpful once I pointed out the problems.

The pool and jacuzzi are outside, with a firepit seating area behind the hotel. There’s a continental breakfast in the shared space, and everything was clean. Our studio had a simple kitchenette and a desk for working, plus plenty of places to plug in electronics. CVS is right next door, with Public and other shops across the street. Housekeeping comes every two days to clean and replace towels, and they’ll vacuum if needed.