Hilton Garden Inn Kent Island Marina

The bar and mini restaurant were still closed, and staff said they'd been shut since before last Christmas. That's disappointing because being able to grab a quick meal without going out is one reason I choose a Hilton Garden Inn. Breakfast, on the other hand, was very good, and checkout was seamless. I was here one night for business. The hotel was modern and very clean, with a comfortable, spacious room, a fridge, microwave, and large desk facing the balcony and bay. Staff were courteous and helpful. Parking was easy, with a decent-sized lot and no charge.

I got an “upgrade” to a bay-view suite as a Diamond member, but it faced The Jetty Restaurant directly from the southwest corner. They have live bands on weekends, something I hadn't been told when booking or checking in. When I called the desk later, I was told the music goes until around 1 a.m. every weekend. Earplugs weren't readily available, though they offered a white noise machine. So much for a quiet night. The view was lovely, but I'd trade it for a decent meal and sleep. The restaurant had no food service that night, and when I asked about its hours at check-in, the staff member said the chef probably hadn't shown up. Check-in was slow despite doing it online, and the employee seemed either new or completely over it. Between the closed restaurant, disinterested service, and nightclub-level noise in the upgraded room, the place fell short on service, amenities, and rest. I'd passed the Garden Inn Kent Island many times and thought it looked nice. I should've read the reviews more carefully.

The suite I was upgraded to looked out over the Bay, and from every window and the balcony I could see Chesapeake Bay. Even from bed, I woke up to the sun and water. It was a great room with plenty of amenities, and the bed and pillows were incredibly comfortable. I usually stay at a nearby competitor, but I think I like this hotel better. The location made it easy to walk to breakfast at The Jetty and dinner at Fisherman’s Inn. They have breakfast and a bar in the hotel too, but I stick with my favorites. Thanks to Miss Ray, Dave and Tim for all their help. I'll definitely be back.

The pictures gave a much better impression than the actual place. The restaurant and bar have been closed for months, the pool area is worn out and wasn't warm at all, and the bathroom had cracking and bubbled paint everywhere. The fireplace wasn't on either. There was only one worker up front trying to handle everything, so waits were always long. They took my money without a problem, though. Looks like poor management.