Spark by Hilton Outer Banks Kill Devil Hills

The location is great, close to Kitty Hawk, groceries, bars, and the oceanfront. The staff were friendly at check-in and check-out, but the front desk was empty several times when we went there. After I left my shoes in the room, I asked them to check with housekeeping. A week later, when I called again, they still hadn’t asked. The room itself was awful. There was someone else’s food in the fridge, sand in the bed, slime on the headboard, holes in the walls with patch jobs that hadn’t been painted, and a sink held up with caulk. The tub backed up from a clog every time we showered. The balcony door was barely hanging on, and it looked like someone had cut out the frame and replaced the steel jamb with a block of wood. I was also overcharged. Google advertised $86 a night for two nights, plus tax, but at checkout I was charged $283: $140 for the first night, $101 for the second, and taxes. Choice Hotels baited and switched the price. This was probably one of the worst hotels I’ve stayed in. Avoid it at all costs.

The beachfront location is the one thing this place still has going for it. The rest is in rough shape: metal is rusty, other surfaces are stained or coming apart, staircase doors don’t close fully, and there are big gaps under the room doors. Our shower drain was clogged, and the bed sheets had stains. It served its purpose for one night, I suppose, but if I’m back in the area, I’ll try a different hotel.

The night before our vacation, Quality Inn called to cancel our reservation while we were at home. We were very upset. The woman who called said the hotel was being renovated, but a very reliable source told us it had been closed by the health department. It took us a week to find a room. Comfort Inn at Kill Devil Hills was very clean, the staff were helpful and friendly, and we’re looking forward to returning this fall.

We spent a whole week here for my birthday, and I wouldn’t recommend it. The elevator was broken, and there were no bath rugs. I nearly slipped getting out of the shower, and my 67-year-old father did slip, leaving a huge bruise on his back and butt. There were only three towels for five people, so I kept walking down to ask for more, even though I was seven months pregnant. They didn’t clean the room. There was sand on the floor, and the beds were never made or changed. I usually like Quality Inns, and my partner and I stay at them when we travel because breakfast is included, but breakfast at this hotel was terrible. I’d give zero stars if I could.