Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West/Cedar Bluff

The property is dated, but you can tell the staff take pride in looking after it. Towels are folded, there are two separate hand soaps, and it’s one of the better Hilton setups I’ve seen. The location is great, close to lots of restaurants, and the staff are so friendly they remember your name. The gym is okay, with treadmills and weights. I’d still pick this hotel over a brand new one because the price reflects the upkeep, and there’s only so much the staff can control. The rooms definitely need updating. The sprinkler heads are rusty and the tub is showing wear. But the shower itself is A+: really hot water with good pressure.

The beds and pillows were comfortable, and the place is clean and well kept inside and out. Staff were really nice both morning and night. I couldn’t get a king bed, which would have been nice since I’m tall, but it wasn’t a big deal. There’s a restaurant and bar on site if you’d rather stay in, and several other places just across the parking lot, a very short walk away. It costs a bit more, but felt worth it to me.

There was mold on the AC vents and on the bathroom ceilings. I moved to three different rooms, and every one had the same problems. One unit was rusting at the bottom, with water stains all along the baseboard. The rooms were dirty, and the TV didn’t work in one of them. This isn’t worth more than $150 a night.

The lobby made a good first impression, and there’s a small bar tucked in the corner. Staff were friendly, and the room was clean and quiet, so it worked out fine. Still, the room felt dark and dated, and one of the bedside reading lamps didn’t work. It seems due for a refresh.