Hilton Garden Inn Lakewood

The sheets were a letdown for me. They're stiff and heavily starched, with a scratchy feel. I have some sensory issues, so maybe others won't mind, but if you need soft sheets, these aren't for you. For a hotel this nice, I'd expect better. There were lots of squishy pillows, though, and a soft extra blanket already in the very clean room. I liked the shampoo and conditioner dispensers in the shower, especially the high-quality conditioner. The lobby is beautiful, the hotel was quiet, and all the staff were extremely friendly. The young man at the desk when we checked in was especially nice. There's a pretty little patio decorated for fall, and I didn't get to see the indoor pool, but it's great that they have one. Breakfast is cooked to order instead of continental, and at $22 for one person, I thought it was outrageous for the price of the hotel.

In Lakewood, parking and getting in and out were easy, with no circling around and arriving stressed. The lobby and shared spaces are calm, classy, and neutral, a comfortable spot to sit and talk without loud distractions or an intimidating feel. That makes it a good place for a coffee meetup, a first or follow-up shidduch date, or a simcha, business, or family visit. The hotel feels reliable and well cared for. Check-in was smooth, the lobby was pleasant, and the rooms were clean, comfortable, and sensibly laid out. The beds were good, too. The atmosphere felt calm and professional, with no chaos, noise, or surprises. You feel you're getting real value for your money and some peace of mind. Definitely a place we'd return to, God forbid.

We've liked Hilton Garden Inn Lakewood on earlier visits, but this last stay was unpleasant enough that we'll find another hotel next time. After 11 pm, families of pre-teen girls in town for a dance competition were shouting in the halls and slamming doors. I called the front desk, but the woman said she was working alone in a full hotel. The noise went on until midnight. Unacceptable. Breakfast costs more than $20 per person, which is too much, and the free coffee is gone around 9 am. Room prices have climbed while service has declined.

My family had four rooms for one night, and I've been a Hilton Honors member for six years. I've never been treated this way at a Hilton. The staff member, Christi, referred to my family and me as “Those people,” among other things. It felt extremely racist and rude, and not at all in keeping with the Hilton brand. At 10:30 pm, Christi knocked on one room's door, said they were too loud, and told them she'd called the police. We hadn't received any noise warning. We asked how we could resolve it and said we'd put the kids to bed, since it was late and we didn't want to leave a hotel with several children. There were six kids aged 3-9. She said there were quiet hours and pulled the sign out from under a stack of papers. She was disrespectful, refused to explain or provide the noise complaint policy, and wouldn't let us speak to a manager. She said we weren't customers even though we hadn't checked out. It was outrageous that she wanted to remove all four rooms because of noise in one. Then she had more than 10 police officers come to remove children from a hotel room at midnight, without warning. It felt like she was just trying to show her authority. Disgusting. If you're a person of color, I don't feel this place is safe for you or your children.