Spark by Hilton Little Rock West

We booked at the last minute after our flight was canceled, and this was one of my worst hotel stays. The room was in rough shape: the remote didn't work, the towel rack fell off the wall, the shower was broken, and there were flower petals and a used vape under the bed. The bathroom looked more like a rehab facility than a hotel, and the place felt run down and poorly maintained despite being supposed to be newer. For $111 a night, this was unacceptable. It should have cost budget motel rates, around $45, not the price of a Hilton-branded stay. I wouldn't recommend it or stay here again.

The building, elevator, and rooms felt solidly built and had a contemporary look. Parking was ample, and there was a breakfast seating area. Our room had one queen bed, a work desk, and a seat for one; the fairly new furniture was moderately comfortable. The desk chair's back was broken, so it had to be replaced, and the replacement showed me the design itself was poor. The bathroom was clean, with plenty of sink space for toiletries and makeup, and the shower could easily fit two if that's your thing. This was my first stay at a Hilton Spark, a sub-brand I hadn't known about before. The building was clean, comfortable, and well cared for. I had a couple of issues with staff communication: no one answered when I called the front desk on two occasions, though neither was an emergency. I bought water several times; one staff member charged it to my room, while another said I had to pay directly. When I asked for nearby restaurant ideas one night, I got just one name. The free breakfast also had little variety: bagels and cream cheese, cold cereal, and boiled eggs.

We were looking forward to the stay, but check-in was a letdown. We waited around 20 minutes with no one at the desk, and the hotel phones were difficult to hear. My boyfriend went looking for another employee, and we found out the receptionist was in another room wearing both AirPods. When we finally got help, the receptionist said almost nothing and wasn't welcoming or friendly. I hope management takes care of this, since prompt service and basic hospitality matter.

In the second room, I spotted a bed bug crawling on my pillow and screamed. I'd never seen one before, and the room had a strange smell too. When I brought it up at the desk, the employee said there was nothing she could do and that this was our last chance to get a room. We accepted the risk and stayed awake all night. The first room had us itching in the sheets and had three poop stains on the bed, which nearly made me throw up. We couldn't sleep, so we told the front desk. There was no apology, just a rude response that all the rooms were booked, though they eventually moved us. I've never felt so gross staying somewhere. Look closely if you're considering this hotel, you may spot something.