Spark by Hilton Washington Meadowlands Blvd

There were spots on the carpet and wall, and I found a dead bug on the bathroom floor, so cleanliness cost it a star. The breakfast still sucked, too. They didn't even have sliced bread. Even so, compared with the other Spark location I've stayed at, this one was far superior. The rooms were larger and much nicer, and getting luggage through the hotel was easier.

I don't expect the same breakfast as a Hampton Inn, and Hilton never claimed Spark would offer that. Here there was cereal, bagels and cream cheese, hot brewed coffee, fruit, yogurt and hard boiled eggs every day, and I thought it was good. For less than $100 a night, this is exceptional value. The rooms are newly renovated and very clean. I appreciated the comfortable bed, new carpets and clean bathroom. I don't usually cut large corporations slack, but Spark feels refreshingly different in the budget hotel space. CLEAN AND CONSISTENT. I hope the brand keeps expanding. This will be the first of many Spark stays for me.

There was a bug in the bathroom, and the pillows smelled like bleach or body odor. The room itself had an odor, too. When I told the front desk, the response was just, "sorry to hear that." They said no other rooms were available, which was a lie, so I had to call corporate to get moved. The woman at the desk wasn't overly friendly.

The thermostat is my only real gripe. I'd like the controls left entirely to the guest, without the energy efficient settings, because I prefer to keep the fan running constantly. I've stayed here several times since it became a Hilton property. The rooms are clean, plenty of towels are provided, and the shampoo and body wash come in dispensers. There's a Smart TV with Cinemax channels, and the bed is super comfortable with clean linens and a down comforter.