Hampton Inn & Suites Newport/Middletown

We came for my husband's Navy ODS graduation, and this is easily the nicest Hampton Inn I've stayed in. The renovation from about a year ago turned out beautifully, and our room and bathroom were very clean. My daughter had a new pack n play, and the shower was great. We didn't use the lovely-looking pool. There's no hot tub, which was fine for us, but worth knowing. Breakfast was the best Hampton breakfast, and they had cookies in the afternoon. The staff were friendly, and the breakfast area had coloring pages and crayons for kids, such a thoughtful touch. Applebees is right next door, handy for one night with my very hungry, impatient kids, and the Navy base is an easy drive of about seven minutes. My only small gripe: the pillows weren't very comfortable. Definitely not a deal breaker. If we come back to Newport, we'll stay here again, 100%.

I had a very good stay, though I ran into trouble using some of my HH points. That kept the local staff from being able to help me at all, and I learned my lesson: I won't bother with that again. The shower could use a waterpik head, and a grab bar would be helpful for older guests. Another Hampton Inn we stayed at on the way home had both, so it seems to vary.

Nancy was a big help before and during my stay, and I loved being able to use a digital key and check in and out through the app. There was coffee and tea by the front desk around the clock, and I was offered a cookie at check-in. The included breakfast was better than expected, with plenty of hot and cold choices ready at 06:00 and kept fresh all morning. My room was spotless and quiet, and the sheets, towels, and pillows were comfortable. The pool area looked clean and inviting, though I didn't use it, and the fitness room was clean and well stocked. The one issue was the shower setup: its valve was hard to turn and positioned so that I got sprayed with cold water at first, not fun in winter. The glass door, valve, and sprayer seemed poorly placed. I noticed a housekeeper carrying shower curtains, so other rooms may have a different shower. I also saw vans marked with Hampton Inn and other nearby hotel names, and wondered if there's a seasonal shuttle to Newport.

The rooms and the rest of the property were very clean, and the staff were friendly and accommodating when we arrived. For several months before that, Liz, the Director of Sales, helped coordinate rooms for our guests attending our son's wedding in Newport. She was incredibly responsive and answered all my questions. She also arranged for my 95-year-old father-in-law to be comfortable in a connecting room with my sister-in-law. I highly recommend this hotel.