DoubleTree by Hilton Monrovia - Pasadena Area

The room was very clean, and the pool area was clean and lovely. My kid wants to come back to swim again, so we will. The front desk made us feel welcome and appreciated, and we got lots of warm cookies. The hotel is also comfortable and close to many restaurants. There was a slight scent from what seemed like carpet or air freshener in the room. I’d suggest better ventilation, since some people might find it a bit strong. I recommend this hotel for good customer service and a quality stay.

Free parking was a great perk, and Caprice at the front desk was extremely friendly and helpful. The room was okay, but the curtains were in poor shape and wouldn’t close properly. Sun pours through the windows so strongly that the air conditioning can’t keep the room cool.

Breakfast was a bright spot, especially Martha, who was friendly, attentive, and professional. The rest of the breakfast team also made the dining area welcoming. Hilton Gold and Diamond members are told breakfast costs $13 with tax, but the hotel applies the food and beverage credit in a confusing way, counting only $12 toward it and leaving guests to pay the difference. That creates needless frustration. The bigger issue is the rooms. In a two-bed room there’s effectively one regular outlet and one USB-A port for the whole sleeping area, which is impractical for charging several devices. It’s puzzling that one-bed rooms have outlets on both sides. At check-in, we were told the beds were two kings, but they were the usual two queens. Clearer information would avoid that confusion. Rooms heat up a lot during the day, so they’re uncomfortable when you return in the afternoon until the AC cools them down. There seem to be pressure issues in the corridors, and doors slam loudly at unpredictable times, including at night. The sound insulation is poor toward both the hall and outdoors, so corridor noise carries and the rooms aren’t as quiet as expected for this category. The room doors feel worn and somewhat insecure, while the bathroom’s sliding panel is more of a visual divider than a real door, with little sound separation or privacy. That might be acceptable for families, but many guests expect more from a bathroom. Front desk service is inconsistent, and staff often seem unsure about breakfast prices and basic policies. Rooms chosen in advance have been reassigned at check-in, with the explanation that the selected room went to “regular guests.” The hotel has declined noticeably since earlier stays. With the room problems, uneven front desk service, and billing confusion, the value is poor. Even the excellent breakfast staff can’t make up for those structural and service issues.

We’ve stayed here probably 25 times in the past three years, mainly for the pool, amenities, and usually great front desk staff. Lately those things have fallen short. They didn’t tell us the pool was too cold to use, even with temperatures in the 80s, and the restaurant, which is normally good, served inferior food. I’m frustrated spending money on a hotel that doesn’t seem to be getting its maintenance and kitchen supervisors to do their jobs. We don’t stay because we need a room, so it may be time to move on.