Home2 Suites by Hilton Nashville Vanderbilt, TN

We stayed here because my sister had early morning surgery. Breakfast had a good selection, the location was great, and the valet service was top notch. Mikhil (not sure I’ve spelled it right) was very polite and kind, and did a great job.

After problems at another hotel brand that I couldn’t accept, I switched here, and the difference was night and day. Lauren at the front desk welcomed me warmly and got my key ready so quickly. We ended up chatting briefly about her favorite restaurants on Music Row before I knew it. The rain had already ruined my plans, but she made the evening much better.

The bed was really comfortable and I slept great. The room also had a full-size HD refrigerator, a large microwave, dishes, silverware, and cooking utensils. Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash were provided too. It was the fanciest hotel room I’ve stayed in.

The room itself was clean, with updated furniture and fixtures, and the front desk clerk was kind and helpful. But the parking charge was a deal breaker for us: more than $50 a day on top of the room, even though the garage wasn’t attached to the building. The elevator was broken, so we had to haul our luggage up and down the garage stairs in the weather. Some people may be fine with the fee, but charging guests to park at the business they’re staying at feels greedy. We won’t return. The pillows were awful, and we felt beaten up and robbed by the time we left. The hotel is squeezed into a tight spot, making it hard to turn a vehicle around. Rooms only had queen beds, and the older bathtub you have to step into for a shower could be difficult or dangerous for seniors. We also found Nashville much ruder and more aggressive than we expected. People seemed in a hurry, drivers were aggressive, and people bumped into us and gave us dirty looks as if we were in the way. Nobody said excuse me the whole visit. It was a huge letdown compared with the courtesy we expected from Southern hospitality, and nothing like Gatlinburg. Maybe people feel their city and businesses are taking advantage of them too.