DoubleTree by Hilton Palmdale, CA

We've held our company's annual holiday party in the DoubleTree banquet room for each of the last two years, and plan to book it again next year. The planning help was outstanding, the room was great, and the food and service at the event were excellent. The hotel is modern and clean, the parking lot felt safe, and the value was incredible.

The building has distinctive architectural details, and the rooms look sparkling new. Staff at the front desk were friendly, knew the area well, and were happy to answer questions. Being near the freeway makes it easy to reach the Palmdale Amphitheater, Antelope Valley Mall, and other attractions in just a few minutes. I found it a vibrant, welcoming place for either work or fun.

The kindness of the staff and the comfort of the room made me want to extend my stay. The food was a treat too, especially the delicious fish and chips, and there was plenty of booze to choose from. My room was very clean and impressive, and I'm looking forward to getting a suite next time. Ceaser treated me like a VIP as soon as I arrived and knew the answers to my questions. Thank you, Ceacer, and everyone there. My props to the chef!

We picked this hotel because it had a pool, even though it meant staying farther from my husband's workplace. I planned to relax by the pool for a few hours while he worked, but guests aren't allowed to use any amenities after checkout. That was really disappointing, since I'd never run into this at the other resorts and hotels I've stayed in, where access after checkout seemed standard, especially when facilities were empty. I calmly explained the situation and asked whether anything could be done, as nobody was using the pool and there was no crowd to make room for. Staff still gave a firm no, citing “liability issues.” I find that frustrating when so many other hotels seem to allow it without problems. If you're booking mainly for the amenities, know that they're strictly off limits after checkout, with no exceptions. That made our stay much less enjoyable than expected.