Hampton Inn Rochester-Penfield

We had plenty of room in our king-size room, and the bed, sheets, and blankets were all comfortable. The bathroom was mostly nice too, with lots of vanity space thanks to the raised shelf at the back, and good light for shaving. I’m not keen on the liquid soaps, though I know many chains have switched from bars. The showerhead was a cheap Waterpik that felt out of place. It had weak, poorly focused pressure on every setting, and changing settings was awkward. Even with the hotel full, it was fairly quiet, except for the plumbing. We were on the second floor with several floors above us, and every upstairs toilet flush or shower made a sound like ice breaking and tumbling inside the wall behind our headboard. It was loud enough to wake us in the night. A top-floor room could avoid that issue. The owners should consider putting in better showerheads too. We liked having a small bar in the lobby, which we haven’t seen at another Hampton. It was handy to get a drink after a long day without going elsewhere. Breakfast was good, and the staff were great. The pool is small and only a few feet deep, while the hot tub in the same room may be more appealing. The front lot is small, but there’s a bigger lot behind the building when it fills up, with an entrance to the third floor by the elevator. The elevators can be slow, so taking the stairs for a floor may be quicker depending on where your room is. Outside, there’s a bench under the front overhang across from the entrance, a seating area on the first floor to the left of the pool room, and another around the back on the right when facing the rear entrance. They’re all pleasant spots to sit, smoke, and enjoy the weather. It was a very nice stay, with a couple of downsides.

The front desk staff were kind and helpful, and the room was very nice. I might have given the hotel four or even five stars, but getting our security deposit back took far too long. We checked out on the 1st and didn’t receive it until Jan 11th, despite being told it would be returned within 72 hours. That’s a lot of money to keep from someone for that long. Ten days is well beyond 72 hours, and I doubt we’d have received it without calling to complain. Don’t book here if you need your deposit returned promptly. The service on that front was horrible.

The room was spacious, and the bathroom was especially nice, with a shelf behind the sink so your things don’t all have to sit on the counter. But the bed was uncomfortable, and the lighting was poor. There wasn’t a light by the chair for reading or at the desk for working. Our room (206) looked out onto a concrete retaining wall, and we had no cell reception in the room. The location was convenient for the people we were visiting, which is why I gave it five stars.

This was our second stay here while dining through rochester. The hotel was clean, everything worked, and the staff were friendly and helpful. We were upgraded to a larger room, so there was lots of space. Thanks!