Hilton Garden Inn Valley Forge/Oaks

This was the first Hilton property I've stayed at where breakfast cost extra. They also take away the lobby coffee and tea at 10 am, and it's not back until 6 am. There were only a handful of TV channels and HBO, though most Hilton TVs let you sign into Netflix or other services. At first the room looked nice, but closer to the door and bathroom I saw what I thought was a floor pattern. On the last night I noticed it was moving: ants everywhere. The wind was strong outside the second night, and air whistled through the gap around the door like a hurricane, all night long. I don't usually use a microwave, but after the lobby station stopped providing hot water, I had to heat a paper cup for a tea bag left from the previous week's Hampton Inn. The turntable wasn't the right size and spun like a drunk UFO, though most of the water stayed in the cup. I know better now, there are plenty of Hilton properties nearby.

The bed was comfortable, and the front desk people were very nice. Still, this place felt pretty mid. The room carpet needs to go because of the smell, and the parking lot is a bizarre mess to get in and out of. There's no included breakfast, which is disappointing compared with the nice breakfast at their sister brand Homewood. The door layout doesn't make sense. If someone is using the toilet, you can't get in or out of the shower. An open bathroom door also blocks entry to or exit from the hotel room. After a shower the floor gets really slippery, so this isn't a good setup for anyone with balance issues.

We spent three days here for an event. The hotel was welcoming, the food was good, and our room was nice. Front desk pro Belinda made the biggest impression. She helped us in so many ways that by the time we left, it felt like we'd made a new friend. Belinda is the best!

I stayed for seven days, and they missed cleaning my room twice even though they say service is every other day. At several points the front desk was empty with nobody there. The service is awful, and the place seems disorganized and understaffed. Management is awful too.