Hampton Inn by Hilton Plant City

I ended up finding a tight space at the back of the lot, but only after nearly an hour of stress and driving around at 1:30 in the morning. Before that, I was told to try a grocery store or gas station, and the nearby businesses were all marked tow-away. When I returned and asked again to park briefly by the front, I was warned my vehicle would be towed. My brother asked about a refund so we could go to another Hilton with enough parking, but the associate couldn't promise anything. Only then did she say I could use the spot I'd squeezed into. I had a small trailer and only needed to park for about six hours to sleep, and was even considering staying in the car to keep watch. The website advertises free parking, but when I arrived there was very little available. Calling ahead wouldn't have let me reserve a space either. The service was unfriendly and unhelpful. My room smelled musty, seemed outdated, and fell short of the usual Hilton standard. I was also charged twice. As a Diamond member who's stayed at more than 300 Hilton properties in recent years, this was easily my worst experience. I won't return.

Both rooms were spacious and clean, and the property looked well cared for. The staff were friendly, but the maintenance problems need serious attention. The heat didn't work in either room. My grandmother was cold all night and woke up sneezing, which worried us. My mom's TV also didn't work, and she likes to watch it at night to unwind. With a few repairs, the hotel could be a much better place to stay.

The location is great and the staff were courteous. Breakfast was decent, too, but the price felt high for the area: I paid $134 a night after a $24 Florida resident discount. The standard rate of $158 for Plant City is hard to believe. The fixtures and bathroom need serious attention. The barn-style bathroom door leaves a huge gap, so there's not much privacy if you're sharing the room.

The staff were friendly, but the shower only got warm, not hot. The door between the hall and our room stuck and made a loud bang when pushed shut. We heard the neighboring door in the middle of the night, and ours did the same. The interstate on-ramp is very close, so there's traffic noise too.