Homewood Suites By Hilton Portsmouth Downtown

The hotel was fine as a place to sleep, and the room was mostly clean, though there was dust and dirt behind the toilet and in the shower area. Breakfast had far fewer choices than I expected. They also charged us for valet even though we never parked a car there. The bigger problem was our wedding room block. We booked before the hotel opened and were promised a complimentary room. As the event got closer, our original contact had left and the hotel had no record of the comp. The new sales director said the contract didn’t show it, which I was prepared to let go, but they also didn’t have the right number or types of rooms available. When I contacted them to fix that, they said they didn’t have a copy of my contract and asked me to send it. We left messages for the hotel manager, then after a week of calls asking for a manager, were told that person no longer held the role. The assistant manager tried to help and said they’d call back, but never did. I’d strongly urge other couples planning a wedding to avoid this hotel.

The downtown setting made it easy to walk to restaurants, shops, and the waterfront. Our room was roomy and very clean, and the hotel was beautifully maintained. Staff were welcoming, friendly, and quick to help whenever I needed something. Breakfast each morning was just right for me, and the place felt comfortable and well cared for. We had a wonderful stay at the Homewood Suites by Hilton Portsmouth Downtown and would absolutely return when visiting Portsmouth.

We were sent to a cheaper, lower-quality hotel eight minutes away and charged the same rate, after waiting more than 30 minutes to check in on Valentine’s Day weekend. They gave us and other guests no specific reason we couldn’t stay, and there had been no email or phone call beforehand. It caught us completely by surprise. I’ve tried calling the manager on multiple days, but haven’t received a response or a return call. I’m seeking a proper explanation and compensation for the inconvenience and the comparable stay. I’ll keep trying to reach this manager and use every platform I can to let others know what they might face when staying here or dealing with an issue.

The location and lobby weren’t bad, but with so many other hotels next door, I’d pass on this one. The rooms are often above a train junkyard and cemetery. It’s an unpleasant view, and when trains pass, the noise is so loud that our first room shook. It wasn’t worth the money. For a hotel that had opened that year, there were so many mechanical problems that I can’t believe it was ready. The AC was broken in most rooms. When we told the GM ours was hot, he said we were lying to get compensation. The elevators broke daily, once while we were inside, which was scary. The laundry machines were broken too, and staples were sticking out of the hallway carpets. The temporary GM was rude and, to me, incredibly bad at the job. He seemed to hate guests and the role. It was a disaster.