Homewood Suites by Hilton Portsmouth

For an extended stay with our family, this location didn’t meet what we expect from Homewood Suites. My husband and I are Gold Members and will be Diamond in a week. We choose this chain for trips of two to six months with our two dogs, one-year-old, and two vehicles because we count on kitchens, breakfast, free or low-cost parking, a flat pet fee, and nearby relief areas with bags. I’d give this hotel five stars if we hadn’t booked it for that kind of stay. If you don’t have dogs or those needs, I would recommend it. The downtown location is excellent for walking around Portsmouth, the hotel looks and smells new, and I had no cleanliness or common-area complaints. The staff, including valet, were amazing. Valet costs $45 each night, but if you’re driving back and forth a lot, it may be worth avoiding the hunt for parking and the walk back. Otherwise, street parking is free only at certain times, and the garage behind the building is not Hilton-owned, can be hit or miss, and charges by time spent. They say they’re dog friendly, but there’s nowhere designated right outside for dogs to relieve themselves, and no poo bins or bags. Staff suggested the railroad tracks, cemetery, or park four blocks away. We checked in at night, and the tracks and cemetery had no lighting. As a small woman with a baby, walking two dogs separately there felt unsafe and sketchy. Our booked full-kitchen suite was smaller than a standard room at a lower-rated hotel. The lighting throughout the suite was dim, especially at the bathroom mirror, and the water pressure was terrible at every sink and in the shower. My son naps around noon, but the building shook when a train passed outside our window, and the noise woke my one-year-old several times. I took photos the next morning, including of my only window view from the “suite.” Honestly, given our circumstances, we wouldn’t have stayed after checking in.

We’ve spent time here on and off over the past two years while my husband had work contracts, and I’ve had no issues. The staff, from the front desk and maintenance to housekeeping, kitchen staff, supervisors, and management, have all been great. When my husband gets a contract, we always ask if we can stay here. If you need clean linens, towels, soap, tissues, toilet paper, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, or anything else they supply, just ask and they’ll bring it. I also tell them when I want the room and linens done, whether daily or every other day, and they add it to the schedule. So claims that it’s dirty don’t match my experience. I’m picky and know the business world well. If something is wrong in your room or the building, speak up politely and they’ll listen and work on it. They can’t fix what they haven’t been told about. Thanks to all the staff, supervisors, and management for working hard to give us guests a clean, enjoyable stay. You guys rock!

The staff were nice, but the furniture was worn and chipped, the carpet stained, and the fridge dented. I’ve stayed at this chain in a few states, and this was the most poorly kept one so far. For the price, I expected better.

We needed a standard hotel for one night, and this worked well for us. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Breakfast was the usual hotel kind, but it tasted good.