Hampton Inn Rock Springs

The checkout this morning was what pushed me to write this. I’ve been a loyal Hilton customer for more than 20 years, and my parents are still Diamond members. Between our travels we’ve spent tens of thousands of dollars with Hilton, so I know how the Hilton standard should feel. This Hampton Inn in Rock Springs, WY didn’t live up to it. The room was old and smelled funny, and breakfast was poor. The coffee made my stomach hurt. I have an ulcer, so I asked the woman at the desk if I could buy a can of Coke. Warm or cold, either was fine. I wasn’t asking for special treatment, just a little kindness. She looked at me as if I wasn’t worth helping. I saw a box of sodas set aside for Diamond members, and I understand I’m not Diamond anymore, but I was offering to pay. She could have just treated me like a person. What disappointed me most was the indifference. There was no greeting when I arrived, no acknowledgment, not even a good morning. Hotels are competing harder than ever for business, and small gestures matter. It’s sad to see a place I trusted for two decades lose the simple art of hospitality. Today, this Hampton Inn missed the mark entirely.

The swimming area wasn’t available because renovations were underway. Our room was spacious, and there were restaurants nearby that we could reach on foot or by car. It was windy, as it always is in Wyoming, though not extreme. The woman at the desk was very helpful, pointing us toward places to eat and businesses to explore in Rock Springs.

We usually choose Hampton Inns because the experience is good, but this location was a big disappointment. The hotel was run down, with things in poor shape throughout. They were renovating the exterior, but the interior needed attention more. Our room carpet wasn’t cleaned properly, the shower head was terrible, and the shower barely drained. The loose drain cover wasn’t attached, and there was a screw down in the drain. The beds and pillows were uncomfortable. Breakfast had the same food as other Hampton Inns, but somehow tasted much worse, and nearly everything was gone just an hour into service. A week later, we stayed at another Hampton Inn in Denver, which was much better in every way and somehow cheaper. It’s a warm bed, but for the usual Hampton Inn quality, I’d stay somewhere else in the area.

The remodeling meant banging on walls and power tools early in the morning, just when I thought I could sleep in. Renovating the hotel is fine, but it’s really annoying when you’re trying to rest. Breakfast was in the hallway and wasn’t even a full meal, just oatmeal and waffles, with no other hot food. Couldn’t they use a meeting room for breakfast and schedule construction for when people aren’t there trying to sleep?