Homewood Suites by Hilton Salt Lake City-Downtown

The location is a long way from downtown. You can walk, but without a car that means making the trip back and forth several times a day. Parking in the garage costs $20 a night, though there’s free street parking right outside if you’re willing to use it. I still really like this place for the comfort. The rooms are spacious, with a separate sleeping area and a separate TV area that makes things nicer for everyone. There’s a kitchenette, which I haven’t used on any of my trips, and the free breakfast is basic but good. The hotel is clean and welcoming.

For a short, inexpensive trip, I’d consider staying here again. The bed was comfortable and the room was clean, but the couches were really hard. Breakfast was mostly inedible to me, and the coffee was so weak it tasted like water with a hint of coffee. It’s an efficiency-style place, fine for a quick stay, but don’t expect luxury.

The strict quiet-time rules made the stay unsettling. Just before 10:30 p.m., the lobby lights were turned off without warning, leaving some people in pitch darkness. They asked staff for help and didn’t get any. Then a front desk employee ordered us out of the lobby and seating area and told us to go to our rooms because quiet time had started. As paying adults, being told when to go to bed in the hotel’s only public space felt very uncomfortable. There were also multiple access points where homeless people were sheltering, and doors that should not have allowed entry were left open. I was especially concerned when teenage children came face to face with dangerous situations. The rooms were clean, the hotel was very nice, and its location in the city was exceptional.

On my second stay, I found the quality had dropped a lot. At around 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, the included breakfast had almost nothing left. Most trays were empty, with no bagels, muffins, pastries, or fresh fruit. The coffee was weak and lukewarm. The coffee maker in my room was so dirty I didn’t trust it, and the room’s Directv had no service. I could hear every footstep from the rooms next door and above, and the AC/heater was noisy. The room itself was very clean, spacious, and comfortable. The front desk staff were also welcoming, professional, and super friendly.