Homewood Suites by Hilton San Antonio North

Dennis set a friendly, professional tone when he checked us in. We were in San Antonio for a concert, and the staff, from the front desk to housekeeping, were helpful and genuinely friendly. The place felt comfortable and well cared for, with no odors. Breakfast beat my expectations for a continental setup: good waffle batter, crispy potatoes, and tasty sausage. Chocolate chips made the waffles even better. The carpets could use deeper or more frequent cleaning, though they didn’t look as clean as they should. The ice machine on our floor was out, and the key access doors near the elevators weren’t working properly. That meant a few extra steps, which I didn’t mind, but it would’ve been more convenient when taking my dog out. I’d happily stay here again, and plan to visit this area often over the next few months. This is my go-to hotel here.

The suite had a kitchen and a separate living area, and there was a happy hour with free appetizers, beer, and wine. I’d booked one king bed but got a room with two queens, which felt a little more crowded. After a long day of work, I wanted to relax on the couch, but it was a sleeper sofa with a hard support bar right where you sit in front of the pillows. The bed inside didn’t support the pillows either. I mentioned that and the loud full fridge/freezer to staff. They responded quickly and sent maintenance to fix the fridge, but the couch couldn’t be fixed. I also heard a dog barking in the hallway, so the hotel might allow pets.

The hotel was comfortable and the staff were friendly, but upkeep is a real problem. My first suite had a stove that wouldn’t work, then flickered on and off, and eventually wouldn’t turn off. I hadn’t pressed the lock button. When I called guest service around 8 or 9p, I was told the engineers had all gone home at 5. There should be someone available at night when something breaks. The door also took three or four key tries each time. I asked to move rooms, and the new one didn’t have those problems, but its surfaces were dusty and the knife in the cabinet was DIRTY. That’s unacceptable. I want my points back for all the trouble. They need to improve cleanliness and maintenance.

The sheets kept coming loose, so we had to fix them over and over during the night. Construction also made it really hard to reach the hotel, especially after dark. Breakfast was better than I expected.