Hampton Inn & Suites Sevierville @ Stadium Drive

Common areas looked nicely remodeled, and the free breakfast was standard but pretty decent. It was a clean, safe place to spend the night. I’m a fan of the Hampton brand, but this one fell just short of five stars because the guest room lighting was poor and there wasn’t a single USB port. It looked like the rooms might be getting renovated, judging by construction materials in the parking lot. We also heard construction noise from the room above at 8:05 a.m. Maybe I can give it five stars next time. For now, bring charging blocks in case your room hasn’t been updated yet.

We found the room comfortable and quiet, and breakfast was a nice start to the day, just what we expect at Hampton Inns. The hotel is handy for a travel stop, right off I40 but tucked away from the main highway. The staff were friendly and check-in was easy.

We’ve had good stays at Hampton Inns before, but this one was disappointing. The pillows were about the worst we’ve found in a hotel: one was so soft and unsupportive that I woke up with a sore neck. We also found no soap in the bathroom and almost no toilet paper, so we had to go to the desk for both. At check-in, we asked for keys to the room we’d selected through the Hilton app. The woman handed us keys without asking our names or checking ID, which seemed odd since anyone could apparently request a key. We’d requested a fourth-floor room but were first assigned one on the second floor, so we switched to a fourth-floor room through the app. In the morning, we waited to check out while a woman at the desk waited to buy something. The front desk worker was in the back socializing and laughing with another employee, even after we tried to get her attention. A bell at the desk might help when staff are back there.

We booked one night while the hotel was being remodeled, and the staff made the stay easy and were very accommodating. Booking was straightforward, with the policies and other details clearly explained. We got a pre-remodel King Suite, and it was immaculately clean and well kept. I’d avoided Hampton properties for nearly a decade because the facilities felt dated, but this room changed my mind. The pet policy was the biggest surprise: staff said all rooms are pet friendly, with no hidden fees. They even gave us a complimentary bottle of water for each person and one for our pet. We chose this place because it welcomes pets, and the clean room and clear, welcoming policy have put Hampton back among our top choices for future trips. Highly recommended.