Doubletree by Hilton Somerset Hotel and Conference Center

The staff made this a pleasant visit, always welcoming and ready to help, and I found the room comfortable enough to relax in. The TVs could use an update. They're quite old and don't have the streaming apps people commonly use now. The hotel itself could use some renovation as well. Even with that, I had a comfortable stay and would happily return.

The location was great, parking was good, and the pool and breakfast were about what you'd expect. Staff were very kind, too. My main frustration was check-in: the website listed 3 pm, but signs inside said 4 pm, which makes no sense after booking based on the online time. Of the more than ten rooms our group had, several weren't ready at 3 anyway. It's a new-build hotel and the stay was perfectly average, but I wish they'd handled check-in better.

I rang the bell at the desk, looked to the right, and saw only two guests sitting nearby. As I walked back, I noticed the security guard with his feet propped up on a chair. I asked if anyone was at the desk, and he went to get Michelle. When she came out, she was on her cell phone. I asked if she'd heard the bell, and she gave a smart reply, “No, not really,” then told the person on the phone she'd call later. That was poor customer service.

The location was the one plus during our two-night stay. Check-in was uncomfortable: I asked about the free cookie sign, and the clerk said the cookie and breakfast buffet were only for direct bookings, not reservations through third-party sites. The room's walls were so thin we could hear comments like “Mom, I need to make a poopa right now,” which had us laughing and shaking our heads. There were also basic problems in the room. The shower handle had come loose and was just hanging there, and the toilet seat bolts were broken. We paid extra for the HBO movie package, but HBO and about half the other channels didn't work. Two stars at best.