Home2 Suites by Hilton Springfield North

We had plenty of room for our family of five, and the room was clean. Breakfast was busy but tasty, though they could use another worker on packed mornings. The kids and I had a blast in the pool. The gym was good too, except two treadmills showed an error 30 and wouldn't work.

I was here almost a week. The place was clean and quiet, with staff around when I needed them. Breakfast was available in the morning, and the kitchenette had a fridge, microwave, dishes, and cutlery. It was smoke-free and there were lots of towels and toiletries. A few things could use attention: the water never got very hot, the bed was uncomfortable, and both the gym and laundry were closed. The water also tasted like wood chips, possibly because of the filtration system. Still, it's a decent hotel, with plenty of restaurants and even a Walmart within walking distance.

The night clerk who checked us in was kind and was the only good part of the stay. The room was filthy, with sticky, dirty stuff dripping from the furniture and walls. We took photos, and the clerk moved us, but the second room was dirty too. I slept badly because I felt so uneasy in all that mess. The manager on duty at checkout, who the clerk had asked us to show the pictures to, was incredibly rude and unprofessional. He wouldn't even look at them or apologize. He told me he couldn't do anything because we'd booked through a third party. I hadn't asked for anything, but I should have asked for a refund or discount. I've never seen a Hilton in such poor condition. The whole property was dirty and poorly maintained, and we won't stay again. The manager's demeanor doesn't belong in hospitality. We're Hilton members and cardholders, and Home2 Suites has usually been our favorite.

We didn't stay here. Last night we were at the Home2 Suites in Joliet, IL, where the staff were AMAZING. We have two Great Pyrenees and two tiny dogs, and they let us book a king suite so we could all stay together. The Springfield, MO location has different owners, a two-dog limit per room, and a 70-pound maximum size. I guess I'm done staying at Hiltons on this trip!