DoubleTree by Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront South

Mack & Urmi did a great job looking after us on the 5th floor. Our room stayed clean and we had fresh towels. They were fantastic. It was a wonderful place to stay.

We could watch ships crossing the Atlantic back and forth all day and night, and the views were amazing. There are plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. Ryan and the rest of the car valet staff were excellent. I’d recommend staying here for a nice long visit.

We paid $385 for a stay that felt like an expensive lesson. The cookie was warm, but the service was uneven, and I’ll probably go back to my usual Marriott next time. There was a large brown stain on my comforter. I told the front desk as I was heading out to my event, and when we got back they had replaced it. I was in a hurry and didn’t photograph the comforter, but I did take a picture of the hallway outside my door. Thinking it over afterward, I wondered if the stain might have come from another ceiling leak. Getting the valet service started was awkward. One attendant seemed annoyed that we wanted valet, and another asked us to leave the line and circle around so they could move someone else. We politely offered to pull aside instead, since four people were behind us. I used mobile check-in, then asked for the famous DoubleTree cookie. The sigh made it feel as if I’d asked for a five-course meal, though I did get the cookie. Around 11 pm, we went to buy snacks. The desk attendant seemed overwhelmed again and snapped at guests arriving to check in that they had to “hold on.” Nobody was rushing her. We waited, got our chips, and checked in, but she seemed unhappy to welcome anyone. The next morning, part of the hallway ceiling was sagging, and there was a noticeable damp smell nearby. When we first arrived, the front desk also seemed to be having one of those days.

Mario was at the desk for both my Sunday night check-in and Tuesday morning checkout, and his customer service was excellent. He was super friendly. That guy deserves a raise and a few days off. My room was okay, the shower got hot, and the beach view was great. It could use a few touch-ups, and the elevator made some strange noises. Mario and the view were the best parts.