Hilton Garden Inn Visalia, Ca

The staff at HGI Visalia made a long week much more enjoyable. They were the kindest, most respectful, engaging, and knowledgeable hotel team I’ve come across, and I travel a lot. The little bakery snacks are worth trying: I didn’t expect to like the spinach and feta pastry so much, and wished I’d bought two. The Its It ice cream treats were addictive too. I was a bit unsure about the place at first, but that changed once I got into the parking lot and building. It’s a beautiful setup. Now someone just needs to tell the city to build a few things around it, lol.

The staff I dealt with were friendly, but the way this place is run made the stay absurd. I’m a Diamond member with 41 nights at Hilton properties so far this year, and I rarely write reviews. This one was too baffling to skip. The laundry machines only take quarters, and one load costs 28. During my two days there, the front desk couldn’t provide any, despite management saying they would. The hotel, bar, and restaurant are all cashless, so there was no way to get quarters there. No bills, card, or tap-to-pay worked for laundry either. When I asked why they don’t accept cash, I was told ownership was concerned about local crime and homelessness. You’d think locking the front doors late at night, as many hotels do, might address some concerns. Instead, the doors stay unlocked, while guests are charged $15 to park in an ungated lot. There was also an empty body wash bottle in the shower, and the menu prices could rival Disneyland. Maybe the people without homes aren’t the issue. Maybe they’ve just noticed the 28-quarter laundry jackpot.

The meal was a cold burger and salad by the time my dining companion’s food finally came, more than 45 minutes after mine. We waited so we could eat together. The restaurant was charging $20 for a burger but had run out of fries, which left me wondering who orders a burger with salad instead. I spoke to management, who said they’d add bonus points to my Hilton Honors account instead of refunding my credit card because the experience was unacceptable. The points never appeared. It’s November, I’ve already stayed 29 nights this year and expect more before year end, so Hilton Corporate will be hearing from me.

The bartender was pleasant, but service was slow on the night we visited, and they were out of several beers and liquors. We had to be patient. The menu matched what I’ve seen at other Hilton Gardens, but the flatbread was soggy and didn’t have the flavor we get elsewhere.