Hilton Garden Inn Cincinnati/West Chester

The front desk was polite and cordial, and my room was clean and well kept. The A/C and heat worked as expected, which is a comfort since many newer hotels lock out the heat. One tip for morning coffee: use bottled water, because the tap water is a bit nasty.

I won't stay here again. Our team booked rooms meant to have two queen beds, but we didn't all get the same setup. I ended up with a king, while others got a king suite or the two queens we'd booked. We all paid the same price, $250 a night. When I raised it, they offered only a $20 discount, which felt awful. The included breakfast was garbage: dry scrambled eggs and burnt bacon and sausage, with no potatoes because they'd run out. The hotel doesn't stick to what you book, breakfast feels like it costs as much as going out when you don't get what they promised, and the pool is tiny. Don't stay here.

For $200 a night, the hotel was about what I expected. We didn't try the restaurant. The staff were nice, the room was a good size, and the luggage stand left enough space for our suitcases. It was quiet, and as a light sleeper I never heard anyone in other rooms. The A/C was perfect, with a constant fan setting that made a steady sound that was great for sleeping. The bartender was nice and tried to find the Tennis Channel for me, but couldn't without a guide, and her remote wasn't reliable. The pool was a comfortable temperature, though too small for laps, and there's no jacuzzi. There were some annoyances. The room TV had no Guide or Menu button, so finding the Tennis Channel, channel 162, meant scrolling one channel at a time. The front desk person couldn't quickly locate a guide, but knew the channel number. The shower conditioner was empty; the desk brought a replacement, but I'd already showered. The blow drier was sticky, and I reported it so hopefully someone cleaned it after we left. The pillows were lumpy, as they are in most hotels. I asked for a less lumpy one and got one just like the others.

Breakfast was delicious, and my room was super clean. Everyone on staff was friendly and welcoming. I had a great stay and would definitely return when I'm in town for work.