Hampton Inn & Suites Williamsburg Historic District

The room smelled so strongly of cigarettes that we were gagging in the bathroom. There wasn’t even a fan to clear the air, and the odor was still just as bad in the morning, when we were coughing and gagging. Our clothes smelled of cigarettes when we left. We were in town for a wedding and short on time, so we didn’t ask for another room, but there’s no way the staff could have missed how bad it was. When I told the man at the front desk after the wedding, he said someone had been vaping and that a notice had gone out. It felt like he knew exactly what I meant and gave a rehearsed excuse. There was no way a vape could make that smell. It seemed like someone had just chain-smoked, or had been smoking there every day for 20 years. The washcloths and sheets were stained too. The woman at the front desk in the morning was kind and seemed concerned. I wasn’t charged for the smell, which was good, but also made me think staff or management knew about the problem and were doing nothing beyond having employees call it vaping. It really put a damper on what should have been a fun trip with friends. Do not go here.

The desk clerk was accommodating and very apologetic, and the stay wasn’t entirely bad. Still, I wouldn’t go out of my way to stay here again. I’d booked a king room with an accessible tub, but after going through three rooms, we ended up in a two-queen room with a regular tub. My husband is disabled and needs to sit in a bath because balance issues make showering unsafe for him. Then the tub wouldn’t hold water. The room details online really need to match what’s actually available, especially for disabled guests. We travel quite a bit and I’ve never seen such poor room information. You expect to get what you booked.

Even with renovations underway, everything was very clean and nice. We loved that the lobby had a Williamsburg Magazine with coupons and nearby attractions. Staff had also put out printouts with restaurant suggestions and details on how far away local spots are, plus another sheet whose subject I can’t remember. Major props to the staff for putting that together. We took a copy and used some of the recommendations. I only stay at Hilton Hotels!

The hotel was easy to get to and close to everything without being on a very busy street. The front desk staff were warm and welcoming. Breakfast was crowded over the holiday weekend, but the staff were friendly and kept the food stocked. The shower pressure was good, though the tub drained slowly. The walls are thin enough that hallway noise carries easily, and I could hear someone snoring through the wall. That seems common in hotels, but light sleepers or anyone bothered by noise might want earplugs.