Not Another Hampton Inn?
Written: Oct 20 '09
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Hampton Inn predictability.
Cons: Hampton Inn predictability.
The Bottom Line: A reliable product, convenient location, decent value. Just don't expect any particular character.
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| ulysses4's Full Review: Hampton Inn, Ithaca, NY |
SAME OLD
There are over 1700 Hampton Inns, mostly run by franchise owners, and the vast majority look alike from the cookie cutter architectural plan right down to the mini-fridges in each room. Somewhere out there Hilton bought half a mountain, so almost all the bathroom sinks have the same oatmeal granite shelf. They also must have gotten a good deal on the faux fruit wood furniture, and every entertainment center, desk and chest of draws, to say nothing of the reception desk, all having that not quite real reddish brown stain finish. Query whether it looks more like a not quite succesful bank or a generic sports bar. Writing about Hampton inns is about as enjoyable as distinguishing the differences in fast food restaurants of the same chain.
I have often mentioned and more often felt a love hate relationship with Hampton Inns. They have marshalled a pretty decent array of amenities at a "value" price point and have indoctrinated their staffs in the fundamentals of hospitality. They tend to be very clean, often offering some additional extras such as a small work-out room, a pool, a "free" breakfast including at least a couple of hot items, newspapers in the lobby, one or two laptops for free access to the internet, either in the lobby or in a tiny room or "business center". Fairly spacious rooms and clean well lit bathrooms with modular tub shower combos. Generic soaps and perfectly clean and slightly thin towels.
The environs are not absolutely spartan, more like a universal furnished apartment cloned to the nth degree. On the whole, one sacrifices individuality for predictability. There may well be a few people out there that haven't stayed at a Hampton Inn. There may also be a few people out there that need to be told how to buckle their seat belt on an airplane. I will assume you are in neither category. (But,if you are in the former group, you would be hard pressed to find better amenities at the same price point.)
LOCATION
With this dreary background, the first order of business is location. This is a fairly new property on the near south outskirts of Ithaca. Elmira Road is a typical stretch of shopping plazas, car dealerships, gas stations and fast food restaurants found on the periphery of most American towns. Generic motel in a generic area, although I was impressed with the new Wegmans upscale supermarket, unlike anything we had in my college days. Since this is a small town, there is basically one such area, where in larger cities there may be many and some that go on for miles. This site is relatively convenient for access to Cornell University (especially the south aide of Campus including the Law School, Engineering Colleges and Collegetown) and Ithaca College, college visits beiing the reason most people are in this area. The new Hilton Garden Inn and old Holiday Inn in downtown are slightly closer to both schools and afford walking access to shops and restaurants, but at a higher price point.
At 66 rooms, this is a relatively small property, still with a choice of rooms with king or two queen sized beds. A few smoking rooms (bowing to inevitability). This past weekend (Cornell Homecoming) the shallow parking lot was at capacity. Rooms in the back are fairly quiet. There could be some road noise in the front.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES?
Front desk staff are courteous and efficient, even on a busy weekend. Once you are "in the sytem" and checked in, key card in hand, you may have little further contact with hotel staff. Of course, in the background, there are maids, people preparing your buffet breakfast, doing the hotel's laundry, etc. Other than the front door, access from the parking lot requires your key card. There are two spacious elevators which will take you up to the second, third and fourth floor.
There is a heated indoor pool, a workout room and a small meeting room (capacity up to 15) on the first floor. A breakfast room is open from 6:30 to 10 with a predictable array of juice and coffee dispensers, breads, pastries, yogurts, cereals and a few hot trays. This time the scrambled eggs were pretty decent, and the sausage patties of typically unknown origin.
While describing the rooms is pretty boring, one does have to give them credit for size (close to 480 square feet), improved mattresses and a moderate array of pillows, closet space, small but with room for a hanging back and with about ten wood hangers, a decent heat/air conditioning system, very clean carpeting and bedspreads, a small desk/work station, well lit bathrooms with convex shower curtain rods (less claustrophobic), fairly new satellite television systems and high speed internet access both wifi and land line.
Hilton Hotels, and their various brands, reward you with a pretty decent and competitive loyalty program affording points towards future hotel stays and airline miles.
Prices, of course, go up on significant event college weekends, (as with their competitors) and like almost every place, visitors get tagged with fairly high taxes. Still, the Hampton Inn is a good value place to stay in Ithaca.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
ulysses4
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Member: Alan R. Fridkin
Location: Westfield, MA USA
Reviews written: 234
Trusted by: 21 members
About Me:
Mediator;attorney;retired Navy Captain;avid traveler;bon vivant.
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