Hilton Garden Inn Denver South/Meridian

I rarely leave negative reviews, but this was one of the most disappointing hotel experiences I’ve had in a long time. We stayed Monday through Saturday, and from the moment we arrived, there were issues. Our room was visibly dirty. The headboard had handprints on it, the nightstands looked like they hadn’t been dusted in weeks, and there was black hair in the bathroom sink. We also noticed dog feces outside that remained in the exact same location for the entire week, which says a lot about the cleanliness and upkeep of the property. The first night, we were woken up at 2:30 AM and forced to evacuate due to a fire alarm. While I understand emergencies happen, there was no communication, apology, or acknowledgment of the inconvenience afterward. Things only got worse. On Friday morning, we discovered that our truck, along with several other vehicles in the parking lot, had been broken into and windows smashed. Again, there was little to no communication, concern, or empathy from hotel staff. A simple acknowledgment or expression of concern would have gone a long way. The hallways were consistently dirty, and the second room we reserved for our adult children smelled strongly of cigarette smoke despite being a non-smoking hotel. Water pressure throughout the hotel was also extremely poor. Customer service was perhaps the biggest disappointment. Throughout our stay, I felt like I was inconveniencing the staff anytime I asked for assistance. On Wednesday night, I went to the front desk to reserve an additional room for my brother and sister, who had just gotten married. I was assured everything was taken care of and quoted a rate of $90. When I called Friday morning to check on the room and ask if we could have wine waiting for the newlyweds, I was told there was no reservation in the system. It took nearly an hour to sort out, adding even more frustration to an already stressful stay. This hotel is located in what is generally considered a nice area, which makes the lack of cleanliness, maintenance, communication, and customer service even more surprising. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this property. Between the dirty rooms, lack of upkeep, fire alarm evacuation, vehicle break-ins, reservation issues, and poor customer service, this stay fell far below Hilton standards. I sincerely hope management takes these concerns seriously and makes improvements for future guests.

The beds were extremely uncomfortable and had noticeable stains. The mini-fridge failed to chill our beverages adequately. Furthermore, the shower water lacked sufficient heat. An additional fee was charged for parking. The TV remote control was malfunctioning. Unfortunately, the laundry machine was out of commission. The carpet was lifting and stained. Although customer service was satisfactory, the overall condition of the establishment appeared rundown. The lobby presented a impressive appearance, but the rooms seemed to have deteriorated over time. The towels provided were thinner and coarser compared to other Hilton establishments we have visited, which was disappointing. The breakfast offered was not worth the $16 charge. Regrettably, lunch options were unavailable, and dinner choices were limited to wings, chicken nuggets, and French fries. The bar selection was extremely limited, prompting my friends and I to seek alternative dining options off-site via Uber, rather than utilizing the hotel's patio and amenities as intended.

So I almost cancelled my stay when I came across these recent reviews but I was within the 48 hour nonrefundable window. It has its problems but it’s not a “1” nor comparable to motel 6. The photos on the website are accurate and there is no pool nor evidence of a prior one. I was NOT charged for parking and the cost of the hot breakfast is clearly posted. It is in the Park Meadows area but slightly removed from all the hustle and bustle. There is actually a golf course across the street and several paved trails in close proximity. It was always well-staffed with helpful employees. Some issues remain such as inadequate trash pickup outside of the building (mostly alcohol related), ice maker out on second floor and washing machine not functioning. It could use refurbishing (carpet in first floor hall, fresh coat of paint and cabinetry needs attention in rooms. But it was quiet and peaceful despite the evidence of lots of alcohol. This is my first stay at a Hilton Garden Inn so I don’t know what is typical but the door from the lobby bar to the patio is unlocked throughout bar/meal hours. There is no evidence of a key reader to allow restricted access to people staying there so that basically allows for unrestricted access to the hotel through a side door to the general public which could present a security issue. I have no vested interest in hyping this place or dumping on it. It needs improvement but recent reviews only serve to scare customers away. Clearly some of the online info from a Hilton is conflicting regarding existence of a pool and two different parking fees are listed but I was not billed for parking. It could use some cosmetic improvements to be sure and more attention to detail esp trash pickup but it’s not as bad as the recent reviews.