The staff is very nice. Located close to the US Space & Rocket center. Rooms were clean and comfortable. Breakfast buffet a great value. We travelled with our four children.

We were visiting a friend at a nearby nursing home and wanted to use HHonors points and were planning to stay at the nearby Hampton Inn.. Based on TrIp Advisor reviews we decided to stay at the Garden Inn rather than the Hampton. Very friendly staff. Room was very clean and the only shock was that we did not have a bathtub but a large shower. My wife was a bit disappointed and I don't remember any mention of shower only rooms. Other than that it was extremely convenient as the nursing home is literally just around the corner and we would definitely stay there again. Good breakfast with made to order eggs or omelets.

I arrived on Friday 5 August. I was well received and assigned room # 217. The room was the standard HGI room and appeared to be clean. Other than the nice comfortable bed, my satisfaction ended.

Keep in mind that overall, it was an unimpressive stay. At no time, other than the initial check in, did I feel like a Diamond Club member, especially after having just endured a horrible stay at a HILTON brand hotel in Yuma just weeks before.

After check-in, I decided to go down to the bar, have a few drinks, and get my meal to take back up to my room. There was absolutely no one at the bar. This was a first for me as every HGI I have stayed at usually had a crowded bar during Happy Hour. I asked what time Happy Hour started and was told they didn't have a happy hour. Mystery solved. The bar was dead my entire stay. I paid $6.50 for a Crown and Coke. (The bartender told me he wouldn't charge me for the coke). I also had a draft bud light ( $2.50, I think).

I placed my order for a Mobley Burger (supposedly one of their top of the line burger menu items). The bartender asked how I'd like it cooked. I told him to leave it a little pink in the middle. He proceeded to go back to the grill area and cook it himself. 20 minutes later, if was finished and boxed in a Styrofoam clamshell container. I paid, tipped and returned to my room. (Total of about $22.00 so far)

The plate consisted of a good sized burger and plenty of french fries. Unfortunately, the burger patty was cooked to puck status and inedible. The char came off the burger in flakes. The fries were crinkle cut, with the flavor and texture of IGA brand frozen fries. I threw the burger out and choked down the fries. I wasn't in the mood to wait another 20 minutes to eat.

I tried the breakfast the next morning. HGI breakfast policies is always confusing, never explained well and if you sit back and watch, the hostess has to continually explain to the customers what is complimentary and what is charged and how they need to place the orders. Every HGI is different, but the confusion is always the same. This HGI actually had a buffet set up in addition to the cook to order breakfast. However, I noticed the cooks neglected to stay where they could see the customers and everyone kept having to wait or look for someone to take their order. The grits on the buffet were absolutely tasteless. In the south, they should at least know how to prepare grits. It was just boiled corn...

Monday evening a storm came through and internet was lost. It did not come back up until the next afternoon. I can understand acts of god, but at least have a meeting and have the staff tell only one lie. I got 3 different stories. The internet went down again later that night and was out for another 24 hours. Again, different stories. Since I do a lot of work in the evenings that require internet, I ended up 2 days behind.. I was told, they're working on it right now, constantly.

I received a letter upon my arrival, from David Brent , General Manager, of which the last line reads " At any time you may dial "0" to speak with a team member, who has a "Whatever it takes" service, we will be happy to know any ideas or request you may have." With this in mind, During the "down internet" time, I asked the front desk to relocate me to another hotel in the Hilton Brand. I was told they would give me a number I could call and I would have to do it myself. I told them I thought that was part of the concierge service they offered and was told it was not. This doesn't sound like the "Whatever it takes" service I was promised in my arrival letter David.

I eventually contacted the Hilton Diamond Desk (what a joke) but could not be relocated, and was assured the internet would be back up (because they were working on it).

On Wednesday, I decided to try the grill again, thinking it a fluke. The same bartender was not on and they seemed to have a cook this time. I ordered the same menu item as before. The bartender taking my order asked how I'd like it cooked. I said Medium Rare. 15 minutes later, it was ready and I took it back to my room. Again, the burger was overcooked, but not nearly as badly as the 1st time. I ate it anyway. Later, as I was cleaning out my pockets for the night, I found the receipt. It had been rung up as Medium Well. Can't blame the cook with that one.

Now being 2 days behind in my work, I ended up having to check out early, and travel 4 and 1/2 hours south to lower Alabama, and of course, next week 4 and 1/2 hours to return to the Huntsville area. (But not to this hotel)

It's the small things that makes a difference and all add up to larger issues. During the whole stay, I received a newspaper on Wednesday and Friday. I never once found a fresh cup of coffee downstairs unless it was during the meal period, and even then twice, I had to tell the hostess the coffee was out and wait for them to bring more. The final straw was at my departure. I stopped to get a cup of coffee on my way out, during the breakfast meal period. I got less than a half of a cup and the coffee ran out. No one was on the floor to tell. Everyone was in back ( I could see them) and could get no ones attention as they were bunched up talking and laughing. I just gave up, left everything where it was and went to McDonald's and spent money on something that should have been complimentary.

You can apologize all you want, and say this is not how you normally operate and all the standard responses. What you need to do is clean house. What you've got isn't working and if you aren't correcting it, then you are as much a part of the problem as the rest of the staff.

I visited Huntsville and stayed at this particular Hilton because it was less than five mins car ride away from Braun Convention Center. The hotel is new and the decor is lovely. There is a huge fireplace in the lobby and the whirlpool and heated pool were a great way to relax after attending class all day. The room was clean and large. The fitness center and business center are fully stocked. The food was delish and the staff were eager to please. The neighborhood location was safe even for a woman traveling alone. This Hilton stands out from the rest with their "Professional and friendly staff". Each morning they remembered to greet me and wish me a good day and each night they welcomed me back with a smile. The hotel bar was always busy and the in house restaurant was lovely. Their chef went out of his way to prepare a meal for me, even though the kitchen was closed. They have free parking and free internet in the room what more can you ask from a place away from home. The only negative I have to report is that the Hotel's Manager Cindy Liuzzo was not very courteous when she refused to match the set conference rate$.