My family and I decided to take a mini get-away trip after Christmas. Our 4 children had Christmas money to spend, and what better place than Erie, PA. We have been to Erie, many times before, but usually we stayed at the Springhill Hotel, right across from the mall. The staff there are very friendly and are always asking how one is doing, and how we are liking our stay. Unfortunately they were all booked up, so we decided to try The Hilton Garden Inn. First impression upon arrival was that it took a long time to get checked in at the front desk, and the foyer was pretty small.

We had prebooked, but they were very slow. It was raining when we arrived, and our van was barely covered under the small, roofed overhang, leading to the front entrance. Once checked in, we were told that it would be better to park towards the back door, as it would be closer to the elevators. This was not true, and there was no covering by that door to unload at all, so we got extremely soaked.

Our room was on the 4th floor, and was small, but had most of the necessities that we would need, and room for all of us to sleep. Upon inspecting the bathroom, I noticed black hairs on the floor, near the tub, and sink area, which is a huge turn off for me. Being tired from our drive, I cleaned them up for my family. There were not enough towels for all of us, nor pillows, so we had to call down to have those sent up. They came within the hour.

The workout room was small, but seemed pretty unused so the 3 nights we stayed there, we had no problem with having to wait for machines. The only pain was that having already scanned our room key to get into the exercise room, which had an adjacent door to the pool, you had to scan your room key again, to get into the pool area, to use the only bathroom, or fill your water bottle; yet from the pool area, you just needed to push the door to get into the exercise room...kind of backwards thinking, as people that are wet from the pool, shouldn't be using the exercise equipment so readily.

Night 2 and 3, we had to ask for more towels both in the exercise room, as well as the pool area. On night 2, I waited at the front desk, while someone was checking in, and while still waiting, a mother with 2 children came to the desk as well. The young girl working the front desk, finished with her customer, looked at the mother with 2 children and asked what she could help her with. I piped up and reminded her that I had been waiting there for 15 min. already. She gave me a snotty look and response. I informed her that there were no towels in the exercise room or pool area, and my kids were finished swimming. My husband was waiting with them. I was told that they were understaffed, and she would see what she could do, but she never apologized. I left to go back to the exercise room. After 50 min. wait, and still no towels, I once again went to the front desk and a younger gentleman was now there. I explained to him that I had requested towels 50 min. ago, and still no towels, and he informed me that they were understaffed, to which I told him that I had already been made aware of that fact, but my kids had no towels to get out, and dry off with. He made a call, no apologies though, and I went on my way. 15 min. later, towels were brought.

The next night, no towels again, and this time my husband went to the front desk to ask. He was told that they were understaffed. Really?!?! Why do we need to know this? We are on vacay, and honestly, its Christmas Break. They should have more staff on. Its not like their hotel had no vacancies, as they had alot, as we had asked how full they were. They need to have cameras in the pool area as well for safety reasons, as one mother had her two kids whipping a football around the pool, totally oblivious to other people in the pool area, as she commented to her one young daughter, that she had a nice arm for throwing, as her daughter whipped the ball at my one child's head. The pool is very small, so toys from home should be forbidden.

The second and third day we were at the hotel, and our room was "cleaned," they never restocked our coffee for the coffee maker included in our room, and we had to go to the front desk, both days to get more, as well as towels. We wanted fresh sheets on our bed, but even though we left the card on the beds, for the 4 days, three nights we stayed, they just remade the same sheets.

So, that aside, the breakfast was delightful, and satisfying, and never crowded. Even thought the staff didn't interact with their patrons, from what we experienced and saw, the amenities was worth the price. I would go back again, but not as a first choice, and would definitely talk to management if things were still not on track since our last visit. It could of been better, but also, it could of been worse. If you are there to shop, and dine out as we were, it was alright for the price, and what was included.