Homewood Suites by Hilton Hartford Downtown

The hotel has the layout, décor and smell of my grandmothers retirement home. If you need an extended stay with a kitchen in Hartford well… It will do. However it’s right around the corner from one of the best BBQ places in the area. So no need for the kitchenette.

Stayed here for business — the things to love about the place:
Staff is very friendly and helpful
Rooms are large, clean and comfortable
Breakfast is good — plus coffee is available all the time
Shuttle service is prompt and friendly
Many places to eat in easy walking distance
Things to hate: Right next door to a bar with an outdoor patio. Even on the 9^th floor the noise was ridiculous and kept up until 1 am. Sadly, there is nothing the hotel can do about. When you have an early meeting or an early flight it is just a killer. If not for that, I would make this my ‘go to’ hotel in Hartford.

My colleagues and I have systematically tried every hotel in the downtown Hartford area over the course of traveling here for work. This time around, we chose the Homewood Suites.
I don’t know that I’ve stayed in a Homewood Suites before, though I have stayed in conceptually similar hotels (Embassy Suites, Residence Inn, etc) and this experience was fairly similar… you get a lot of space for your money, which is nice, but it tends to be fairly mediocre space – décor that looks like it was last updated in the 80s, appliances from the Contractor Special pack, some random [read: sketchy] dishes and utensils for cooking your own meals on the provided 2-​burner stove.
I have to say, Hartford in general is sort of a dumpy place to have to go, so with that expectation in mind, the Homewood Suites doesn’t really disappoint, it just fits with the general vibe of the where you’re at. That being said, the hotel was located pretty centrally (which was great for us), had plenty of parking (a surface lot, which was somewhat incompatible with the freezing rain that was happening – icy morning /​scraping of windshields!) and wasn’t too busy.
I think that generally, you get about what you expect when it comes to chain hotels – its going to be clean (it was), its going to be reasonably comfortable (it was) and its going to be about the same as the version you stayed at in another city (yup.)
The one thing that was amazing about the Hartford Homewood Suites? The breakfast. Sure, every hotel has continental breakfast, but here they have someone working in the kitchen who knows what’s up – best biscuits and gravy I’ve ever had in a hotel!

Nice business hotel in downtown Hartford, and within walking distance of most major restaurants, and attractions. Free happy hour food & drink. Free breakfast. Decent coffee :)
Tiny fitness center, but the equip does work, and everyone here is quite friendly.
The rooms and amenities could use some updating, but I understand that is in the works shortly.
Tip: There is a fun bar next door (Black Eyed Sally’s), that has a very active late night crowd, and a roof top bar. In warmer months that rooftop bar get’s really loud until the wee hours, so if you are staying here when the rooftop bar might be open, ask to get a room that’s not right above or across from it, especially if you are a light sleeper.

I’ve now stayed here on two soccer occasions — USA national team games for Gold Cup in June and last week’s Ecuador match. I’ve never paid for a hotel room, but each time, the room has cost 40,000−50,000 points per night, which is a lot! Oh well, it’s within walking distance of the American Outlaws bar (City Steam Brewery) and the Amtrak station.
The parking for this hotel is strange. It’s $ 10/​night, but you’re actually parking in the rear of the hotel. With that said, when you enter the back, you’ll need to wind around to the front to check in. You’ll probably think you’re going the wrong way the first time, but you’re going the right way. Also, FYI you share the parking lot with the public, so don’t stay out too late on a Friday night or else you won’t have parking!
Rooms are a typical Homewood Suites. I’ve never been given a room with a fireplace like the Memphis — Poplar Avenue location. Last week’s room was smaller than my first time, as it seemed everything was crammed into a small space (sofa, chair, etc). There is a full size fridge, cooktop stove, microwave, pots, pans, dishes, glasses, & mugs.
I had a corner room last week, and Friday night, downtown was booming. Literally. I could hear the music blasting in the living room and was dreading going to bed. I turned the fan all the way up in the bedroom, shut the door, and it ended up not being too bad.
Although breakfast ends at 10AM on Saturdays, the hotel will run out of everything at 9:40AM & will not replace anything, e.g. bread. Knowing that the marathon was last weekend (occurs annually RIGHT in front of the hotel), how did they not order enough food, especially since hosting a TON of athletes? Not good. BTW you can watch the marathon runners from your window!
I’d stay here again just because it’s a convenient location. Check in is always a breeze. As a diamond member, last week they gave me two bottles of water at check in; two bottles of water and a package of Milano cookies were also waiting for me in the room. It’s not the greatest hotel, but it’ll do!

On business travel I usually stay at the Hilton Garden Inn. It was hard for me not to compare it as this is in the Hilton brand but they were def lacking in comparison. That’s not to say u won’t stay here again! I picked this place due to location, the «suites» and free breakfast, din and happy hour. Plus the proximity to my job location and bars were an added perk.
I got there early and asked if I could check in early. They were able to accommodate and as such I got a little upgrade — yay! It was clean… better be! And bed was comfy.
Bathroom counter needed more space though and the bathroom door was oddly positioned. All else was good though in the room. What I was disappointed in was that there was NO bar! Don’t think I’ve been in a hotel with a bar. The happy hour was pitiful…3 wines to choose from and the only beer was coors lite (yuk!!!) good thing the bar is right next door! (Def recommend Black Eyed Sally’s). The breakfast was pretty good, had all the necessities though my veggie diet had me sticking to eggs and the fresh fruit offered. Dinner was pretty good too, had a small and decent salad bar.
Very friendly staff.

If you’re looking for location, than Homewood Suites is fantastic. You are no more than a few blocks away from the train station, XL Center, pubs, bars, and restaurants. If you are looking for a spacious and comfortable extended stay hotel, then you also have that at the Homewood.
My biggest grips are as follows:
1. Cable didn’t work the second night of my stay here. Well, some channels worked except ESPN and I really wanted to watch playoff basketball and I’m now watching it streaming.
2. Wifi is terribly slow. It’s god awful slow. I’m barely able to stream and do simple tasks like email and actually work.
3. Gym is very weak. I felt bad laying down weights b/​c it’s on the second floor and I’m sure you can feel the vibrations in other parts of the building. The television had no remote so you couldn’t watch anything and what’s even more annoying is there were cups only no water.
I’d gladly pay more and stay here if it had these simple things. Otherwise, I’m going to Rocky Hill and staying at the Sheraton where it’s cheaper and has great wifi.

My memory of Homewood Suites Hartford will forever be a freezing cold night spent freezing in my cold, cold bed. No extra blankets, no control over the heat and no rest for my weary, weary head. Just a whole lotta cold.
For rooms this size, I was surprised at the lack of creature comforts and amenities. The shower was a simple stall with a 1′ pan, meaning when I bathed the water went aaaaaaall over the bathroom, as the flimsy shower curtain didn’t even reach the base. Speaking of the bathroom, it was just beg enough for the shower stall and a toilet — extremely teensy. However, there is a sink right outside the commode and while there is zero counter space, there were lots of soaps and lotions and the like.
The bed, while cold, was comfortable and had lots of fluffy pillows and quite nice linens. I would have been comfortable if I hadn’t been so damn freezing.
Now, I don’t know Hartford all that well, but for the 24 hours I was there, this hotel seemed like it was perhaps a bit off the beaten path and on the brink of no-​mans land, but I could be totally mistaken. All I know is, come Sunday morning, there was no coffee/​tea shop within walking distance. In fact, nothing really seemed to be within walking distance, now that I think about it.
Staff was friendly, and when I went to purchase a tube of toothpaste from the little shop, the nice man at the desk told me he could give me little single-​use packets for free rather than charge me to $ 5 for the brush/​paste combo pack. That was definitely the highlight of my stay.

Very expensive for what you get. Couch/​Bed was broken and just felt dirty.

I stayed here 2 nights on business. From the moment I checked-​in the reservation desk clerk was extremely friendly and accommodating. She gave me all kinds of info from where Starbucks was located to the next shuttle. I booked a one bedroom but when I arrived only studio suites were available, which was fine. The room was large and comfortable and the neutrogena and bath and body works products were a plus. Shuttle service was a nice perk back and forth to the office although the driver could be a bit more professional. Housekeeping did a good job. I didn’t try the welcome home meals since I ate at local restaurants every night (great ones within walking distance), but the breakfast was good and they had a lot to offer every morning. ⁴⁄₅ for Homewood. I’d stay here again for sure. Check out my reviews of Agave Cantina Grill and Trumbull Kitchen.

Stayed here for a recent Con Experience. The room was lovely, a corner suite that comfortable held our party of 4 with some room to spare. But that’s not what I remember the most about this place.
No, that honor goes to the Breakfast Burrito, served at their complimentary breakfast. It was excellent. It sounds silly, but it was an unexpected treat that I hungrily ate like it was my last meal.
The Homewood Suites are easily accessible by bus, and have a line that runs to many of the Hartford area hotspots.

Not a lot of love for the Homewood Suites. Let me explain:
1. Funky smells abound. This is partially to be expected (dozens of kitchens plus dozens of variously cooked meals equals a mixture of scents), but most nights, I would almost choke on the stench. Not cool.
2. Parking. Sixteen dollars a night? Plus getting yelled at by a very angry parking attendant not once, but twice, for reasons I still can’t explain? Again, not cool.
3. The shower. One itty bitty dish for not just soap, but shampoo and conditioner? Plus no bench to allow the female variety to shave their legs without risk of falling over? A male must have made the shower design decision, that’s all I know.
4. The breakfast. Eeks — the coffee was always a bit burnt, the fruit a bit smooshy, and the choices seemed plentiful one day and sparse the next. Overall, unimpressive.
5. Parties on the top floor. Apparently, Homewood Suites is a popular place for some all night shindigs. Shindigs that didn’t skimp on the banging music. Music that I wasn’t interested in at 10 p.m. while trying to get some much needed sleep.
6. Fitness room. The treadmills were on their last leg, but honestly, all of the equipment could use a major update.
On the bright side, the rooms were fairly clean, and the bed pretty comfy. Not a place I plan to return to, but it wasn’t all bad — if desperate, it will do for a few days.

Awesome hotel. Great downtown location. Clean rooms. Super big suites. Would stay here again for sure. Rates very reasonable.

I stayed here for about 6 weeks for work and had a pleasant experience. Great corporate rate for a huge (think apartment sized) one bedroom with fully stocked kitchenette, 2 TVs, living room, spacious bedroom, and modern bathroom. Very comfortable, okay food, although considering breakfast and dinner buffet were both free everyday, it was pretty amazing. Terrific staff, especially when you’re there for an extended stay and you get to know each other. They have spotted me quarters for laundry and Ben & jerrys ice cream on several occasions! You just can’t beat that.

Noticeably cleaner and in better overall condition than any of the room I’ve stayed at in the Holiday Inn Express that’s just down the street. There are studio style suites, single suites, and double suites.
The real perk of this place is the 2-​bedroom 2 bathroom suites (1 King, 1 Queen). If you’ll be staying with another person and/​or couple, and would have gotten separate rooms elsewhere, you can save money by staying in a 2bed/​2bath suite. The baths are accessed from inside the bedroom, and have a nice prep area that’s separate from the spacious shower/​toilet area. Each bedroom has it’s own TV, and you also get a small common area with a 3^rd TV and a pullout love-​seat. Connected to the common area is a kitchen area (no oven, but there’s a stove-​top, sink, dishes, full fridge, dishwasher, microwave). We got the room at a discounted $ 220/​night, think the standard rate is around $ 260.
INSIDER INFO:
If you buy online or over the phone — it’s not going to include parking (not surprising to me, but apparently surprising to some). They’ll charge you $ 16 for parking, but you can usually barter with local lots to let you leave the car overnight for less.
Only certain rooms will have a view… opt for one that faces the park if you have the choice.
You can grab the free shuttles in front of the main entrance, or schedule a taxi pick-​up in Hartford.

I got lost on the way to the lobby. I entered from the parking lot and there was a very long, twisting hallway.
Eventually I got there and I got the room key and such.
The room was nice to begin with.
I walked in and it was MASSIVE. It has a kitchen, which was pretty cool.
There is a rather distasteful duck motif throughout the hotel which I think is lacking. The bed was the biggest bed I have ever slept on, but the sheets were scratchy. Also, the drain in the bathroom sink didn’t work.
The towels were not fluffy, but the water was nice and warm.
I really like the people though. The lady who checked us in was really nice and there was a man doing room service who we met in the elevator who was very friendly. The employees seem authentically friendly.
So, although I would not recommend this hotel for the quality of the room and such, I would definitely recommend it for the great people.

The room was a typical suite. I was upset that when they quoted us a price they never mentioned the $ 16.00 parking fee. I am not sure what the others were raving about?

«OMG». That’s literally the first word that came out of my mouth when I opened up the hotel room. «It’s HUGE» was my second.
We had to come up to Hartford for an unexpected visit to visit my hubby’s dad in the hospital. We picked the cheapest priced hotel as we planned on checking in late at night and leaving early morning.
The king-​sized room was huge. There’s a decent kitchen with a dishwasher, a fridge and a microwave oven. A couch, a dining table, a desk, a TV and a few cabinets. They serve COMPLIMENTARY breakfast buffet daily as well. Their staff are courteous and helpful.
This is a gem. If I ever had to stay in Hartford, I’ll definitely come back.

We were in town for a wedding and this was the hotel where the bride and groom had their reception and all the guests stayed, and I’m glad they did! Our room was HUGE. It had two bathrooms, a large living area, descent kitchen and separate bedroom. The bed was extra comfortable. There were plenty of towels and dishes, etc. The staff was very friendly and helpful. You can’t really ask for more from a hotel. The neighborhood isn’t the best, but its walking distance to tons of restaurants and bars. The continental breakfast has lots to offer and during the week, they serve dinner. What’s not to like?!

Wow! This was so much more than I expected. For the rate that I’ve paid at many other hotels, I got free dinner, free wireless and free hot breakfast. The room was amazing and the staff so friendly! I don’t know why more hotels are more like this one. I will gladly return and will recommend it to others staying in the area.