Between a three and a four...
The thing I love most about The Hilton Garden Inn is that it is the perfect location for my visit. I stay there while visiting the Penn. Flower Show and of course, it is right across the street from the convention center. The Reading Terminal Market, a fabulous place to visit, is next door, a Wawa convenience store on the corner opposite and the Dim Sum Place ..great fod..opposite the front door. Excellent for all my needs.
The lobby in very nice and the front desk staff nice.
The hallways upstairs were very nice as well, nicely decorated.
And then we get to my room, the good and the bad of it.
Nice room, modern and attractive and a very nice size. Terrible view, but then I knew lots of the room overlook the parking garage and should have requested a city view.
The bathroom as well was very good. Modern, very clean, lovely Neutrogena toiletries. Some rust at the bottom of the bathtub, against the back wall..at least I hope it was rust. But a minor issue all in all.
Love that there was no bedspread but a freshly washed duvet cover..and nice pillows. A very comfy reading chair and ottoman, a good desk chair, free wifi, a big flatscreen and lots of lighting choices. But..
Ok, first, even though there was a card on the bed advertizing it adjustibility, neither knob seemed to do anything, to have any effect. I followed the instructions. Again. Waited. No change. Oh well, the bed was still quite comfortable.
Now the lack of hot water is another matter. Went I went to take a shower in the morning..I let the water run, the dial turned all the way to hot..and run..and it never got more than warm. Not acceptable.
And finally, the climate control. When I checked in, the room was warm and stuffy. I turned on the air and left to go back to the Flower Show. When I returned, several hours later, the temp was unchanged. The unit would make a terrible tapping noise..Rat Tat Tat..for 30 seconds and then shut off, just the fan running. Happily, I could open one of the two windows ..overlooking that garage parking lot..a few inches, until I had to close it due to car noise. Barely acceptable on a cool Spring night...it would not be acceptable in summer!
Yes, maybe I could have called the front desk and complain, but it was late, I was tired and not up to a confrontation.
Some people mention parking. I think it is a non-issue. I like parking myself, as opposed to valet, and being able to go back to my car if I buy things at the Flower show or Reading Terminal Market, The cost, $33, is more than $10 less than the nearby Marriott charges. Folks, this is a city!
So all in all, I would have to place this hotel right in the middle.
Not great, but not bad, leaning to the better end,
Will I stay there again? Most likely, because you can't beat the location for my needs.