I have been staying at this Hampton for many years now, wouldn't be surprised if I have over a hundred nights here since it opened. I finally decided to post a review and it is close to being a •••••, but just a couple things need improving to get it there. I have no problem recommending this hotel. When I have had problems with the room in the past, the front desk had done a very good job taking care of things, so if you have a problem, let them know right away.
The rooms have all been remodeled, I believe a floor at a time. So, some rooms will have newer furniture, but all of the rooms have a nice bright modern feel to them. Large flat screen TV are in every room and I believe all rooms have a mini-fridge in them. The hotel has a small indoor pool and hot tub just off the lobby. There is a nice laundry room on the first floor and a small but private business center too. I have used all of these facilities at one time or another and found them all more than adequate. Although not something mentioned often in reviews, the vending machines and mini "store" are particularly nice if you get to the hotel late or just don't feel like leaving for a snack or meal. The breakfast area is large. has a very large long table with power plugs built in, nice for charging gadgets while having breakfast. The beds are very comfortable, the air/heat has a central thermostat that does a great job keeping the temp comfortable and the system is quiet. There are a few places to eat within a short walk from the parking lot.( a soup shop, a sandwich shop, and an Italian restaurant).
If all of that sounds appealing, it is. You know how when you find a place like this you want to keep it a secret? Well, the secret is out and that is where the problems come in. This hotel is on the short list of lodging for schools, weddings, family reunions, and corporate meetings. All of these are great for the groups listed, but not so great for the business or family traveler looking for a quiet place to spend some time in the area. The breakfast area gets inundated with hungry guests and try as they may, there is no possible way the staff can handle the demand. Twice during my recent stay, we gave up and instead took the bagged breakfast (a nice and necessary touch here) because there was not a single seat anywhere in the breakfast area or lobby to sit. There are trays, and some folks took food back to their room, but we didn't like that option. Also, because weddings/reunions are common here, the breakfast guests linger long after they have finished eating. I fault the hotel a little for this, they know when they are full and need to make some staffing adjustments to make breakfast go smoother when the hotel is heavily booked.
You will have the same problem with the hot tub (hold eight comfortably) on occasions because the groups love to use the pool and hot tub at night. Ditto with the parking, but there is a large parking lot at a shopping center nearby and the back lot is big. But, parking can be a nuisance if you get back to the hotel late.
Security is good with locking doors after dark (except for lobby) but the staff need to be more attentive to checking windows in between guests. Both rooms I had in my recent stay - the window was unlocked! One room the "security stop" was missing, the other room it was slid all the way back so anyone could have entered either of my ground floor rooms had I not checked the windows. Checking the windows and making sure they are locked (on the ground floor) should become a part of every room cleaning in between guests.
If you are in the area, give this hotel a try. The staff is wonderful, and if you can overlook the slight inconveniences of their success, you will likely have a very enjoyable stay.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
October 9, 2012
Dear Paul C, thank you for taking the time to review the Hampton Inn Golden. It’s truly great to get such an honest review. We agree completely with your review and always try to make each guests stay a unique experience. Next time we hope you don’t wait years to review the hotel and during your next stay I would love to meet with you. Please feel free to let me know before you arrive so we might arrange a time to meet.
Sincerely,
Paul Urioste
General Manager
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.