There are two Ashton Inn & Suites within ½ mile of each other. We stayed at the Corry Station one which is slightly newer than the NAS Ashton. The NAS Ashton has smoking on the third floor, but Corry Station is all non-smoking. Both have similar rooms and an indoor pool, but Corry Station also has an outdoor pool, grills, small basketball court, and a gazebo.

We were in town for business and pleasure for a week and wanted a little more room and the convenience of a kitchenette. Our stay was a mixed bag of good experiences and minor inconveniences. The staff was very friendly and the main lobby was open, airy, and nicely decorated. When we couldn’t find a luggage cart, one of the staff members volunteered to help us to our room. However, when we got to our room we noticed a stench and realized it was probably a mixture of cigarette smoke (in a non-smoking hotel) and Lysol used to cover up the smell. The smoker had even removed the smoke detector and left it lying on the desk. We were promptly switched to another room. The staff quickly brought us extra pillows we requested. The room was in pretty good shape, except for stains on the carpet and upholstery. It wasn’t until the last day that I made the mistake of looking behind the loveseat—don’t do it. Our suite had a queen bed, loveseat with coffee table, nightstands, large corner desk, small table with two chairs, two roomy closets, ironing board, iron, hairdryer, and a kitchenette. The kitchenette had a full-size fridge, small microwave and coffee pot, and two-burner stove. There was no toaster for bagels, which we managed to grill in the small skillet. There were also two pots, and minimal dishes, bowls, flatware, and plastic glasses. There was no spatula for the skillet or sharp knives, and I didn’t ask for them because I came prepared with my own. We had to provide our own paper products and cleaning soaps. In other words, the supplies provided are very minimal, so come prepared if you plan on fixing meals.

The bed was OK, not great, but not too uncomfortable either. The towels were very small and thin. Housekeeping was a bit inconsistent, sometimes they would leave us with a dish towel and cloth, and other days we had to use one of our hand towels to dry dishes. They also left our door ajar one day, but we were lucky and didn’t lose anything. Our main complaint is that we could never get the high-speed internet in our room working (you have to bring your own Cat-5 cable by the way). I overheard that there were at least 3 rooms in our section of the building having problems, but every time we complained, they acted like it must be our fault. The hotel had wireless in the lobby, and it may extend to some of the centrally located rooms, but it didn’t do us any good. We either had to use a computer near the lobby, supplied by the hotel, or take our laptop to the lobby.

The hotel provides a “grab and go” breakfast which consists of pre-packaged pastries and muffins. There were also coffee and orange and apple juices. The location is convenient for military personnel relocating to the Navy bases, and there were a lot of military personnel staying in the hotel. The hotel has a lot of fast food restaurants and a Sonny’s BBQ close by, and a Brew Pub next door,. You’ll have to adventure out if you want to experience fine dining. This hotel didn’t have the “dark alley” in back mentioned in a review of the nearby Ashton Inn & Suites. It is located next to a busy street, but we didn’t have any problems with street noise in our room. The doors to the rooms are noisy and creaky and will slam shut if you let them, which could be a major nuisance if your neighbors aren’t considerate.

I would probably consider staying here again if I was going to be in town long enough to want the convenience of the kitchenette. If all you need is a hotel room, you can probably find a better deal elsewhere.

In the Corry Field and Pensacola NAS immediate area, one has three lodging choices, the Comfort Inn, Super8, and the Ashton. The Ashton is definitely nothing to brag about, but it is OK and the best of the three lodging choices by far. The room showed wear & tear, but it was clean. A few basic room supplies were missing, such as drinking glasses and sufficient towels. However, the front desk quickly provided these items. The internet connection in our room did not work. The surrounding area is not the greatest, so park your car near the main entrance. Also, I recommend a second floor room for added security, as the dark alley-way behind the Ashton made me nervous. One should also realize that when the Ashton says they offer a breakfast, in reality all they offer is some terrible tasting coffee and packaged pastries. I think it is very deceptive on their part to claim they offer a breakfast. Celophane wrapped buns and bitter coffee do not constitute a breakfast. To close out on a positive note, the indoor pool was nice, and the beds were comfortable. The staff is business-like but not overly courteous.

I had stayed at this hotel 12 months ago (see my review of March 2005 below) with a group of colleagues. This time, I was by myself.

My review from last year pretty much stands. Some small businesses in the neighborhood have reopened, but not all.

Check-in staff was not as accomodating as last year's. That may have been because I wielded greater purchase power last year because of the large group. Still, that shouldn't be an issue. Not all guests come in a large group. Staff for the rest of the stay was friendly and courteous.

I did get to use the indoor, heated pool this time: it was deliciously warm (but not jacuzzi hot). The "heated" pool in most hotels are anything but, and I usually would have to inch myself in. Not this pool -- I slid right in!

Kitchenette in room was stocked with basic utensils (no cleaning supplies, though) and full-sized fridge. I opted to make my breakfast. When I returned to my room at the end of the day, the items I used for breakfast had been replaced with clean ones.

Superb! Excellent peopl made a stay a total success!