Burlington Getaway: Hampton Inn & Suites Perks You Won't Believe!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into Burlington's Hampton Inn & Suites, a place that… well, it thinks it's got it all. Let's see if it actually does.
Burlington Getaway: Hampton Inn & Suites – Perks You Won't Believe! (Maybe?) – A Brutally Honest Review
First off, SEO needs, right? Here's the deal: "Burlington Hampton Inn & Suites Review, Accessible Hotels, Burlington Vermont, Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Free Wi-Fi, Cleanliness, Breakfast, Spa, Family Friendly, Business Travel, Burlington Hotels, Vermont Getaway". Okay, SEO gods appeased (hopefully!). Now, let's really talk.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, TBH
This is important, people. The official line says "Facilities for disabled guests" and "Wheelchair accessible," yeah? Cool, good start. I, um, haven't personally tested every inch with a wheelchair and frankly, would probably look ridiculous attempting to do so for this review, but we're all about being honest. I will say, from what I saw, the elevators are present and seemingly up to code. The lobby area looked easily navigable. So, potentially good. Gotta verify specifics before you book, especially if you're, you know, relying on it. I'm just a reviewer, for crying out loud.
Getting Around (and Getting In):
- "Elevator" Thank god, I am not sure how I would have gone up the stairs.
- "Car park [free of charge]" & "Car park [on-site]" & "Valet parking": Yes, yes, and yes. Parking is a win because Burlington can be a nightmare. Free is even better (and a big plus for the budget traveler in me). Valet, though? A level of fancy I'm usually wary of… unless I'm REALLY trying to impress someone.
- "Airport transfer": Always convenient if you're flying in.
- "Taxi service": Yep, they got 'em.
- "Bicycle parking": Vermont loves bikes, so makes sense.
- "Car power charging station": Score one for the future!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Fueling Frenzy
Alright, let's talk food. This is where things got… interesting.
- "Breakfast [buffet]": Okay, the dreaded buffet. Standard Hampton fare, mostly. Scrambled eggs, the rubbery kind you expect. Cereal. Toast. The usual suspects. Not gourmet, but it gets the job done. The "Asian breakfast" mentioned? I didn't notice anything distinctly Asian, but maybe my palate is unsophisticated.
- "Breakfast takeaway service.": A lifesaver for those days when you're running late.
- "Restaurants", "Coffee shop", "Bar", "Poolside bar", "Snack bar": Restaurants- plural? Not really. There's the breakfast area (which pretends to be a restaurant), but no other on-site dinner places (that I could see). The coffee shop? Basic. The bar? Eh. Poolside bar? I'll get to that…
- "Room service [24-hour]": At least they offer this, Always a win for me!
- "Coffee/tea in restaurant": Yes, you can always get your caffeine fix.
- "A la carte in restaurant", "Buffet in restaurant", "Desserts in restaurant", "Salad in restaurant", "Soup in restaurant", "Vegetarian restaurant", "Western cuisine in restaurant": It's all pretty basic, so don't expect a Michelin-star experience.
- "Alternative meal arrangement": Not really, if I'm being honest.
- "Bottle of water": Yes, but it was tiny, almost like they didn't want you to overhydrate.
- "Happy hour": I didn't find one, and I looked.
- "Asian cuisine in restaurant", "International cuisine in restaurant": I'm calling BS on this.
That Poolside Bar… and The "Things to Do"/"Ways to Relax" Debacle
Okay, so "Swimming pool [outdoor]" is listed. Great! But the "Poolside bar"… that's where things get tricky. I saw a small outdoor space. I think they intend to have a pool bar. I didn't see an actual employee there. I'm guessing covid killed it, but I'm only speculating. Here's an idea for a pool bar: a bar not just a sign. Still, the pool itself looked clean, not that I went in because it's not exactly beach weather. I am a pool person, but the weather didn't cooperate.. I can check out the "Things to do" section from the front desk if it really matters.
Now, on to the "Ways to Relax." This is where the Hampton Inn listings get a bit… optimistic.
- "Fitness center", "Gym/fitness": Yes, a gym. Small gym, but a gym nonetheless. Treadmills, weights, the usual suspects. It got the job done, but don't expect anything Instagram-worthy.
- "Spa", "Spa/sauna", "Swimming pool": See above. The dream of an actual spa experience (sauna?!) remained just that, a dream.
- "Massage", "Body scrub", "Body wrap", "Foot bath": Ha. Okay, the Hampton Inn… probably not your go-to for a luxurious spa day.
- "Sauna", "Steamroom": See above. A little disappointing in the Sauna and steam room department.
- "Pool with view": No, not really.
Cleanliness and Safety – The "During Covid" Edition
So, let's cut straight to the chase. They say they're serious about cleaning.
- "Anti-viral cleaning products", "Daily disinfection in common areas", "Hand sanitizer", "Hygiene certification", "Individually-wrapped food options", "Physical distancing of at least 1 meter", "Professional-grade sanitizing services", "Room sanitization opt-out available", "Rooms sanitized between stays", "Safe dining setup", "Sanitized kitchen and tableware items", "Shared stationery removed", "Staff trained in safety protocol", "Sterilizing equipment" – These are all the buzzwords, and the amount is reassuring. *I *saw* a lot of hand sanitizer, staff wearing masks, and signs reminding people to… you know… not cough directly into the buffet.
- "Cashless payment service": Cool.
- "Doctor/nurse on call", "First aid kit": Always a good thing to have.
Rooms: The Good, the Okay, and the "Meh"
The room was…fine. Basic, but clean.
- "Air conditioning", "Alarm clock", "Bathrobes", "Bathroom phone", "Bathtub", "Blackout curtains", "Carpeting", "Closet", "Coffee/tea maker", "Complimentary tea", "Desk", "Extra long bed", "Free bottled water", "Hair dryer", "High floor", "In-room safe box", "Interconnecting room(s) available", "Internet access – LAN", "Internet access – wireless", "Ironing facilities", "Laptop workspace", "Linens", "Mini bar", "Mirror", "Non-smoking", "On-demand movies", "Private bathroom", "Reading light", "Refrigerator", "Satellite/cable channels", "Scale", "Seating area", "Separate shower/bathtub", "Shower", "Slippers", "Smoke detector", "Socket near the bed", "Sofa", "Soundproofing", "Telephone", "Toiletries", "Towels", "Umbrella", "Visual alarm", "Wake-up service", "Wi-Fi [free]", "Window that opens": Everything you'd expect, pretty much. Free Wi-Fi. Good. The bed was comfy enough, the TV worked, and everything was clean. The mini bar? Empty. Not a dealbreaker, but a bit of a missed opportunity.
- "Additional toilet": Didn't see one.
- "Room decorations": Plain. Very plain. Think "beige on beige."
- "Soundproof rooms": Mostly Okay.
Services and Conveniences: The Usual Suspects
- **"Air conditioning in public area", "Audio-visual equipment for special events", "Business facilities","Cash withdrawal", "Concierge", "Contactless check-in/out", "Convenience store", "Currency exchange", "Daily housekeeping", "Doorman", "Dry cleaning", "Elevator", "Essential condiments", "Facilities for disabled guests", "Food delivery", "Gift/souvenir shop", "Indoor venue for special events", "Invoice provided", "Ironing service", "Laundry service", "Luggage storage", "Meeting/banquet facilities", "Meetings", "Meeting stationery", "On-site event hosting", "Outdoor venue for special events", "Projector/LED display", "Safety deposit boxes", "Seminars", "Shrine", "Smoking area", "
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into MY potential Burlington, ON, adventure. This isn't your perfectly manicured travel itinerary, oh no. This is real life, with all the spilled coffee, questionable decisions, and existential dread (kidding…mostly) included. We're talking Hampton Inn & Suites Burlington, and we're going to try to make some memories. Or, at the very least, not completely ruin my vacation.
Subject: Burlington Bliss (and Maybe a Bit of Mess) - My "Plan"
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Errands of Existence
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Arrive at Hampton Inn & Suites Burlington! (Hoping to snag a room with a decent view…fingers crossed it's not of the parking lot. My spirit shrivels at the thought.) Check-in. Unpack. Briefly consider the meaning of life while staring at the complimentary shampoo. Those little bottles mock me, you know? They're like tiny existential reminders that nothing lasts. Sigh.
- Anecdote Alert: Last time I stayed at a Hampton Inn, I accidentally left my favorite pair of undies in the drawer. I didn't realize until the next day, when I received a call from the lost and found - I was MORTIFIED but also mildly impressed that they found/cared for them. So, yeah, packing list: CHECK. (And I'm double-checking the underwear situation this time.)
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Grocery Store Run of Doom (aka: the quest for snacks). Need snacks! Specifically, I need chips, gummy bears, and a disproportionate amount of sparkling water. Is this a vacation, or a snack-themed existential crisis? The world may never know. But seriously, navigating a new grocery store is a serious Olympic Sport. I inevitably get lost, contemplate purchasing a bag of frozen vegetables I'll never eat, and spend too much money.
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Unpack, then stare at the TV. Maybe watch something dumb and trashy. That's part of the vacation experience as well! I need to unwind, reset, and forget I have responsibilities. Just… a little bit.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner. I'm thinking some sort of casual place. Not too fancy. Doesn't need to be the best meal of my life, but also, definitely better than the frozen lasagna I contemplated buying at the grocery store.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Walk around the lakefront. Hopefully, the weather is agreeable, because I need a stroll. (Maybe some pictures?) It'll likely be breezy and beautiful, and I'll probably mutter to myself, "This is nice." Or whine that the wind is making my hair look like a bird's nest. No promises.
9:00 PM Onward: Back at the hotel. TV, snacks, possibly writing in a journal (if I can overcome my crippling fear of bad handwriting). Early bedtime planned - but I'll probably stay up too late, scrolling on my phone, as usual.
Day 2: The Burlington Quest; Food, Culture, and the Unknown.
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Free breakfast can be a miracle or a disaster. (Is there actual bacon? Or is it the reconstituted, sad kind? This is CRUCIAL information.) Eat, caffeinate, and mentally prepare myself for the day.
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Explore downtown Burlington. I'm thinking I'll want to see the art gallery, and maybe check out Spencer Smith Park. (Because, you know, a park is a park). Hopefully, I find a cute coffee shop.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Lunch - somewhere local. (Again, not too fancy. And preferably with good reviews/I have a strong sense of direction.) I'm open to suggestions… as long as they don't involve raw fish. No. Just… no.
- 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Shopping? Maybe browse some boutiques? See if I can find some local handmade goods, and try not to feel like I'm in a Hallmark movie.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The REAL Adventure Begins. (Maybe, if I'm feeling ambitious) I'm thinking of visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens! It's a solid option that should give the soul a little bit of something, you know?
- Rambling Time: Okay, so gardens. I do love a good garden. They're usually peaceful and pretty, full of flowers and birds and all sorts of things. I'm hoping it's not crowded because crowds? Nope. I have an almost pathological aversion to crowds. And then, I may need some quiet time to sit and reflect, on a bench or something and process the thoughts.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Rest and recoup. Back at the hotel. Shower!
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner. (Maybe a fancier dinner, if I'm feeling brave. Or, if I'm being lazy, I'll get takeout and eat it in bed.)
- 8:00 PM - Onward: Relax. Maybe watch a movie, read a book, or (god forbid) actually try to get some sleep.
Day 3: Adios Burlington (Sniffle)
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Same breakfast. Same existential dread.
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Final Pack (because I'm basically a master of procrastination)
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Last-minute shopping. (Did I miss anything? I probably did.)
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Check-out. (Hoping the hotel staff doesn't find any of my…ahem…unmentionables this time.)
- 12:00 PM: Head home. Reflect on an amazing trip or total flop. (Probably a bit of both, tbh. But hey, that's life, right?)
Imperfections and Quirky Observations:
- I am TERRIBLE at directions. Seriously, if you put me in charge of navigating, we're lost. Guaranteed.
- My mood is highly dependent on the quality of the coffee. (It can make or break me).
- I'm not a "morning person". So expect a lot of grumpy face before 10 AM.
- I'm a world-class over-thinker. So, yeah, expect that to bleed into everything.
- I have strong opinions about hotel pillows. The fluffy, overly-stuffed ones are the WORST.
Emotional Reactions (Good and Bad):
- Excited: To get away from the everyday grind. To see new things. To eat all the snacks.
- Anxious: About the transportation, the social interactions, and whether the hotel room will have a decent view.
- Annoyed: If the weather is terrible. If the service is bad. If people are rude.
- Delighted: If the food is amazing. If I find a really cool shop. If I see a gorgeous sunset.
Final Thoughts:
This isn't a plan, it's a suggestion that is probably full of flaws like me. I'm going to go to Burlington, ON, and try to have an adventure. It's bound to be messy, unpredictable, and probably hilarious at times. That's the whole point, isn't it? Now, wish me luck, because I'm going to need it!
Unbeatable Luxury Awaits: JW Marriott Guadalajara - Your Dream Getaway!
Burlington Getaway: Hampton Inn & Suites Perks You Won't Believe! (Ugh, Maybe... But Mostly Believe?)
Okay, so I *thought* I knew what a "Burlington Getaway" involved. My brain conjured images of crisp autumn leaves, artisanal cheese tastings, and maybe... just *maybe*... a charming little bookstore. The *reality* of the Hampton Inn & Suites... well, it was a thing. Let's break it down. And yes, I’m already regretting booking this, mostly because I forgot my noise-canceling headphones.
Is the "Free Hot Breakfast" at the Hampton Inn truly legendary, or just… breakfast-y?
Listen. Legend? Probably not. Breakfast-y? Absolutely. I mean, it's there. Bagels? Present. Waffles you can make *yourself*? A solid win, especially if you're slightly hungover from sampling too much that darn artisanal cheese (more on *that* later). The scrambled eggs... well, they exist. They're slightly... beige. But hey, it's FREE, which is my love language.
Okay, here's the REAL tea. The first morning, I was starving. Like, ravenous. I practically inhaled a waffle. Then, I saw the woman *ahead* of me, meticulously crafting a waffle tower with every single syrup flavor available. She even *drizzled* chocolate syrup on *top* of the blueberry. I felt... inadequate. My "waffles and syrup" presentation? Rookie move. Second morning? I went for the yogurt. Less competition. And way less messy.
The "Indoor Pool" - Paradise or Public Swimming Pool?
Oh, the pool. My expectations were HIGH. I envisioned a tranquil oasis, a watery escape from the bustling day. What I *got* was a slightly chlorinated cavern of splashing children, questionable water quality, and a distinct aroma of chlorine mixed with... something else. Maybe sunscreen? Maybe the lingering scent of desperation? It’s hard to say.
Look, I DID go in. Once. I lasted maybe twenty minutes. The highlight? Watching a kid attempt to do a handstand in the shallow end and almost drown himself in the process. (He was fine, of course. Kids are resilient.) The lowlight? Definitely the chlorine. It clung to my skin for hours. I swear, I could still *taste* it at dinner. Verdict: Not paradise, but a pool nonetheless. And hey, at least they had towels. Clean-ish towels.
What about the "Fitness Center"? Is it a joke?
Okay, confession time. I didn't actually *use* the fitness center. I peeked. Through the window. It looked... adequate. Two treadmills. One elliptical. A few weights that probably hadn't been touched since the Clinton administration. My emotional reaction? A resounding *meh*. I will say that the view from the window looked to be the parking lot. So, you know, motivation city. It's there, I guess. And I admire the *thought* of it.
Seriously, tell me about the artisanal cheese. That sounds amazing!
Alright, alright, alright... the cheese. So, I had this grand idea. A cheese tasting! I'd go to all the local farms, sample the finest Vermont cheddar, brie, and... well, I'd figure the rest out when I got there. I was SO excited. I got mildly tipsy. I bought all the things. Then, I forgot about my cheese adventure entirely. My beautiful (and expensive) cheese was stashed in a mini-fridge that was about as effective as a paperweight, where it proceeded to become the most pungent science experiment in the history of hospitality.
The moral of the story? Don't make grand plans when you're tired. And maybe, just maybe, stick to the free breakfast waffles instead. They're reliable, at least.
Are the rooms actually clean?
Okay, deep breath. Yes. The rooms *were* clean. I mean, I didn't find any questionable stains or lurking dust bunnies. The bed was comfortable enough. The remote worked. The water pressure in the shower was decent. So, yes. A solid "clean." (But I'd still bring my own pillow next time, just in case. You know, for peace of mind.)
Is the staff friendly?
The staff? Bless their hearts. They were unfailingly polite and helpful, even when I was rummaging through a mountain of waffle batter trying to find the darn blueberry syrup. They probably deal with a lot of weirdos like me. So, yes. Friendly. And patient. Especially the woman at the front desk who had to listen to my cheese-related ramblings. She deserves a medal.
So... would you recommend it?
That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? Look, it's a Hampton Inn. It's not the Ritz. It's not a five-star luxury experience. But. It's *functional*. It's safe. It has free breakfast. It gets the job done. And let's be real, after the chaos of my "cheese tasting" and the chlorine-saturated pool experience... I'm not sure any luxury experience could have *saved* me. So, yeah. I'd recommend it. With caveats. Especially if you can snag a good deal. And bring your own noise-canceling headphones. Seriously. You’ll thank me later.
