Homewood Suites by Hilton Corpus Christi — Hotel in Corpus Christi

My Last Stay at ANY Hilton Property||||I'll leave all the little problems we experienced for the end, as I don't want to bury the lead. We were falsely accused of theft at this property and billed a ridiculous amount for a few paltry kitchen items that could be bought at a dollar store for $10 or so. If you stay at a Hilton property with a kitchen, I guess you need to photograph or video the contents of every drawer and cabinet upon entering and then leaving the room. ||||We checked in to this property on 12/29/23 and stayed for two nights, checking out and heading home on New Year's Eve. Once we had about an hour left on our six-hour trip home, we got a call from the hotel to notify us that we were being billed for missing kitchen items. Namely, a spoon, a can opener, and a Tupperware container. We explained that we didn't use any of these items and certainly didn't take them, only to be told that housekeeping staff inventories all kitchen items and places a sticker on a cabinet to indicate that everything is there. We explained that someone must have made a mistake but were told we would be charged and there was nothing we can do about it. Upon our arrival home, I saw where we were being charged $101.75 for these missing items!||||Having been a Hilton Honors member for 18 years (currently diamond tier), staying exclusively at Hilton properties during that time and using a Hilton American Express for 15 years, I called Hilton Honors when we arrived at home. I expected them to back me up and help resolve the issue but was put on hold while they called the property and spoke to the same person that had called me. I was told the property wasn't willing to reverse the charges and that a case was being generated. A couple days later, I received a notification that they were unable to do anything because they "are not physically present at the location". I wasn't aware they were physically present at ANY locations. I wasted time on another call and a couple e-mails only to be told pretty much the same thing. I called and spoke to the general manager of the property who said that the kitchen inventory comes as a whole set so they can't just replace a missing item or two, so we were being billed for the whole setup. He said the room received an entire new kitchen set 2 days prior to our arrival and the room had not been rented until we got there. I explained that is all well and good, but that we didn't take anything. He refused to acknowledge that they could have gotten an incomplete set or that a staff member could have taken anything, saying the only possible explanation is that we took the items. I explained that is obviously not the only explanation, because we didn't steal anything from the property but could not get through to him. I even asked him to put himself in my shoes and asked what he would do if we was accused and charged for something he didn't do, only to be told to have a nice day.||||So the property can't be reasoned with and Hilton corporate won't back me up and claims to be powerless to do anything. I am currently disputing the charge through American Express and am hopeful that they can take care of this and protect me. Regardless of how that works out, I will NEVER spend another night at a Hilton property. ||||In addition to all this ridiculousness, we were charged $12 a night for unsecured, ground level parking at this hotel. We stayed here 3 years ago with no problems, but the property is much more run-down than it was then, and it is no longer a pleasant place to stay. ||||Upon check-in, I was not thanked for being an Honors diamond member or given anything in appreciation for loyalty which has happened at literally every other Hilton property I have ever stayed at. I was given no information about breakfast, and after carrying all our luggage both directions across the lobby while the front desk staff looked on, I finally had to ask where the elevator was. We got to the room to find what looked like a refrigerator from a thrift store, with rust throughout. The staff member that counted the kitchen inventory must have put the towels into the room because despite having 4 people on our reservation, there were only two towels in the room. ||||Breakfast was the worst we have ever had at a Homewood. The breakfast staff were pleasant and friendly but the food was abysmal. The bread was so stale, it wasn't even edible as toast. The paper thin bacon and shriveled potatoes were barely edible and were served both mornings. We are pretty sure the potatoes the second morning were the exact same pan of potatoes from the first morning. There was one urn of coffee, meaning no light/dark varieties or decaf and we had to ask if there was creamer in the hotel before they brought any out. The evening reception is now on Wednesdays only at this property and the pool and hot tub were not open for guests, with no explanation. We understand if the outdoor pool is not heated, but the hot tub should be available despite it being December. ||||For those that have made it through this entire diatribe, DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL! If you do, make sure you thoroughly document the inventory and condition of the room, upon your arrival and departure. Marriott is getting a very loyal new customer after this laughingly...

First and foremost, front desk staff is amazing. The lady at the front desk was helpful, friendly, and very honest about everything. She's great, and very straightforward. but some of the management (Not going to say his whole name out of some respect) my apologies, this is lengthy.

I delt with a Mr. R who had an issue my card . It happens and that's understandable, but. *Ran my card 12 total times in total. *6 times on the first day before check-in *6 times on the third day, after check out day, (mostly all different amounts including "random, non-notified amounts.) *Never notified me during the days I was there about any financial errors. While driving (from corpus Christi to Dallas), they tried running multiple transactions of different prices there. I assumed he was trying to charge me for another night, so I called to confirm we were shown to be checking out. Instead I was greeted with, "the money didn't go through and you owe more money." Which is curious considering I already stayed there and was never notified of any financial issues. Not to mention the money he claimed didn't go through never came back to my account. On top of that, my bank statement showed money was pulled and held aside for them the whole time. Also, how did you check me in for all these nights if it didn't?

If that wasn't worse...we are trying to conversate with him while driving which I told him. At the time, on a busy, two lane (one lane each way) 75 mph hwy. I have my entire family in the car, instead of answering questions, he wants to send an email, and wants me to stop to read an email of the transactions. Even Assuming I'd pull to a shoulder to do so, further, Putting my family in more danger. At this time, we almost drive head to head with a car going the opposite direction, who was trying to pass a semi, ( a semi that, also, had to swerve over to give this car space to go between us) we concluded after that, a heated conversation, with him saying to "go and contact your bank and call me back later," as not to risk things while I'm driving. I would also like to note I did tell him we were headed home to dallas, again.

Not even 20 minutes later, things escalate when I get word he was trying to threaten to call police and mark this as theft because I didn't pull over fast enough to call my bank and call him back. *Mind you, these are all all busy freeways, on a Saturday, mid day, on the weekend when spring breaks end. Pulling over on the road anywhere, for any reason is dangerous, let alone while your wife and children are all packed in sitting in the car with cars speed past in traffic. Let that sink in....

He tries mentioning he has to treat this as we ran, even though I, contacted him ..and all my info is on file, and we've been talking for hours to him....and still going. He blamed his staff for accepting a debit card they usually don't take. But when I notified him that it was him that charged my card first, and that he was claiming the staff did it, that he was staff was calling out his staff, he confirmed and responded with, 'yes but don't worry about it" arrogantly. As a fellow Manager, I breaks my heart when we as managers make errors on the job, but confidently shame, punish, or Throw others under the bus for doing the same... Management took offense to hearing me say if I found I was overcharged there would be problems, but they dont mind trying to threaten you when you dont work at their pace, prior to that.

In the end, not only did he NOT request that we pay with a different card....he pulled more money from the very same card he claimed he was having issues with. we ended up paying this man additional money, only for me to get home and find out through my bank, both verbally and visually, we were actually overcharged by $70+. Money that my bank confirmed this merchant was holding still on top of everything that was being pulled and it was on them to release it not my bank. They already confirmed it.

conclusion. Make sure management sends you visual confirmation immediately to avoid a...

We were falsely accused of theft at this property and billed a ridiculous amount for a few paltry kitchen items that could be bought at a dollar store for $10 or so. If you stay at a Hilton property with a kitchen, I guess you need to photograph or video the contents of every drawer and cabinet upon entering and then leaving the room.

We checked in to this property on 12/29/23 and stayed for two nights. On our way home, we got a call from the hotel to notify us that we were being billed for missing kitchen items- a spoon, a can opener, and a Tupperware container. We explained that we didn't use any of these items and certainly didn't take them, only to be told that housekeeping staff inventories all kitchen items and places a sticker on a cabinet to indicate that everything is there. We explained that someone must have made a mistake but were told we would be charged and there was nothing we can do about it. Upon our arrival home, I saw where we were being charged $101.75 for these missing items!

Having been a Hilton Honors member for 18 years (currently diamond tier), and using a Hilton American Express for 15 years, I called Hilton when we arrived at home. I expected them to back me up and help resolve the issue but was told the property wasn't willing to reverse the charges and that a case was being generated. A couple days later, I received a notification that they were unable to do anything because they "are not physically present at the location". I wasn't aware they were physically present at ANY locations. I called and spoke to the general manager of the property who said that the kitchen inventory comes as a whole set so they can't just replace a missing item or two, so we were being billed for the whole setup. He said the room received an entire new kitchen set 2 days prior to our arrival and the room had not been rented until we got there. I explained that is all well and good, but that we didn't take anything. He refused to acknowledge that they could have gotten an incomplete set or that a staff member could have taken anything, saying the only possible explanation is that we took the items. I explained that is obviously not the only explanation, because we didn't steal anything from the property and even asked him to put himself in my shoes and asked what he would do if we was accused and charged for something he didn't do, only to be told to have a nice day.

So the property can't be reasoned with and Hilton corporate won't back me up and claims to be powerless to do anything. I am currently disputing the charge through American Express and am hopeful that they can take care of this and protect me. Regardless of how that works out, I will NEVER spend another night at a Hilton property.

In addition to all this ridiculousness, we were charged $12 a night for unsecured, ground level parking at this hotel. Upon check-in, I was given no information about breakfast, and after carrying all our luggage both directions across the lobby while the front desk staff looked on, I finally had to ask where the elevator was. In our room, the refrigerator looked to be from a thrift store, with rust throughout. The staff member that counted the kitchen inventory must have put the towels into the room because despite having 4 people on our reservation, there were only two towels in the room. Breakfast was the worst we have ever had at a Homewood. The bread was so stale, it wasn't even edible as toast. The paper thin bacon and shriveled potatoes were barely edible and were served both mornings. There was one urn of coffee, meaning no light/dark varieties or decaf and we had to ask if there was creamer in the hotel before they brought any out. The evening reception is now on Wednesdays only at this property and the pool and hot tub were not open for guests, with no explanation. We understand if the outdoor pool is not heated, but the hot tub should be available despite it being December.

For those that have made it through this entire diatribe, DO NOT STAY AT THIS HOTEL! Marriott is getting a very loyal...