Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville — Hotel in Gainesville

When Hurricane Milton was coming right at us my husband and I evacuated to Gainesville FL. I called numerous hotels and since many travellers were also evacuating it was difficult. At one point I ended up with Booking.com who said there was room at the Hilton Garden Inn. I specifically asked whether pets were permitted and they confirmed prior to making the reservation. I was quoted $143.84 and received a confirmation. when we arrived at the Inn, the man at the desk at first said he did not show a reservation, but I provided evidence of my booking. I had my dog with me when I checked in. I asked whether I could receive Hilton Honors points and he said no because it was through a 3rd party booking. He took my credit card. The next morning he advised us that breakfast was not included in the rate.|When I received my credit card bill the charge was $229.51. I called the inn to complain and was first asked to send my booking com confirmation, which I did. No response. Called back, no joy, called back and asked for a manager- they stated there was no manager on site, called back, at which point I was asked if I had a pet with me. I responded that I did, and she said there was a $75 pet deposit (which they apparently also charge tax on ). I advised that I was never advised there was a pet deposit and was told it was on their website. I advised I never saw their website as this was an emergency evacuation and that booking had confirmed pets were allowed and no mention of a pet deposit when I checked in and showed my confirmation. Further, Governor DeSantis had asked hotels to 1) allow pets, and 2) waive fees for pets during the evacuation as many people had pets and he did not want to risk them staying in place. I then asked for managers name and email. Was given Chelsea Stevens and sent her a long email with copies of my confirmation. No response whatsoever, called back and asked for Chelsea- they said she was not on site. After 3 other calls and promises that they would consider a refund and I would receive an email I was told that there would not be a refund. |1) It was never disclosed there was a pet deposit even when I had my pet with me when I checked in (and my pet was a perfect guest, had her own bed, made no mess whatsover nor any noise)|2) Total lack of response from the hotel or its manager. in response to my inquiries.|3) Bad public relations||I will never consider staying...

I had a wonderful experience at the Hilton Garden Inn in Gainesville, and let me break down why it's a keeper. Location is top-notch — just a 10-minute Uber ride away from both downtown Gainesville and the University of Florida campus. Even on game days, you're only looking at a 15-20 minute ride to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Perfect for Gator fans!

We arrived early at 1 pm, and even though the official check-in time was 3 pm, the staff went above and beyond to accommodate us. A special shoutout to Andrew who kept us in the loop about room availability while we grabbed lunch nearby.

Every member of the staff was exceptional. From the front desk to housekeeping to the restaurant staff – everyone was pleasant and professional.

We stayed in Room 226, a king room with a sofa sleeper that was spotlessly clean. The room also included conveniences like a mini-fridge, microwave, Keurig, and hairdryer. Plus, its location was ideal—far enough from the elevator and ice machine to be quiet, but not so far that it felt like a hike. As for noise, our room faced SW 33rd Ave, and we heard zero traffic.

Now, a word on breakfast: It's not complimentary, which could be clearer for guests. While I wasn't confused, I saw others who were. A brief mention during check-in or a chalkboard sign could easily clarify this. The food quality was mediocre; I'd personally opt for extra reward points over a meal credit next time.

On to the only significant issue — the towel. One of our bath towels had a strong, off-putting smell that resembled fresh baby vomit. This is an aspect where housekeeping could improve their quality control. Thoroughly inspecting towels for cleanliness and odors should be a standard procedure. Trust me, the odor was too pungent to be missed.

Despite this one misstep, Hilton Garden Inn in Gainesville is definitely a solid choice in the area. The location, staff, and overall amenities make it a worthwhile stay, and I look forward to...

When Hurricane Milton was coming right at us we evacuated to Gainesville FL. I called numerous hotels and since many travellers were also evacuating it was difficult. I ended up with Booking.com who said there was room at this Inn. I specifically asked whether pets were permitted and they confirmed prior to making the reservation. I was quoted $143.84 and received a confirmation. When we arrived, the man at the desk at first said he did not see reservation, but I provided evidence of my booking. I had my dog with me when I checked in. He took my credit card. The next morning he advised us that breakfast was not included in the rate. When I received my credit card bill the charge was $229.51. I called the inn to complain and was first asked to send my confirmation, which I did. No response. Called back, no joy, called back and asked for a manager- they stated there was no manager on site, called back, at which point I was asked if I had a pet with me. I said I did, and she said there was a $75 pet deposit (which they apparently also charge tax on ). I was never told at any point there was a pet deposit and was told it was on their website. I said I never saw their website as this was an emergency evacuation and that booking.com had confirmed pets were allowed and no mention of a pet deposit when I checked in and showed my confirmation. Further, Governor DeSantis had asked hotels to 1) allow pets, and 2) waive fees for pets during the evacuation as many people had pets and he did not want to risk them staying in place. I then asked for managers name and email. Was given Chelsea Stevens and sent her a long email with copies of my confirmation. No response whatsoever, called back and asked for Chelsea- they said she was not on site. Very bad communications and public relations. Will never stay...