Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum — Hotel in Garden City

I am traveling across the country with my family and really enjoyed my stay at this Hilton Garden Inn. The brand is one of my favorites because you can count on them being more or less the same style across the country. I travel to the East Coast from the West Coast all the time. It's nice for it to be reliable in that way.

This one was slightly different in a few ways. The beds were not flush to the floor and had open space under them. I personally don't like that. Stuff likes to roll away and get under there. Especially now that I've got a one year old baby that likes to crawl away, lmao. She really yeeted stuff under there. Normally, they are closed bottomed. The only issue we had was that we asked for and were told that we had a 2pm check out. Which was great. I have teenage boys, and they just... smell. It's gotta be a genetic thing because everyone on my husband's family has an issue with extremely smelly toes. It's worse for all the teenage boys in the family, what with all the running and playing, sweating, and extra hormones. They are on this trip with me. Exhausted because it was a really horrible day yesterday. We arrived at midnight and passed out, like, literally just dead immediately. I forgot to do all the protective measures to keep the room smelling fresh, especially since every hotel these days has completely or mostly unusable windows anymore and that lack of air flow makes it hard to air out the room. I woke up in the morning, ran out to the Jeep and came back into the room and was like slapped in the face with the smell of my boys feet. We immediately opened up the window the whole inch that it could and turned on the fan. Getting that air flowing. Then started making the boys wash their feet and seal up their shoes until it was time to go. Now we needed the 2pm check out mostly so we could leave and let the room breathe without the source of the stink being inside. We even double-checked with the front desk and made a late breakfast as it was noon. Less than 20 minutes later, a maid came and knocked on the door, asking when we were leaving. That was kind of annoying as it freaked the dog out, we had JUST verified checkout time and had made the request when we checked in, so it should have been in the housekeeper notes from audit, it was noted in the system, plus we had requested not to knock on the door because of the baby and dog. She then left and then reported us to the manager.

So, like I said, the smell was pungent. I'm not mad that she went and told the manager. It was just the sort of two-faced vibe that bugged me. The manager called and said that the maid was "concerned" and wanted in our room. We were like, uh, okay? She said, "Don't worry, but we will need to check the room out before you leave."

We packed it all up and in and left the room at 1pm as planned, pretty much, but instead of the room getting to breathe for a bit without us in there. We went to the front desk to check out the room. The room was fine but still had a lingering smell. They threw in a machine that changes out the air in the room since you know you can't use the windows anymore. That's really all it needs. Some freaking airflow. They didn't force a cleaning fee or anything. It was just annoying that, that big of a stink, was made over a smell when we weren't supposed to even be out of the room for 2 hours by that point. I ran into her on the way out, and she avoided looking at me.

The manager was cool, and I think she has kids too because she laughed about the whole thing. The front desk agent called the situation "odd." Once the boys and their smelly shoes were out of the room, the room instantly was a lot better, but after that call I sent the boys and their stuff out to the car, while we finished packing up, so the smell was mostly gone. The dirty bedding was still in the room. The housekeeper went up to check the room, and then the manager had to, before they could let us check out. My husband said that the front desk agents, Yvonne and...

Hilton Garden Inn is just one of those hotels which are hit or miss.

There are always constants. The lobby layout is relatively the same. The same color scheme, the arrangement of furniture, type of furniture, and the fireplace. Always modern, yet warm and inviting.

The tiny market off the side of the Front Desk. Always neat. Always overprice. Wine against the back wall.

Many of the locations offer water with lime, lemon, or orange. Some, even provide coffee and hot water. If you check in after 3p, there is normally their 'famous' cranberry oat cookies.

Most have an indoor pool and jacuzzi. Most have a fitness gym. Many have outdoor seating with some kind of fireplace.

All great touches.

Open parking lot.

Rooms are always decent. Fridge. Coffee maker. Microwave. A desk. Bed. Side tables. Essentials.

Most of the rooms are clean. Minimal stains on the sheets or towels.

What I like least about the Hilton Garden Inn's are the lack of communication between their staff. Once, we asked for a late check out, was confirmed, had our 'do not disturb' sign still out on the door and some how they didn't communicate that to their housekeeping, and they entered into the room after a quick knock.

Another time, we had issues with the dryers and the staff member was instructed by management to refund us the coins used. The staff member decided not to give us the full refund. And after talking to management, she did go ahead and refund us in full.

This time, as gold members, you can either get a breakfast coupon or choose rewards points. Upon check in, they gave us the breakfast coupon.

My husband and I don't normally eat breakfast, so we went back to front desk, returned the coupon, and asked for the points instead. The front desk agent took back the coupon and said it's indicated in their system that we chose to receive the points instead of the breakfast.

Fine. In the morning, just before we were checking out, I noticed an envelope was slipped under our door. I thought it was the receipt, but it was the breakfast coupon.

Upon check out, I let the gal know that we changed it "with her" yesterday, and wasn't sure why we had the breakfast coupon. By this time 11a, the breakfast was over, anyway. The front desk agent said, 'oh, I'm not sure what happened. We have it in here that you wanted the points.'

Because things seem to get 'mixed' up all time and no one seems to claim responsibility when 'miscommunication' gets skewed. I asked to get something in writing. I honestly don't like to 'call' after I had left a location and wait for someone to come on the line, wait for them to do research, wait for a manager to see if they can figure something out, wait for them to make a decision, wait for them to contact the 'right' person to help me... etc. It's just inconvenient. Especially if you have nothing solid. And nothing in writing except for the Front Desk agent. Who already didn't follow through properly, telling you that 'you're in the system' indicating that you wanted points.

No that doesn't work for me.

i insisted for something in writing. The Front Desk agent was so upset about it. Gave major attitude. Wrote a lame note on a business card. And passed it to me. I get that it's inconvenient. Imagine if I had to call and do this all over the phone. She really didn't want to give her name. She was clearly annoyed that I didn't just 'take her word for it.'

Again, I do like many things about the Hilton Garden Inn properties, but if they put the same emphasis in training their staff as they do in their decor, these properties would be...

If you're looking for a hotel with a Pool open 24 hours or a room with a couch, accessible bathroom, and a view of the distant Boise Mountains then you should stay at Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum.

I stayed for one night in Room 420 on June 27, 2017. Total Cost for one night: $242.52

Guest Room: $214.62 Sales Tax - State: $12.88 Auditorium Tax: $10.73 Tourism Tax: $4.29

Overall impression of the hotel and room is very positive. Room 420 was mostly clean and odor-free. There is a faint dark ring on the bottom half of the tub, but nothing unsanitary. I felt the room was way too large for one person, so consider room 420 if you have a friend with you. The view from Room 420 overlooks the entrance of the hotel.

The hotel offers a continental breakfast in the self-service kitchen. The Fitness Center and Pool are divided by some windows. The Fitness Center has cardio machines, weights, and a cable machine! The Pool is nice, but seating is very limited. The Spa looks a little scary with the green lighting.

The hotel lobby is a small size, but it has a fireplace and some seating. There are plenty of chairs and tables around the kitchen, so you may need to sit in this area if the lobby is active. I didn't see any meeting rooms in the lobby. Colors in hotel match in lobby, hallways, and room.

Laundry (coin-op) is also available for guests. There are restaurants in the area, but none of them are open late. I took many pictures including 360 pictures of the hotel room, so have a look.

Pros: Pool is open 24 hours! Room has a microwave. Room has a Keurig coffee machine. Thick paper coffee cups with lids, so coffee can be taken beyond the hotel room. Continental breakfast in lobby. Room is large with 1 King bed, chair, couch, and desk. Bed sheets are soft. Room has plenty of light. Air conditioner wasn't loud and hardly was active. Room has two TV's and TV size is a little larger compared to other hotels. Room has plenty of space in living room, hallway and bedroom. Handrail in shower is mounted in the correct location to enter and exit shower. Bath towels are very easy to reach above bath tub. Guest Laundry is open 24 hours. Fitness Center is open 24 hours. Pool in hotel is 3' to 5' depth and a 3' hot tub.

Cons: View isn't very impressive, but there is a distant view of Boise Mountains. Limited restaurants in area, so could be difficult to get a late dinner.

The condition of the room and hotel is very well maintained and I truly...