Homewood Suites by Hilton Rocky Mount — Hotel in Rocky Mount

LOCALS BEWARE: $250 CASH DEPOSIT REQUIRED for anyone originating from within 30 miles of this location!

The room itself was very nice. We did not experience the concerns of others in regards to roaches and unwashed linens. Though we did encounter one Lady-Bug that we gently let loose in the hall.

We stayed two nights for the New Years weekend and were blindsided by the self imposed WE-DONT-WANT-LOCALS-TO-STAY-HERE-DEPOSIT.

This is one of two relatively new hotel properties built near our home. Homewood Suites by Hilton and Tru by Hilton. BOTH HAVE THE REQUIRED CASH DEPOSIT OF $250 for locals within 30 miles.

They will not put it on your credit card because there is no way for them to do this unique and unprecedented “policy” through the Hilton software. IT MUST BE CASH.

After verbally fighting and arguing with the two desk clerks about the “policy” because through three phone calls and looking online at rates through several online services prior to booking our room in advance, NO MENTION OF THIS $250 LOCAL DETERRENT WAS MENTIONED, the desk clerk offered to cancel our room for the weekend.

At this point I reached into my wallet and TO THEIR SURPRISE forked over three crisp $100 bills. Which I then had to ask for my $50 change back as they were unprepared to break the last $100 bill.

Having read other reviews of this location, I see they are very quick to call local police and remove people from their property, so I’m glad I didn’t press the issue much further.

Upon walking away from the counter, a third employee informed me that this $250 penalty for staying in a local hotel is a result of theft and property destruction which occurred in the early months of operation “before security cameras were activated”. Suggesting that any and all problems the hotel had were a result of locals and couldn’t possibly be the result of poor management and security procedures, let alone anyone traveling any distance greater than 30 miles.

I was assured I would get my deposit back, which I did, after asking for it directly following check out. The desk clerk at check out seemed unaware of where such a deposit could be found or any idea that a deposit was taken in the first place. So IF you decide to follow through with your reservation, be certain to leave enough time for the deposit scavenger hunt before you leave.

Additionally, don’t count on the “free breakfast” in the morning, as they were cleaning up and pulling items off the breakfast area at least 30 minutes prior to breakfast ending. Apparently, they have more important things to do than wait around for guests to come down and partake in the amenities they claim to provide.

Dry cereal, 2% milk were removed, toaster and waffle maker were cleaned and unplugged and lord knows what else had already been put away before we made our way down for Sunday breakfast at 9:30 (breakfast is served until 10, as the sign clearly states). We were directed to the remaining hot breakfast items on the counter, which heaven knows were out for how long and were left with their lids open to the air before we came down.

Saturday breakfast was less than satisfying and we were told to grab our breakfast quickly as they would be taking it down shortly (we were probably the last to eat New Years morning. Of the items I selected, the scrambled eggs were old and crusty and the sausage looked and tasted like it had barely seen heat. But, the toaster worked and the cold cereal served it’s purpose.

We stayed on the third floor and while the room was very nice, you could hear the thumping of feet above on the fourth floor and the New Years celebrations going on outside and in other rooms.

Aside from the human aspects of this hotel, we would consider this a good property to visit but it would take a lot of convincing not to choose one of the other EIGHT properties located off the same exit of I-95 and Route 64 in Rocky Mount NC.

Room 313 12/31/21-1/2/22. I travel 10 months of the year and never expected my worst stay...

After hearing good reviews about this hotel, I cancelled my same day stay at another property and walked in to check room availability. I was told there were some rooms available for the two days I planned to stay and the rate was roughly $175/night. It wasn't clear if that was before or after tax, but I also didn't ask. Based on the reviews, I felt that it was ok to pay more than some of the other local properties and I proceeded to book.

I didn't spend much time in my room the first night, but started noticing that the room wasn't that clean when I started getting ready the next morning. There were long hairs on the tub walls and across the bathroom floor. Though not ideal, it isn't something I haven't seen before and proceed to just wash them away. As I was at the sink, I looked and noticed more long hairs, but this time they were stuck in some sort of mystery substance on the closet door (see picture).

That morning I wasn't able to stop at the desk to share my concern, but did do so when I returned from work. After discussing with the Front Desk Manager, she was in agreement that the room was dirty and the particular issue was gross. As a kind gesture, she mentioned she wanted to take something off my stay for the issue. I told her it wasn't necessary and wasn't bringing the issue up to get something out of it.

The next morning I was packing to leave and happened to look at my bed. There were some small specks and started to look closer. I then noticed a dead small red bug in the mattress. Of course, I decided to look further and pulled the covers back. At that moment, I noticed a small little live black bug walking around the mattress under my covers. I took pictures and even video to share with the hotel.

Upon checkout, I did discuss the issue with the front desk and was told to follow up with the manager when she returns the next day. I got my bill and left.

I ended up writing the hotel manager the day after my stay and then, after not hearing anything, I called the following day. On the phone, I was told that my email was received but the pictures couldn't be opened. I was asked to resend them and I'll get a response.

The response I received back was less than stellar (see photo). Basically, I was told the bugs aren't bedbugs, just little beetles, so don't worry. Also, they already knocked off a little due to the hair situation. I was a little shocked how dismissive the hotel was that there were live bugs roaming around under my covers. There wasn't really any other comment from them other than the email response that they are just beetles and no need to worry.

Naturally, I proceeded to follow up with the hotel and ended up with a pointless back and forth. Besides the gross hairs stuck on walls and the bugs running around under my covers, I looked at my bill and realized that my total for two nights was $427. Turns out that even though I asked before checking in how much the rate will be, I was only told the rate reflecting the first night. The front desk person conveniently failed to mention that the "$175/night" was jumping to $224/night ($250 w/ tax) for the second night. Only one rate was communicated upon check-in.

My favorite part of the whole experience is that my $427 2-night bill actually did turn out to have a discount. Through the pointless back and forth emails with the manager, I did get confirmation that a whopping $20 was removed from my first night for the inconvenience and also I was basically told that of course rate quoted would not be the same both nights.

Other than reminding me that I received $20 off, nothing was really addressed about the hair, bugs or front desk people not telling me the correct information. The only thing said in the end was that they apologize for the mishap of my stay.

Save your money. I promise that there are multiple hotels in the same location half the price and you will probably get the same cleanliness quality at...

Diamond member who has been to this hotel several times and had very good service. This time was a disaster. at check in I asked the clerk if I could get a complimentary Diamond upgrade. her response was we're all booked up, without even looking. I knew that was not true because I checked before I asked. Went to my room and I just couldn't let it go, so I go downstairs and show her on the app that she has plenty of rooms to upgrade me with. she then says that she sees the rooms , but I need to call corporate to get moved. I'm staying with points so I get that I need to call the 800 number for help. But to just lie and tell me that you're all booked up without even looking first is just bad business. She said she could put me in an upgrade for 185.00 a night, but I would still have the original room. why would I need 2 rooms in the same hotel for myself. so I go back to my room, my wife and I then go to the store for allergy meds, come back and neither key card works. we go back downstairs and to tell her our keys aren't working. She seems to have been expecting us, because she started making new keys before I told her what happened. it didn't dawn on me as to why until later. we get new keys and as soon as we get off the elevator and turn the corner, a man is LEAVING OUR ROOM! He's the other clerk at the front desk. He asks us if this is our room, we said yes. He tells us that the other attendant checked us out of our room and booked someone else in it. ONE HOUR AFTER CHECKING US IN! Who does that? She just checked us in and checked us out within the hour!!! Fuming, I go back downstairs to TRY to make sure she didn't check us out and book us in another room. She assured me that she did not. She evidently must have checked us back in when the other attendant told her of her screw up. I was so upset by this mess and the lack of compassion by the attendant my wife and packed up and went over to the Holiday Inn to stay. We left a free 2 night "points redemption" stay to move to a 2 night "paid" stay. that's how horrible we were treated. Now I don't make a big deal about being Diamond level, but I would hope it would give me some leeway when it comes to getting help. None. No upgrade, we were lied too. she checked us out of our room within the hour and never said she was sorry. That attendant should not be working at any hotel front desk. I'm reevaluating my stays in Rocky Mount now, I may move to another chain. Sorry, but that attendant...