I don’t ordinarily write blog posts about chain hotels. After all, with a chain you pretty much know what you’re going to get. At a Hampton Inn you can usually rely on a clean and comfortable room and a breakfast bar with make-your-own waffles, a couple of hot items and an assortment of cereals, yogurt, fruit and pastries. A fitness room and a pool are fairly standard. I had occasion to be in Holland, Michigan, recently on a family trip and hadn’t planned to work, or at least not much. However, our stay at the Hampton Inn in Holland was so extraordinary that I have to tell you about it.
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Our room was standard: comfortable bed, desk, lap desk, flat screen TV, and all of the other usual room amenities that I’m used to from a Hampton Inn. The extraordinary was with the dining, recreation and service.
The breakfast buffet was up to the usual Hampton high standards, but with a larger assortment of options. Some of our grandkids, who were with us, have extreme allergies to certain foods. One of the staff, Laurie, was a huge help in deciphering which foods would be safe for them to eat. She brought out package wrappers so we could check ingredients and explained preparation. We found there was plenty that the kids could—and would—eat for a nutritious and filling breakfast.
In the afternoon and evening, the room that breakfast is served in becomes Sharkee’s, a restaurant and bar. Hampton Inn Holland is one of only two Hampton Inns in the country with a full-service restaurant. We didn’t have an evening meal here, but my husband and I had a cocktail and shared an appetizer, Loaded Tater Tots, with cheddar cheese, onion and bacon, served with sour cream.
The kids enjoyed the large pool in the room adjacent to the restaurant, while the adults preferred the hot tub.
The arcade is another kid favorite, while the entire family can have fun in the game room with table tennis, a pool table, air hockey and other fun family-friendly entertainment.
Adults can work out in the fitness room.
Of course, you don’t want to spend all of your time in the hotel, no matter how nice it is. Laurie once again helped us out, suggesting several area attractions that the kids would enjoy.
It’s no wonder the Hampton Inn Holland received the Circle of Excellence Award in 2013, an award presented to the top 10% of Hampton Inns in the U.S. I would stay there again in a heartbeat.
The Hampton Inn Holland is located at 12427 Felch Street, Holland, Michigan. Check the web site for further detail or to make reservations.
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