This week I’m in Houston, Texas.  I have to say, I love Texas.  As far as I’m concerned, Texas is God’s country.  I hope by now, you know, Fairweather Traveler is all about honest travel experiences,  whether good, bad, and the “never again.”  This time, we booked a cruise out of Galveston and let the cruise ship company make our flight reservations.  They booked us on Southwest Airlines.  We rarely, if ever fly southwest, so because the only place they fly into, in Houston, is, Houston’s Hobby Airport, we found a convenient Hilton, Hampton Inn close by to rest after a long day of flying.  Unfortunately, we were close enough to the airport to feel the jet blast as the aircraft left about every five minutes until 10:00 p.m. This, and the fact the breakfast was cold and did not seem to be what a normal Hampton Inn serves, we decided to check out and move to another Hampton Inn several miles away.  This one in La Porte, Texas.  The experience at the Hampton Inn & Suites near Houston’s Hobby Airport fell squarely into the last category, of NEVER again.  While airport hotels are often chosen for convenience and reliability, this property failed on several basic expectations that travelers should be able to count on.

The biggest issue, and the most unforgivable, was the lack of hot water.  After a full day of travel, there are few things more important than a hot shower.  Instead, we were met with lukewarm-to-cold water that never improved.  This wasn’t a brief inconvenience or a short wait for pipes to warm up; it was a consistent problem that made basic hygiene uncomfortable and frustrating.  For a hotel catering to travelers, especially those who may have to catch an early flight, this is a serious failure.  I even asked the front desk the next morning, if there was any hot water.  I was told it was still not up.  You would think that is something they should have mentioned when we checked in!

Speaking of checking in, the check-in process didn’t help improve the experience. The front desk clerk who checked us in appeared disengaged and unhappy, as though she were being forced to work against her will. Everyone has bad days, and customer service jobs are demanding, but when a guest’s first interaction feels tense and unwelcoming, it sets the tone for the entire stay.  I stay a lot of Hilton properties and have never had this experience.  A simple greeting or even a neutral demeanor would have gone a long way.  Instead,  the interaction felt like I was inconveniencing her, offering little confidence that issues would be handled well if they arose.  My sister in law even locked her luggage in their room.  No it was not on purpose nor even an accident.  When the door shut behind her, the security latch engaged, preventing anybody from entering the room.  You could tell it had happened several times before due to the scratch marks on the door jamb.   Eventually and thankfully, my brother “McGyverd” his way into the room using a paperclip and multi tool.  We even had adjoining rooms and the clerk could not find the right key to open the door.  And, when I checked out the next morning, I mentioned the previous afternoon clerk’s attitude and this new clerk told me she has been “hearing that all day.”

Breakfast the next morning was another letdown.  Hampton Inn is known for its complimentary breakfast, and many travelers choose the brand specifically for that perk.  Sadly, the food was cold.  Not “slightly cooled,” but clearly setting it out before thoroughly cooking it.  Hot breakfast items should be hot.  The cheese in these hotel omelets wasn’t even melted.  When the breakfast is not hot, it raises concerns not only about quality, but also about food safety.

To add insult to injury, the sink water pressure in the room was extremely weak.  Washing hands or shaving took far longer than it should have, and the lack of pressure made even these simple tasks annoying.  This might seem like a minor issue on its own, but when combined with no hot water and other shortcomings, it becomes part of a pattern rather than an isolated flaw.

Airport hotels don’t need to be luxurious, but they do need to be functional, clean, and dependable. This hotel missed those basics.  Until these issues are addressed, hot water reliability, staff engagement, breakfast quality, and plumbing maintenance, we can’t recommend this property to travelers passing through Houston.  Fairweather Traveler believes in giving credit where it’s due, but this time, the experience simply didn’t deliver.  Our experience so far at the Hampton Inn in La Porte is a complete opposite and so far very much worth the move.  We are kicking ourselves we did not decide to drive over here last night.