This being my second stay at a Hilton Garden Inn (the first was in Monterey, CA), I had high expectations for our second stay in Sacramento. Now I am beginning to understand that even within the HGI brand that there are pronounced differences between properties that depend on the base clientele and market capacity.
What surprised me most was the smaller size of the beds (2 full size) and the room itself, compared to the HGI in Monterey. It's not that the HGI Sacramento is small, but that its sister property is bigger. Even the onsite restaurant in Monterey was noticably bigger, and the menu selection appropriately larger. Also, the TV in the room was dated (CRT-type) and did not feature On-Demand programming that I've seen in other newer properties.
Despite the differences, this is a clean, well-managed property will good customer service. At the front desk, my requests for late-checkout, directions and restaurant recommendations were handled in a friendly, efficient manner. The pool and hot tub areas were well-maintained.
What's most refreshing about staying at HGIs is the sense of not getting nickel and dimed to death. For example, I bought some refreshments at the 24-hour convenience store and the price was what I would pay at a 7-11. I should also mention that the nightly rate ($99) included a good breakfast for a family of four. How's that for a bargain?
