We usually stay at Hampton Inns when we go on road trips and we stayed at one in Ohio a few weeks ago on our way back from the East Coast. A few days later I received a survey about our stay. I filled it out indicating that the free breakfast was not up to par because there were only a few badly bruised apples available in the fresh fruit bowl and the cut fruit bowl was empty and wasn't replenished. We hadn't come down to breakfast at the last minute; it was still open another hour. I didn't complain at the hotel and didn't ask that anyone respond to my survey.

I was quite pleasantly surprised to receive an email from the hotel a few days later saying that they had refunded the cost of my stay. Very unexpected!

We had an issue with a Hampton hotel a couple years ago and had about the same response. It wasn't that big of a deal, but I thought the management should have been aware of the situation. We were given a free night as compensation so we also think their customer service is above reproach.

One of my favorite hotels is a Hampton Inn in MD that we stop at on the way to and from SC. The hotel is always immaculate, the staff is friendly, they honor the price in those rest stop booklets even if the dates are off, and the breakfast is much more filling than the usual.

Certainly I wouldn't spend a romantic weekend but for the purpose we intend, nothing beats a Hampton Inn.

Pat, I'm curious. I know you say they refunded your stay -- is that what they did, or did they give you a free night for the future. I'm more familiar with them doing the latter, rather than the former.

A Comfort Inn near Charleston, SC, once did not charge us for a night, when I complained at check-out that the A/C did nothing to pull the heavy humidity out of the room. I didn't even ask ... just complained.

Hi Patrick,

They actually refunded the stay right back to my credit card.