Hilton Garden Inn – Macon / Mercer Univ

Though I like most Hilton brands, I’m not particularly a fan of Hilton Garden Inn, the Hilton’s mid-​level entry designed to compete with Courtyard by Marriott, but this is one of the better properties in the chain.
The motel is on the Mercer University campus, in a nice setting and a short drive to downtown Macon (though road construction while we were there in late July 2015, required a lot of detours).
We reserved four rooms for two nights each for a wedding. The price for the group was reasonable.
Initially, we had an issue over breakfast. As a longtime Gold and Diamond Hilton Honors member, I felt that we deserved free coupons for breakfast for our guests in on all four rooms for two nights, but the check-​in person said, no, we would only get one coupon for one morning, that this was the «new Hilton policy.»
The next day, I spoke to a different front desk person, and she kindly solved the problem by providing coupons for everyone for both nights. I don’t know who was right about the policy, but the second staffer made me feel better and solved what otherwise would have been a problem.
Rooms, all kings, were clean and attractive. Service was good. Breakfast was fine. The location seemed safe. I’d recommend this property.

Was a little apprehensive because the neighborhood is very bad. Bars on windows at gas stations is never a good sign. But, the hotel was very clean, staff very nice and accommodating! The beds were very comfortable and cozy! The reason for only 3 stars is because you can hear the traffic all night! As well as anybody outside your door. The microwave plate does not fit, so it rattles. Again, the staff were all very friendly and accommodating!

For Macon GA, nice hotel. Has food, drinks, and a pool. Friendly staff. Safe.
The 3 star level is due to the dirty and incredibly warm pool. No atm machine. And high price for the area. It’s close to the college and a hot spot for hilton business travelers so they have a bit of a monopoly and charge as such. On most nights it’s more expensive than similar quality hotels in Atlanta.

Very nice staff. Good looking place located right off of 75. The room was very clean. Standard Hilton menu and the food is good. Will definitely stay here again.

Awesome customer service from the front desk (Jasmine) to the dining staff! Here for a sad occasion and the staff has been so friendly, caring and helpful. Much needed in our situation. Place is super clean and food in the restaurant is good and reasonably priced. Kudos to Hilton and Amy Cantrell (manager)! This location and Amy should be recognized!

I am a regular guest at Hilton Garden Inn’s and this does not disappoint. I got here late thanks to Atlanta traffic, had already checked in, was given my key and water and up to my room within 2 minutes. Great night sleep! Great breakfast.

Clean linens, polite staff and nicely decorated hotel. Didn’t get a good night sleep. It was just too loud, bed was uncomfortable and the curtains fell short of blocking the light out. Breakfast was basic and nothing special.

Stayed for a baseball tournament. Very clean, staff was nice and price is good.

Have stayed here twice. IMHO, this hotel not up to par with most HGI’s. Needs refurbishment to include beds & linens. Also, hotel staff needs re-​training top to bottom.

Clean towels, fresh linen, and great service. Just what you would expect from a Hilton!

Our experience couldn’t have been better! Beatrice at the front desk was especially accommodating, and the other woman working with her was delightful as well. Al, the manager on duty was friendly and helpful. Our room was clean and comfortable and we even enjoyed a visit to the pool. We will stay there again!

RUDE RUDE RUDE. The hotel was safe, clean and comfortable. But my experience with BEATRICE (manager on duty) blew the experience for me. We took a road trip around the southeast, hopping from Hilton Garden Inn from one city to another. We found these properties to all be safe, clean and comfortable and for the price they charge its hard to beat. We are Hilton HHoners DIAMOND members which give us FREE BREAKFAST. 4 adults. 2 kids. 2 rooms. = Free breakfast for everyone, at all the other Hilton Garden Inn locations.
I couldn’t find our breakfast vouchers and approached the front counter for information. I politely asked if it were a problem if locating my vouchers was not possible. The lady was absolutely rude from the beginning. She was like a pittbull and ready for a fight. At the time we simply couldn’t find our vouchers. She decided to argue about whether we were missing 1 voucher or 2… 2 breakfasts or 4. I explained that we had 2 rooms, so it was 2 vouchers. We went back and fourth like this for a few moments until I decided to walk away from a fight for once in my life… find our vouchers and move on. Remember… we had just stayed at several other Hilton Garden hotels and have come to expect the same STANDARDS OF SERVICE across the whole Hilton Garden Inn brand.
We found our vouchers. Ate breakfast. Then were asked to pay for the kids. At all the other locations under 10 is free. At this location under 4 is free. We didn’t argue. We just paid. After checking out my first call was to Hilton customer service. They explained that the Hilton locations are all franchisees, but that since they all carry the same name they all have STANDARDS OF SERVICE they must all abide by. Everything about the hotel has been defined by policies. Hotels must conform to these policies or they face punishment from the corporation. But apparently the one policy that hasn’t been defined is BREAKFAST. Regardless of what the policies are, I had come to expect free breakfast for all and was charged for my kids. I feel ripped off. Just a little bit. Just enough to say that my otherwise good experience is only worth 2-​stars because of the rude lady up front and for getting charged for free food.

There’s really no great place to stay in Macon, which is why I ended up here at the HGI in October 2013. However, the cleanliness was lacking and the checkout staff was extremely rude. After arriving, I found hair on my towels, and I asked for clean ones. The fridge was turned off, which I discovered hours after thinking my dinner was being refrigerated. The General Manager emailed me, referring to me as «Mr.» (note, I am female) regarding the issues, and complimentary breakfast was offered to me. However, the next morning, I was going to take a shower and picked up the only provided washcloth to use, and it also had someone else’s hair on it. I called guest services using the room phone to ask for a fresh washcloth, and I was asked if I was available to come down to the front desk to get the washcloth myself. Obviously, since I was getting in the shower, I was not available to come down to the front desk at 7 am, so I just told the staff member never mind, thank you, but just don’t worry about it. About 10 minutes later, I did hear a knock on my door, but I was in the shower, and therefore was not available to answer it. Upon leaving in the morning, I inquired about getting a late check out, for 1 or 1:30 pm instead of 12 pm, since I had a meeting until 12 and was told that was fine. When I arrived back at 12:15 pm, I was unable to gain access to my room (red light instead of green). The entire floor, also, smelled of smoke even though my room and all the rooms on the 4^th floor had non-​smoking signs. While at the front desk getting access to my room, I asked about the smoke smell on the 4^th floor and was very rudely told that there are some smoking rooms on the 4^th floor, and that I was incorrect about every room having a non-​smoking sign (despite my actually having walked down the hallway and viewed the non-​smoking signs myself). In the future, I would highly recommend the hotel inform 4^th floor guests that smoking is allowed on the floor (if this information is indeed correct) because for people with severe allergies to smoke, even delayed second-​hand interactions can cause immediate health repercussions. Finally, while packing my things for check-​out, one of the cleaning staff members did walk in the room on me without knocking. Obviously, no one from the cleaning staff was informed that I had a late check-​out. I was later offered a future free night at the hotel, but it turns out the free night only applied to the Hilton Garden Inn in Macon, to which I had no reason for a return visit.

I’m super happy with this place. Our room was extremely clean. The staff were very polite and helpful, and checkout was very quick.

We always try and stay at a HGI if possible, but this one was disappointing. They are known for having «sleep number» beds, which are supposed to be outstanding. Our king bed was extremely uncomfortable. The DIAL on either side of the king bed did not work. We had a horrible night — both of us very sore by morning.
Management states the hotel needs to be updated. They figured first part of 2014 that would be completed. We stopped early April & the only thing I could see that was updated was the hallway carpets.
Our room had a strange odor & they also need to supply FOAM pillows along with the very soft ones.
Staff very friendly.

Best Hilton property in the Macon/​Warner Robins area! Stayed 3 nights last week– staff is outstanding, breakfast is great, and place is very clean. Bonus– nice guest laundry with full size washer/​dryer. Govt/​Mil– quick drive to Robins AFB & cheapest per diem rate.

One of the NICEST hotels I have ever been to in the USA. Great customer service and attractive front desk reps/​managment. 2 Thumbs up!

Nicely located next to the Mercer campus but unfortunately the hotel does not meet the typical HGI standard. Although the hotel was built not too long ago, the rooms show signs of poor construction, maintenance and age. The bath exhaust fan did not operate, the A/​C would not turn off, the room and hallways were oversprayed with hotel air freshener.

The Hilton Garden Inn Macon is a welcome addition indeed to the abysmal current hotel scene — Macon has very few if any decent properties of any kind! The property is only three years or so old at the time of this review and is very nice. Since it is a newer property there has not yet been time to see how the staff will keep up its cleanliness and appearance — hopefully they will as some HGIs seem to be on the decline.
The front desk staff were very friendly and efficient. I arrived very late on the night of my stay and there wasn’t a problem. Usually the night desk clerks are the absolute worst but I was pleased at this HGI as everything was in order, they were pleasant and friendly. When I checked out the next morning the staff was also upbeat, friendly and professional.
This HGI is conveniently located right off of I-​75, and right next to Mercer University (never heard of it but it must be convenient for those attending functions there) and has easy on and off Interstate access.
It is reasonably priced for an HGI — I believe I paid $ 139 for a standard king bedroom. The room itself was nice and new, very clean and smelled fresh. The only complaint I have at all is the bathroom shower itself seemed very cheap and not installed well. In time, I’m sure this will be a problem. Otherwise, it is a standard newish HGI with standard fare — the nice down feather pillows, nice bed, flat screen television. Compared to other choices in the area it is a welcome addition. I certainly wouldn’t book a vacation here but for the business traveler it is a nice place for a night or two.

Did you know? They have free cookies every evening in the lobby and that’s about it.
I stayed here for 2 nights for company work and so far, its been good. The area is a bit distant from restaurants, downtown, and whatever attractions are in this area. However, it is on Mercer University campus, so that’s great if you need to go there. If not, I would recommend staying about 5 miles up on Tom Hill Sr Blvd. There’s more stuff poppin’ up there.
About the hotel — The staff here is extremely friendly. Parking is very easy. The rooms are very nice, but its (–1) star because the free wi-​fi sucks. I can barely use it to check my gmail. It’s a normal hilton hotel, and so it has its standards. It’s above normal, but not anything spectacular.