Escape to WV: Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville's Hidden Gem!
Escape to WV: Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville's Hidden Gem!
Escape to WV: Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville - A Hidden Gem? Let's See! (A Rambling Review)
Okay, deep breath. I'm back from a whirlwind trip to West Virginia. And, let's be honest, escaping is exactly what I needed. The Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville? Well, that's where the escape began… or maybe it was where it tentatively rested.
(Let's start with the basics, because I'm still trying to decode all those acronyms.)
SEO & Metadata Snippets:
- Title: Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville Review: Escape to WV & Its Hidden Gems!
- Keywords: Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville, West Virginia, WV Hotels, Accessibility, Spa, Pool, Restaurant, Cleanliness, Safety, Free Wifi, Family Friendly, Business Hotel, Huntington WV, Barboursville WV, Hotel Review.
- Description: A brutally honest and detailed review of the Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville, WV. Dive into accessibility, dining, amenities, cleanliness, and more! Is it a hidden gem… or just a decent layover? Find out!
(Accessibility – Always a Big Deal for Me)
My first thought? The elevator. Thank goodness! I'll be honest, accessibility is HUGE for me. Thankfully, this hotel gets it. Wheelchair accessible is clearly a priority. They have Facilities for disabled guests, which is a serious sigh of relief. The CCTV in common areas gave me a general sense of security, and the Exterior corridor gave it a motel-esque vibe, for better or worse. It's a plus for mobility, though it does mean you're subject to the occasional noisy late-night reveler's adventures.
(Internet! Because Duh!)
Okay, let's be real. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! That's the holy grail, right? It's a basic necessity. And thank goodness, they didn't skimp on it! The whole Internet access thing was solid, and I didn't have to fumble with Internet [LAN] if I didn’t feel like it… but I was there for a break so didn’t. Wi-Fi in public areas? Yep, it worked. I mean, I'm not a digital nomad camping out here, but it was reassuring to know I could grab a coffee downstairs and still get my emails.
(Let's Get to the Fun Stuff – The Things To Do!)
This is where things get… interesting. "Things to do"? Well, you're in Barboursville, WV. It's not exactly Vegas. But still… there was something called a Fitness center. I didn't make it, I'm not gonna lie. The idea of a gym/fitness setup after a long drive…nah. But hey, it’s there for the hyper-motivated. And the Swimming pool [outdoor]? Looked inviting, but honestly, it was cold outside when I visited. No pool with a view, sadly. So, I think I skipped out on the Sauna and Spa.
(The "Relaxation" Angle)
How about ways to relax? Massage? Maybe. Steamroom? Not really. The thought of a Body wrap was appealing given the cold weather, but maybe I would have felt alone in there if I chose to do it. The Foot bath sounds amazing though…. but let's be honest, I mostly felt like I was relaxing with the big, cozy bed and the blackout curtains… (those Blackout curtains were a lifesaver!)
(Cleanliness and Safety - Because, You Know…)
Okay, this is important. After a few years of the "pandemic" and whatever, I'm like a hawk. They had Anti-viral cleaning products listed, and the Daily disinfection in common areas seemed to be happening. I saw staff actually cleaning stuff. The Rooms sanitized between stays thing is supposed to happen, hopefully it actually did. They had Hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere. The Staff trained in safety protocol seemed true, although I could feel them watching me. The Daily housekeeping was consistent, which was great. They've got Smoke alarms and Fire extinguisher.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Belly of the Beast)
The Restaurants here? Well, it's more like a grab-and-go spot. Breakfast [buffet] was the main event. I'm not saying it was gourmet, but it was there. Breakfast service was decent. I’m a sucker for a good, classic Western breakfast. They had the usual suspects: cereal, fruit, and a suspicious-looking scrambled egg concoction. They were offering Breakfast takeaway service, which I kinda appreciated. I grabbed a muffin one morning. I did see some Desserts in restaurant but kept moving. They had a Coffee shop, which was a lifesaver in the morning. They had a little Snack bar, too, in the front, so you could grab water and snacks, which was convenient.
(Services and Conveniences – The Bits and Bobs)
The Concierge was friendly, I didn't actually need one, but they were there to help. I did have to do a quick load of laundry. Laundry service – always a plus, but I'm not sure if I would have used it otherwise. I think I saw an Elevator too. I did see the Gift/souvenir shop, which was more like the little essentials shop. I definitely made use of the Cash withdrawal machine. The Car park [free of charge]? YES! And Car park [on-site] made it super easy.
(In the Room – My Personal Sanctuary)
My room… sigh. It was clean. It had Air conditioning. The Non-smoking was a MUST. I had a Desk to sit at. A Coffee/tea maker – also essential. A Refrigerator, always a nice touch. The Bathrobes were fantastic! The bed itself was perfectly comfortable, with those lovely Linens. Free bottled water. It's the little things, really. The Hair dryer saved the day, of course. The Alarm clock. A Seating area where I could decompress at the end of a long day. The Shower was good. The Toiletries were decent. And I had a big Mirror in there.
(For the Kids (and the Young at Heart… Maybe)
I didn't see any kids, or rather any kids that were still kids! They did have Family/child friendly. There were no Kids facilities.
(The Emotional Verdict)
So, is the Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville a “hidden gem”? Ehhh… not exactly. It's a solid, reliable hotel. It’s clean, convenient, and provides the comfort you expect from a Hampton Inn. The staff were friendly and helpful (though it felt like they were a little understaffed). It's a perfect base for EXPLORING Barboursville and Huntington WV, I’m not sure if I saw much of that. For what I needed – a clean, safe place to crash after a long drive, it worked. And hey, those blackout curtains? Pure bliss. I'd stay again. Especially if I needed to escape… I think I'll go for it, because the Check-in/out [express] and Check-in/out [private] are a definite plus!
Overall Score: 7.5/10
Escape to Paradise: Adults-Only Luxury at Minos Palace Hotel & Suites, Crete
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your average, perfectly-ironed travel itinerary. This is the Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville (WV) Survival Guide, aka, "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Beige".
Day 1: Arrival – The Great Beige Embrace & The Quest for Real Food (and Sanity)
1:00 PM: Arrival at Huntington Tri-State Airport (HTS). Ugh, airports. They're like the purgatory of travel, filled with crying babies and people who insist on talking loudly on their phones about… well, I don't even want to know. Fingers crossed my luggage actually makes it this time. Last time, it ended up in… shudders… Kansas. Seriously, Kansas!
1:45 PM: Shuttle to Hampton Inn Barboursville. Praying the shuttle driver isn't one of those guys who believes in "the scenic route." I'm hungry, I'm tired, and I just want to collapse into a bed that hopefully doesn't smell like stale chlorine. Side note: Do you think they sanitize the remotes? Because that's where the real germs live, right?
2:30 PM: Check-in & Room Assessment. Breathe deeply, this is where the magic happens… or doesn't. Okay, the lobby is… beige. Very, very beige. The kind of beige that makes you want to paint your life in bold yellows, just to fight the oppression. Room check: clean-ish, good. Bed… seems okay. Bathroom – always the litmus test. Clean? Good. Enough towels? Even better. (Important note: I didn't bring enough, I might just steal one or two…shhhh).
3:00 PM: The Food Crisis Begins. Right, time to find sustenance. The hotel's free breakfast might be a disaster (those pre-packaged muffins are the bane of my existence), so I'm scouting for actual food. Google Maps tells me there's a "Cracker Barrel" nearby. Cracker Barrel. Okay. I'm sensing a theme. I need something… Maybe a burger? Maybe a salad? Honestly, I'll take anything at this point. My stomach is starting to stage a protest.
3:30 PM: Cracker Barrel Debrief. I made it. "Comfort food." I saw families of all kinds: from cute, to annoying. I thought it was fine. The biscuits were fluffy, the gravy was… well, gravy. The store at the front, though? Absolutely packed. I have too much stuff I don't need, what is wrong with me?!
5:00 PM: Rest & Reconnaissance. Back in the beige box. Time for a power nap (because airports are exhausting). Then, it's back to the internet to find the local color. Is there an active art scene? A funky coffee shop? Anything to break up the monotony? Also, where is the nearest laundromat? Because, you know, travel. Laundry. The cycle of life.
7:00 PM: The Barboursville Bingo Night: According to the internet, there's bingo on. I might go, maybe I won't. I might just fall asleep watching TV.
9:00 PM: Bedtime ritual: Try not to think about sleeping in a public hotel. Be wary.
Day 2: The Quest for Local Flavor & The Unexpected Deep Thoughts
7:00 AM: The Breakfast Gauntlet. Okay, wish me luck with the free breakfast. Prayers up for a semi-decent waffle. And fresh coffee. Please, lord, fresh coffee. (I'm suddenly very religious, it turns out.)
8:00 AM: The Search for… Anything. Time to find out what Barboursville actually is. I'm thinking antique shops? A historic building? A hidden garden? Or at least a decent bookstore? I desperately need a book.
9:00 AM: The quest for… coffee! I'm not gonna find a nice book store or the perfect coffee shop.
10:00 AM: Local Exploration: I think there's a local park. The weather is nice, perhaps I'd like to go there?
12:00 PM: Lunch: Some sandwich from the supermarket.
1:00 PM: The Great Library Adventure. I'm going to the library. I need a book! And who knows, maybe I'll discover a local author, or stumble upon some secret history.
3:00 PM: Back to the room. Relax, watch a movie, or read that book I'll get at the library.
6:00 PM: Dinner: Back at Cracker Barrel, I'll try to get some sleep soon.
Day 3: Departure – Goodbye, Beige! (and Hopefully, My Sanity)
7:00 AM: Breakfast Shuffle. Another go at the continental breakfast. May the odds be ever in my favor.
8:00 AM: Last-Minute Scrounging. Did I forget anything? Did I buy enough snacks? (The answer is always no to the snack question.) Do I really want to go home?
9:00 AM: Check-Out & Farewell. Goodbye, Hampton Inn. May your beige embrace fade slightly. May your guests find their dreams fulfilled. Seriously, though, I'm out.
9:30 AM: Shuttle to Airport. Praying the shuttle is on time. Praying my flight isn't delayed. Praying my luggage makes it. I need it.
10:00 AM: Airport Purgatory and Departure. The final push. Get through security. Find my gate. Try not to judge the people around me too harshly. Deep breaths. And, finally… onto the plane and away. To… somewhere new. Where, hopefully, the curtains are a different color.
Escape to WV: Hampton Inn Huntington Barboursville's Hidden Gem? Let's Dive In (and Maybe Get Slightly Lost)
Okay, "Hidden Gem." Is this Hampton Inn really *that* special? Or is it just... a Hampton Inn?
Alright, deep breaths. "Hidden Gem" is a *bold* claim, right? Frankly, I went in with zero expectations. Like, beige walls, bland breakfast, the usual motel routine. And, well, *part* of that was true. It IS a Hampton Inn. You get the expected: free waffles (score!), comfy beds (double score!), predictable business-traveler vibes. But here's the thing: it's in *Barboursville*, West Virginia. And Barboursville, my friends, has charm. Quirky charm. "Don't tell anyone about this place" kind of charm. This Hampton Inn, despite its chain-ness, just ... *fits*. It's like the comfy, reliable friend who quietly reveals they're also a secret connoisseur of vintage comic books. You wouldn't have guessed, but it's glorious! I stayed there for a work trip, and honestly, I was dreading it. Huntington, WV, isn't exactly known for its glamorous hotels. But the Hampton Inn? Surprisingly solid. Not groundbreaking, mind you. But the staff? Genuinely friendly. Like, "Hey, how was your day? Need extra towels?" friendly. And the little things? The perfectly brewed coffee in the lobby, the surprisingly decent (for a hotel) gym. It adds up. It makes you feel… *almost* at home. And after a long day of meetings, believe me, that goes a long way.
What about the location? Is Barboursville actually… interesting? Is it a good base of operations?
Okay, Barboursville. Let's be honest. This isn't NYC. It's small-town West Virginia. You're not going to stumble upon a Michelin-starred restaurant. But! BUT! It's close to Huntington (where you can actually find some decent dining), and there's a certain… *peacefulness* to being away from the hustle. I spent an afternoon just wandering the town square. You know, the *actual* town square, not the one you find in a Disney movie. It was quiet. Real. And that was exactly what I needed. I'm not saying it's the most thrilling destination on the planet, but it's a great spot to unwind. Especially if you're coming from a place like Manhattan or Chicago. The biggest thrill you'll get is deciding between a burger and a pizza for dinner. The stress is minimal! Which, in today's world, is HIGHLY underrated.
The Breakfast. Spill the beans! Are those waffles truly worth it?
Listen, I love a good waffle. And the Hampton Inn waffles are... good. They're not transcendent. They're not going to win any awards. HOWEVER! They come with whipped cream, which is a crucial detail often overlooked. And the machines are usually pretty clean. So, yes - yes, they're worth it. Seriously. I'm talking about a solid 7/10 waffle experience. And for a free breakfast? That's a win! Just remember to pace yourself. You don't want to spend your afternoon in a carb coma. I learned that the hard way. (Let's just say I had a *very* long meeting.)
Let's talk about the people. Any memorable encounters/staff experiences?
Oh, the people. Okay, so I had a bit of a disaster the first night. I somehow managed to LOCK myself out of my room. In my pajamas. At 10 PM. MORTIFYING! I scurried down to the front desk, red-faced and muttering apologies. The staff (a lovely woman named Brenda) didn't even bat an eye. Just smiled, got me a new key card, and made me feel like the biggest dork in a comforting way. It was a shining example of how a small act of kindness can make a HUGE difference. Brenda, if you're reading this: you're a saint! That's the kind of service that makes you remember a place.
Any downsides? What could be improved?
Okay, gotta be honest. The wifi wasn’t the fastest. (First world problems, I know). And the pool? Tiny. And the gym… well, let's just say it doesn't have the latest Peloton bikes. It's a functional, well-maintained gym, but nothing to write home about. Look, it's not the Four Seasons. Expecting perfection is setting yourself up for disappointment. The elevators could probably be updated, but hey, it's what I'd expect and it's functional - if you have to take the stairs, at least it is good exercise! The most significant issue I remember had to do with a broken hairdryer. I'm not a princess. But when I need a hairdryer, I expect it to work. I had to use an extra one, but a quick call got it replaced immediately. But honestly? The hotel is clean. The beds are comfortable. The staff are friendly. For the price? You really can’t complain.
Would you go back to this Hampton Inn? And more importantly, would *you recommend* it?
Absolutely. I would. I mean, if I needed a place to stay nearby again, I would go! It's not the *destination* in itself. The draw is the feeling you get. The peace, the quiet, the genuine friendliness. Yes. I would recommend it. Especially if you’re looking for a hassle-free base for exploring the surrounding area. Or, if you just need a break from the madness, and you want a reliably comfortable bed, a free waffle, and some southern hospitality. It's a "hidden gem" not because it's luxurious or cutting-edge. It's a hidden gem because it offers something that's increasingly rare: a genuinely pleasant and comfortable experience. Plus, those waffles, man... those waffles.
Okay, let's get specific. What's the *one* memory that sticks with you the most from this trip?
Alright, here's where it gets weirdly specific. One of the best things? The little, utterly unremarkable, perfectly fine, but ultimately *un-special* view from my room. I looked out over a parking lot, some scrubby evergreens, and the (predictably) overcast West Virginia sky. Sounds awful, right? But I found myself drawn to it. Every morning, before I left for my meetings, I'd just… look. It centered me. It grounded me. It reminded me that I wasn't in an Instagram-worthy location, but that I was *there*. I was present. And in a weird way, that mediocrity, that lack of pretense, became utterly beautiful. I still think about it, and I still wonder what became of those scrubby evergreens! I miss them, slightly. This is now officially the point where I wander into full stream of consciousness.
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