Convenient to Shopping in Garden City

SpringHill Suites have gotten a bad rap during the pandemic with the loss of hot breakfast and (unfortunately) cleanliness standards, but if this hotel is represenative of the brand, things are turning around -- though there's still progress to be made.

I had two of the nicest associates check me in (with comically similar names).  I had booked a king bed and asked if there were any rooms with two beds, but unfortunately they were sold out -- luckily, not a big deal.  The two associates were very friendly and made checking in very pleasant.  They went through some of the amenities of the hotel, including reminding me about breakfast in the morning.  I was waiting for her to say "grab-n-go" but she did not :eek:  More on that later.  Status was not recognized (though as a lowly Gold there isn't much to recognize), but the request for a higher floor was honored and I was given the top (4th) floor.  This is also the first hotel I have been to where they activated my mobile key, which was pretty cool to use.

Most SpringHill Suites are very similar in appearance and layout, and this is no exception.  When you walk in you're greeted by a mini-fridge, microwave, and Keurig machine (glad to see that), followed by a living space.  The couch in this room was brown and L-shaped, which I had not seen before.  Other than that, the desk, sleeping area and bathroom were all typically SpringHill, including the closet with asymmetrical doors.  I did notice that the room was spotless, including the bathroom.

The bed was typical for the chain, which means very comfortable for me.  The room overlooked an Amazon distribution center.

A few minor issues with the room: two lights were out (one of the reading lamps by the bed, and the flourescent lamp built into the desk); the alarm functionality of the alarm clock was broken (probably since the snooze button was smashed in), and the alarm clock was also stuck on its brightest setting.  Nothing significant enough to complain about, as they can all be relatively easily fixed.

The bathroom was long and narrow, with the toilet in a nook behind the wall and opposite from the shower.  They unfortunately had the Tea Tree pump bottles, and it seemed that the shampoo and conditioner were watered down; the body wash was fine.  There were also Paul Mitchell soaps and lotion.  Access to the bathroom was through a sliding door.

The hotel has a small but clean and brightly-lit fitness center with several machines and free weights.  This is next door to a small indoor pool.  Directly outside of the bar area is an outdoor patio with a working fire pit, which was very nice to sit at.

They also have a business center in the lobby with a Windows PC and an iMac, and you can print from both.

The bar was closed when I got there Sunday night; it was also closed Monday evening.

SpringHill Suites offer complimentary breakfast to all guests.  However, for the first time since the start of the pandemic, I was treated to a hot meal!  They had three hot trays with... these weird prepackaged steamed egg white and red pepper sandwiches on whole wheat bread.  With some salt they were actually very tasty, and it was a nice break from the typical grab-n-go.  They also had muffins, yogurt, bananas, and clementines, along with apple juice, orange juice, milk, and Starbucks coffee and a variety of teas.

They also have a small marketplace by the check-in desk with snacks, microwaveable meals, and a variety of beverages including beer and J. Lohr merlot, all for purchase.

The location of the hotel is decent.  You are less than five minutes to two major highways and very close to several shopping centers, including the Roosevelt Field Mall.  The hotel is located between a Homewood Suites by Hilton (which apparently has a restaurant and nicer pool) and an Amazon distribution center.  At the end of the block (across the street) is a 7-Eleven and a Dunkin Donuts.

Just a quick note on service.  I had asked at the front desk if they could put a couple of ice packs in their freezer for me overnight and they obliged.  I actually forgot to pick it up the next morning, but after calling they were happy to hold onto it for me until I could come pick them up later in the day.  It's not a big deal but something I definitely appreciated.

This is your typical SpringHill Suites and has all of the good things that I have come to expect from the brand.  With very few complaints about the property, I would gladly stay here again if the need arose.