I think there is a tremendous amount of variation between Doubletree properties. I have been in some that I thought were five stars (Arctic Club - Seattle, St. Louis Union Station, The Lismore), many that were excellent and were every bit as good as a Hilton in terms of service and accommodations, and a few that were ho-hum. One (Bloomington, MN) was a bad experience, both from exceptionally poor service and problems with maintenance.

Because of the great variety within the brand, it's essential for me to read reviews before booking. New-build properties and recent conversions are usually very solid, but some that were converted over a decade ago are lacking in upkeep. This inconsistency is something Hilton should try to address, although they have similar issues with the flagship brand. I've never been in a Hampton, Homewood, or HGI where I have looked around and thought "What a dump!" but I have thought that at a couple threadbare Doubletrees.