MEDFORD, ORE. - The Hampton Inn

Hampton Inns have come a long way. While still one of the budget-friendly offerings within the Hilton (NYSE:HLT) brand, they generally occupy a nice middle ground between upmarket and economy accommodations.

So it is with the Hampton Inn in Medford, Ore. My wife and I recently spent two nights there as part of a quick road-trip vacation and were generally quite impressed.

Exterior of Hampton Inn, Medford

Staff members were uniformly professional and friendly, greeting us as though we were honored guests upon arrival, saying “Hello!” or “Good morning” as we passed in the hallways and common areas, generally making us feel valued.

Situated close to, but on the other side of Interstate 5 from, downtown Medford, the Hampton Inn is convenient but a respite from what can be an active downtown core. Nonetheless, it has a lot to offer on its own and is close to a range of retailers that make it quite a convenient place to call home for a night or several.

Guest room at Hampton Inn

The hotel is within walking distance of several restaurants and stores, including a full-service grocery store, and within easy driving distance of many more.

Guest Room work area

The facility itself has many amenities, including an included hot breakfast, an indoor swimming pool and spa, a fitness center, business center, and dining area that is open 24/7 for families and others who have opted for take-out but don’t want to eat perched on their beds. This Hampton Inn also has a 24-hour pantry with a good range of snacks. Although it doesn’t offer alcoholic beverages, those are easily obtained at the 24-hour market next door.

Bath amenities

Rooms are quite comfortable and generous. Our King room had a living area that was more than 21 feet by 12 feet, not including the foyer, closet or bathroom. At over 255 square feet, that is quite remarkable. Rooms were equipped with a mini-fridge, microwave, flat-screen TV, bed and loveseat.

The work station and lamps had plenty of outlets for our traveling electronics, and Wi-Fi connectivity was pretty decent: 5.0 Mbps download and 3.9 Mbps upload speeds, as measured by Speakeasy.net/speedtest. The hard-wired computers in the shared business center off the lobby were, surprisingly, about the same speed.

Generous bath

The bathroom had a combination tub/shower with a solid-surface surround that is more common in higher-end properties than one at this price point. Waiting for us were Neutrogena amenities including soap, shampoo and conditioner, a hairdryer, iron and ironing board, and a very welcome nightlight. Frequent travelers understand how important it can be to have that tiny light showing the way to the bath in unfamiliar surroundings in the middle of the night.

About the only things that were lacking were bathrobes and slippers waiting in the room, and an in-room safe. The lack of a safe means schlepping our electronics with us instead of leaving them safely locked up while we roam the area, taking care of business or finding that great bottle of wine at one of the dozens of local wineries.

Whether making the area a destination or just passing through, the Hampton Inn Medford is a pleasant place to rest your head.

Visit my main page at TheTravelPro.us for more news, reviews, and personal observations on the world of upmarket travel.



Photo by Carl Dombek
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