Bremerton's BEST Hotel? Hampton Inn & Suites Review!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a Hampton Inn & Suites in Bremerton, Washington review. Forget polished, forget perfect. This is a real-life, warts-and-all (well, hopefully not too many warts) look at whether this place lives up to the hype. And trust me, after a long ferry ride and battling some serious Pacific Northwest drizzle, you want a good hotel.
Let's Get This Show on the Road! (aka: Accessibility, because let's be real, it matters!)
Alright, right off the bat! Accessibility: The Hampton Inn & Suites Bremerton is pretty good, actually. Wheelchair accessible - yup, check! The elevators were smooth (important!), and I didn't see any obvious accessibility issues in the lobby or hallways. I didn't spend all day crawling around (thank god!), but the impression was positive.
(Important Tangent: I'm not a mobility expert, so this is based on my observations. Always double-check specific needs with the hotel directly!)
Internet? Because, You Know, We Live In The Future (Mostly)
Okay, Internet access: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! They actually deliver. I was able to stream Netflix (crucial for post-ferry recovery), answer emails (bleh), and generally do internet things without too much buffering. Internet [LAN] I didn't see any LAN ports, so I'd say it's Wi-Fi all the way. And honestly? I'm happy with that. Internet services were pretty basic, but reliable. No complaints here. The Wi-Fi in public areas was also pretty good. I tested it in the lobby while waiting for a friend, and it worked. The point is, you can actually get online here without feeling like you're back in dial-up hell.
Cleanliness and Safety – Because Germs Are NOT Invited
Cleanliness and safety: Okay, this is a big one, especially after…well, you know. And the good news? They seem to be taking it seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Probably? The room smelled clean and not chemically…overpowering. Which is always a good sign.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Seemed to be happening. Lobby was spotless!
- Hand sanitizer: Dispensers everywhere. I used them. Repeatedly.
- Hygiene certification: Didn't spot a certificate, per se, but they do seem to adhere to cleaning protocols.
- Individually-wrapped food options: We'll get to the breakfast.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: I would hope so. The room felt fresh.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: My interactions were pleasant, and they seemed aware of the situation.
- Sterilizing equipment: Who knows? But the end result felt right.
- Cashless payment service: Yup. No issues here.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Not always perfect in the breakfast area, but people were trying.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: I didn’t need to opt-out, I was happy.
The Breakfast – The Make-or-Break (And OMG, the Details!)
Dining, drinking, and snacking: Alright, this is where things get interesting. The Breakfast [buffet] is pretty standard Hampton Inn fare. Breakfast service as a whole was pretty decent. Buffet in restaurant - yes, but with the currently recommended COVID-19 measures in place, the buffet was more of a server thing. Asian breakfast - I am not sure if that even applies here, but I didn’t even see any options. Coffee/tea in restaurant – available and good on-the-go!
The options included:
- Hot food (eggs, sausage, sometimes even pancakes)
- Cereal (boring cereal, but cereal is cereal)
- Toast (bread is bread!)
- Fruit (the elusive "healthy" option)
- Juice (orange, apple - the classics)
- Yogurt (yay, protein!)
Anecdotal Shenanigans:
Okay, here's the thing about breakfast buffets. There's always that one person. You know, the one who hoards the best pieces of bacon like they’re going to die of starvation. Or the one who's clearly never seen a waffle iron before and treats it like a mythical beast. I was almost that person, but I restrained myself. Almost. The bacon, by the way, was crisp. A small victory.
The Real Deal on Breakfast…
- Individually-wrapped food options - Yes, thankfully. This makes it all feel a little safer.
- Breakfast takeaway service - Yes! Grab-and-go options available.
- Alternative meal arrangement - Not sure. Standard American breakfast, that's the vibe. But there were some vegetarian items available.
- Coffee shop - nope. Just the stuff at the buffet. And it's fine.
- Bottle of water - Not the most common, but I got one from the front desk.
- Snack bar - Didn't see one.
- Restaurants - Bremerton isn't exactly known for a thriving culinary scene, but there are some options nearby.
- Room service [24-hour] - Nope.
- Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant. - Not here, folks. Standard fare.
Things To Do (or Not Do, if you're me)
Things to do, ways to relax:
- Fitness center: Yep, I saw one. I didn’t go. I was on vacation.
- Swimming pool - An outdoor pool with a view! Not massive, but a nice touch.
- Spa/sauna - Nope, not here. This isn't that kind of hotel.
Services and Conveniences
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes. Essential.
- Business facilities: Standard stuff.
- Cash withdrawal: Didn't check, but it's Bremerton.
- Concierge, Doorman: No.
- Contactless check-in/out: Probably possible, but I didn't use it.
- Convenience store, Gift/souvenir shop: None.
- Daily housekeeping, Laundry service, Luggage storage: All available.
- Elevator: Yes, thank goodness.
- Non-smoking rooms: YES! Thank you, Hampton.
- Ironing service: Yes.
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: Yes.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Yep, see above.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Yep.
- Safe dining setup: Not sure what this exactly means. The breakfast was pretty safe.
- Room decorations: Basic.
Available in all rooms, Details!
Okay, the room details are important. Let's break this down:
- Air conditioning: Yes, in the rooms. Praise be!
- Alarm clock: Present and accounted for.
- Bathrobes: Nope. Bring your own!
- Bathroom phone: Nope!
- Bathtub, Separate shower/bathtub: Nope.
- Blackout curtains: Yes! Wonderful for sleeping off that ferry fatigue.
- Closet: Standard.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: YES! Crucial for mornings.
- Desk, Laptop workspace: Yes.
- Extra long bed: Nice!
- Free bottled water: I got one (see above).
- Hair dryer: Yes.
- High floor: I was on a high floor, so…yay?
- In-room safe box: Yes.
- Internet access – wireless: Yes.
- Ironing facilities: Also yes!
- Linens: Clean!
- Mini bar: Nope.
- Mirror: Yes, obviously.
- Non-smoking: Yes.
- Private bathroom: Yes.
- Reading light: Helpful!
- Refrigerator, Safety/security feature: Yep.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes, the usual selection.
- Scale: I didn't use it.
- Seating area, Sofa: The room wasn’t huge, but it was comfortable.
- Shower, Slippers: Nope.
- Smoke detector: Yes.
- Socket near the bed: Yes.
- Soundproofing: Pretty good!
- Telephone: Yes.
- Toiletries, Towels: The usual.
- Wake-up service: Yes.
- Wi-Fi [free]: YES!
- Window that opens: Nope.
**For the
Williston, ND Getaway: Unbeatable Hampton Inn & Suites Deals!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups! This isn’t your glossy travel brochure itinerary. This is my Bremerton, Washington, Hampton Inn & Suites experience, warts and all. Prepare for some meandering, some gushing, some griping, and a whole lotta… well, me.
Bremerton Bonanza: An Itinerary (More or Less, Let's Be Honest)
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and Awesome Views (Hampton Inn & Suites, Baby!)
- 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Arrival & Room Revelations (and Mild Panic)
- Okay, so I’m here! Driving from Seattle was… well, it was driving. Which, let's be real, is often the bane of my existence. Traffic, Ugh. I should've taken the ferry, but I'm a creature of habit and always overthink the ferry situation (what if the ferry is broken?! What if… what if…!). I pull up to the Hampton, and it's… a Hampton. Cleanish looking, the sign isn't falling off. Success!
- Check-in was a breeze (thank you, whoever invented online check-in!). My room? Surprisingly decent. My standards are LOW – so low, I might be able to limbo under them practically. However, the view. Oh sweet Moses, the VIEW! Puget Sound shimmering, the snow-capped Olympics in the distance. INSTANTLY, I started breathing a bit easier. That view saved this whole trip from an immediate meltdown.
- 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM: The Great Luggage Unpack & TV Tango
- Unpacking. The most boring chore ever. But necessary if you want to avoid living out of a suitcase for the next three days. And yes, I always overpack. You never know when you might need a sequined jumpsuit for a spontaneous karaoke session (true story, happened once).
- Then, the TV battle. Finding the channel that actually has something I want to watch? A Herculean task. Especially since I'm on a mission to avoid the news. Finally, after 15 minutes of scrolling, I landed on a Law & Order rerun. Victory!
- 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM: The Bremerton Stroll – or, "Where Am I?"
- Time to venture forth! Armed with my phone (because I'm tragically directionally challenged) and a general idea of "downtown Bremerton." I walked down to the waterfront. The air was crisp and salty, a mix of sea and… well, what is that smell? (Probably the shipyard, which, by the way, is HUGE).
- Found a cute little coffee shop (Mora I think? Something with fruit). The coffee was good! I felt like I was a local, basking in the sun, drinking coffee. So peaceful until a seagull swooped in, and I nearly choked on my iced Americano. Dramatic? Maybe. Real? Absolutely.
- Wandered aimlessly for a while. Admired the USS Turner Joy, but I’ll save the museum visit for later. Honestly, I was still a bit unsure of what was even in Bremerton.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: The Hotel Pool Dilemma (or, To Swim or Not to Swim… That Is the Question)
- The hotel pool! It called to me. But… I forgot my swimsuit. And I really didn't want to make the trek to the store to buy one. So, I paced around my room for what felt like an hour, contemplating whether or not to swim in my underwear. (Too much information? Sorry, not sorry). The pool lost. Ultimately, I decided to postpone the swim, maybe tomorrow. Maybe.
- 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Dinner Prep & Indecision
- Dinner plans! Initially, I had grand ideas of exploring all the Bremerton restaurants. But I had lost willpower. Then I remembered that I packed snacks, and my room had a mini-fridge.
- So, I ended up eating chips, yogurt, and leftover coffee; I was in paradise.
- 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM: Netflix & Chill… Literally.
- More Law & Order, plus a cozy blanket. This is what I call peak vacation.
Day 2: Exploring the "Joy", and the Bremerton Brews (or, I Finally Left the Hotel!)
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: The Free Breakfast Debacle
- The hotel’s free breakfast buffet! My kryptonite. The waffles looked like they’d been sitting there for a week. But… I ate a waffle. The fruit offering was sad, the coffee tasted suspiciously like hotel coffee. But hey, it was free. I'm a sucker for a bargain.
- 9:00 AM -12:00 PM: The USS Turner Joy - History & Heartbreak.
- Okay, time for some culture! The USS Turner Joy, the destroyer turned museum. This was actually incredible. Walking the decks, looking at the guns, imagining the lives of the sailors who served here. It was heavy, but also fascinating. I got a little choked up reading about the Vietnam War. So, I guess I'm still human.
- An interesting detail -- I found out the USS Turner Joy was used in the Vietnam war. I never knew that.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch & Accidental Localism.
- Found a little sandwich shop downtown. It was packed, which is always a good sign. Ordered a turkey club, and it was delicious. I felt like I was officially becoming a Bremertonian.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Brewery Tour & Beery Mishaps.
- Bremerton has a surprising number of craft breweries! I attempted a self-guided tour. First stop: Silver City Brewery. The beer was pretty good, and the atmosphere was lively so I stayed awhile.
- Second stop: Rainy Day Brewery. (A fitting name for the Pacific Northwest, am I right?). I tried a couple of tasters. I’m not saying I got tipsy, but… let’s just say my notes get a little less coherent at this point.
- Walking back to the hotel, I'm pretty sure I tried to have a conversation with a streetlamp.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: The Pool Resurrected.
- Eureka! I found my swimsuit! The pool was delightful. I swam, I floated. Pure bliss. After the brewery, I needed it.
- 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner, Regret, & Early Night.
- Decided to try a pizza place nearby, and I probably ordered too much. But the pizza was super good, so I don't regret it.
- I didn’t last long. I found myself starting on the room's bed and watched some television.
Day 3: Ferry Fiascos, Departure, and the Longing to Return (Eventually)
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast Round Two & Ferry Frenzy.
- Same breakfast, but with slightly lower expectations. I was excited about the ferry.
- I debated between the Seattle ferry and the Bainbridge Island ferry. I decided to go with Bainbridge Island. I wanted a shorter trip, and I am terrified of water.
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: The Bainbridge Island Adventure (or, "Where Did My Sense of Direction Go?")
- The ferry! The ride was beautiful. The water was a little choppy, which sent my anxiety into overdrive.
- I decided to wander around the waterfront. Went to some shops. I felt like I was supposed to be doing something more, like taking a hike or visiting a museum. But I was just happy to be alive and on dry land.
- The ferry ride back was just as beautiful.
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Last Lunch & Packing Panic.
- Another sandwich. I’m falling in love with Bremerton, the food, and the easy access to snacks.
- The packing: a frantic scramble to shove everything back into my suitcase. I am a disaster.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Checkout & Sentimentality.
- Checked out of the hotel. Stood in the lobby, looking out at the Olympics, feeling a little… sad. Bremerton, you weird, wonderful place. I’ll be back. (Eventually, after I get over my ferry phobia).
- 1:00 PM - Onward: The Road Trip Home & Post-Trip Reflections
- The drive back was long and boring. But I was already missing the view from my Hampton Inn room.
- My brain is already on my next trip.
So, there you have it. My
Williston, ND Getaway: Unbeatable Hampton Inn & Suites Deals!
Hampton Inn & Suites Bremerton - The Honest Tourist's Guide (Aka, My Brain Dump)
Okay, Is This Hampton Inn & Suites, Like, *Actually* Bremerton's BEST Hotel? Seriously?
Alright, hold your horses. "BEST" is a loaded word, right? It's like saying "the best pizza." What kind of pizza are we talking?! But, considering Bremerton's options... yeah, probably. I mean, I've stayed in some *dumps* in this town. Not naming names, but you feel like you're breathing the ghosts of old sailors… in a bad way. The Hampton Inn is... reliable. Clean. The hot breakfast (which, let's be honest, is a huge selling point when you're hungover and needed to make a ferry in the morning) is actually... edible. Sometimes! More on that later. So, "best"? Maybe "best" in terms of "least likely to give you the creeps and free waffles." That's a good start.
What's the Deal with the Rooms? Clean, Cozy, or "Meh"?
Okay, room-wise, it's a mixed bag, kinda like my dating history (don't even get me started…). Generally, they're *clean*. And thank God for that! I once stayed in a place in Port Orchard… let's just say I think I had a companion in the bed that night. The Hampton's rooms are usually… *clean*. The beds *seem* relatively new, which is always a plus. It's not the Ritz, mind you. Don't go expecting plush robes and a butler. But it's a solid, predictable space. Cozy? Nah. Functional? Absolutely. There's usually a mini-fridge, which is crucial for my late-night ice cream habit (don't judge!). And the Wi-Fi? Works, which is also crucial. Seriously, I need to scroll through TikTok *constantly* or I think I might explode.
The Hot Breakfast - Salvation or Sadness at 6 AM?
Oh, the hot breakfast. This is where things get *interesting*. It's the make-or-break of a hotel stay for me. I mean, free food? Yes, please! The Hampton Inn, they *try*. They REALLY do. Sometimes, the waffles are crispy and golden and I'm in heaven. Other times, they're… well, let's just say I think they’re using the same waffle iron they've had since the Clinton administration. The eggs are usually scrambled, and… well, scrambled eggs are scrambled eggs, right? You know what I mean. The coffee, however, the coffee is usually decent, which is the most important thing at, like, 6 am. One morning, the bacon was legitimately crispy, and I swear, I almost cried. I felt like I'd won the lottery. Another morning? Soggy, limp bacon. It's a crapshoot, folks, a delicious/terrible crapshoot. Prepare yourself for the full range of breakfast emotions.
What About the Pool and Gym? Do They Exist, and Should I Bother?
Yes, they do exist. The pool looks like a fairly standard indoor pool. I am not, and never will be, a swimmer. So I can't really tell you if its clean and functioning, but it *looks* clean from the window. I did, however, brave the gym once. And "brave" is the operative word. It's small, let me tell you. Like, squeeze-through-the-door small. It has a treadmill, some weights (mostly light ones, unless you're *really* into bicep curls), and... well, that's about it. It's a workout, alright, trying to navigate it without bumping into someone. If you're a serious gym rat, bring your own portable equipment and plan your workouts at a park!
Location, Location, Location! Is it Close to Anything Cool?
The location is… decent. It's not *right* in the heart of downtown Bremerton. It's a bit further out. You'll probably need a car or to Uber/Lyft. But, the good news: you're relatively close to the ferry terminal if you're heading to Seattle - which, trust me, you should. Seattle's got everything Bremerton doesn't, including good sushi. And there's a few restaurants and a grocery store nearby, so you're not completely stranded. It's not winning any awards for scenic views. It's a hotel on a road. But it's functional and gets you where you need to go, eventually.
The Staff - Are They Helpful, or Just... There?
The staff are generally… nice. Friendly. Efficient. They're not going to write you poetry or offer you a shoulder to cry on (unless you *really* need one, I guess). But they'll get you checked in. They'll answer your questions. They'll refill the coffee at breakfast (bless their hearts). I once had a REAL problem. The hairdryer in my room caught fire. Like, actual flames. I ran screaming into the hall, and the front desk staff were *amazing*. They got me a new room immediately, apologized profusely, and even comped my breakfast. So, yes, they can be helpful when things go terribly wrong, which is good to know.
My Most Memorable and MESSY Experience at the Hampton Inn?
Oh, honey, buckle up. This is a story. I stayed at the Hampton Inn during the Kitsap County Fair. I made the HUGE mistake of thinking I could get a last-minute room. Nope. Sold out. So, I booked far in advance for the following year. I was, I admit, *slightly* hungover from the night before. Which is pretty much my default state. I got to my room. It was fine. The air conditioning was cranking, which was a relief because the fair can be a sweaty affair. That evening, I went out, had a few drinks, and came back… okay, I came back a bit tipsy. I decided to order pizza. And then… and then… well, I woke up the next morning to the sound of a *loud* knock on my door. It was a hotel staff member, holding… wait for it… a pizza box. Empty. Except for some sad little crumbs. And pizza sauce. EVERYWHERE. Apparently, in my drunken stupor, I had tipped the pizza box over, creating a pizza-sauce disaster. On myself. On the floor. On the bed. And yes, I had to pay extra for deep-cleaning. I was MORTIFIED. But even the staff laughed about it. They've certainly seen worse. The important lesson? Don't drink and order pizza. Especially not at the Hampton Inn. Or anywhere, probably. And maybe, *maybe*Ocean View Inn
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