Review of Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Belvoir Alexandria South 2*

Overall, very nice hotel. We stayed two nights for a family wedding at Mount Vernon. The room: We were in a King Room on the third floor. The room was a good size and the furnishings were modern and pretty. There were two bedside tables and lamps, a desk with a lamp, a mini fridge, microwave, and coffee maker, and TV — standard hotel furnishings. There was also a large bench at the end of the bed which is as a nice feature since there isn't a couch or chairs. One of the lights next to the bed was burnt out and the power dock supplied for phone charging did not work. We unplugged both however, and the wall outlet was still usable so we made do. The bathroom was large and updated. There was a good sized stall shower, a large vanity with a single sink, and a shelving nook for toiletries. Not much space in the shower for toiletries but enough to make do. The only complaint I had about the bathroom is that there were only two large towels for the shower, which is an issue when you have long hair. Luckily we had some from home, so it wasn't a huge issue. Our room overlooked the outdoor patio by the pool which is a nice gathering space with tables and chairs. The curtains were wonderful, there is a thin privacy curtain, and then thick black out curtains, so we were able to control the light well. The air conditioning worked wonderfully. The closet door was a floor to ceiling mirror which was nice when we were leaving for the wedding to be able to see full outfits. The bed was comfortable enough — the mattress was very firm, so if you're used to memory foam or pillow top it might give you some issues. There were six pillows provided which was amusing to me — two towels but six pillows. The bedding was clean and free of stains. Overall, other than the towels and broken fixtures, I have no complaints about the room. The amenities: We ate at the breakfast buffet both days and it was nice enough. It's open from 6-10 am but if you get down there at 9:30, they're already starting to break it down. I had eggs with ham and cheese which were very good. There is also a make your own waffle machine, juice machine, and assorted cereals, bagels, and bread products. The pool is a good size and heated. There are no tables in the pool area, but several chairs and when we were there, there was nobody in the pool. The only issue that we had with the pool was that we kept finding hair in it — a lot of hair. I don't know who was swimming before us but I worry that they left bald. I'm not a squeamish person, but there's something about moving through the water and having hair catch on your hands that is a little gross. There is no hot tub or sauna available. Overall, the pool was nice. I did not use the exercise room, but there were treadmills, bikes, a set of free weights, and other assorted equipment. The staff: The staff were absolutely wonderful to us and they definitely deserve five stars. They were always pleasant, they remembered us when we passed in the halls, and they made us feel right at home. They checked in with us whenever they saw us just to make sure our day was going well. It was very nice to have them genuinely interested in their guests. Overall, this is a nice hotel, and I would stay again if the need arose.