Embassy Suites by Hilton Chattanooga Hamilton Place

The hotel's entry resembles a museum, with its enormous vaulted ceiling, wood-paneled walls, and island lounge seats. The high ceilings continue in the lobby, where clusters of modern brown armchairs surround a beautiful stacked-stone fireplace. Sleek natural touches, including faux tree branches and lamp bases resembling tree bark, lend extra style to the room. The breakfast restaurant is equally sophisticated and stylish, with high-quality, leather-cushioned wooden chairs at each small wooden table. Wood-paneled walls and Japanese-style screens with tree prints continue the modern-natural look. The bar is small but attractive, with metallic green paneling and delicate hanging lights. The evening reception is a busy scene, drawing suit-clad business guests, as well as families enjoying free drinks and snacks. The wide indoor pool is surrounded by windows, and has a lovely outdoor sundeck equipped with lounge chairs and ornate, iron patio tables. 

The hotel sits off of a fairly busy road near Highway 74 and I-75. Within the immediate area are various casual restaurants, fast-food places, and a pharmacy. The hotel is about 10 minutes' drive from the industrial park that houses a Volkswagen plant and other businesses. Hamilton Place shopping mall is about a 15-minute walk or five-minute drive away. The hotel is about a 15-minute drive from downtown Chattanooga, which is about 13 miles away. The Chattanooga Airport is around four miles away, a five- to 10-minute drive. Lookout Mountain is about 25 minutes' drive. 

Although some are a bit dark, all rooms in the hotel are spacious suites. Each has a separate living room furnished with a sofa bed, desk, and wood cabinet for one of the two flat-screen HDTVs -- the other is in the bedroom. Decor is modern and fairly corporate, though stylish, combining dark wood with soft grays and browns, including the curtains, subtly patterned wallpaper, and wavy-striped carpeting. Furniture is clean-lined and functional, such as the square and rectangle lamps in the bedrooms. Walls are decorated with nature photography, lending refreshing splashes of color. Bathrooms are also attractive, with dark wood cabinetry, speckled granite countertops, and shower/tub combos. Each suite has free Wi-Fi access, and a wet bar area with sink, coffeemaker, mini-fridge, and microwave. Other standard amenities include safes, ironing facilities, and iPod alarm clocks. 

The free features are numerous at this Embassy Suites, including Wi-Fi, outdoor parking, breakfast buffet with made-to-order eggs, and evening reception with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. In addition to a business center with computers and a printer for guest use, there are several meeting rooms of various sizes, and a beautiful rooftop terrace available for events. The attached Ruth's Chris Steak House is popular with hotel guests and the public, and typically full for dinner. There are also a 24-hour convenience store, and coin-operated laundry room. The hotel has a temperature-controlled indoor pool, and a well-lit gym with modern cardio machines, including treadmills with attached TVs.