Hilton Garden Inn Chattanooga / Hamilton Place

Located just off Interstate 75 between downtown and the airport, this hotel stays busy with business travelers during the week. But tourists as well as local couples and families on weekend getaways take advantage of its proximity to Hamilton Place shopping mall, which is surrounded by over 100 restaurants. The lobby is bright and colorful, dominated by shades of orange with brown and tan accents. The two-story space has floor-to-ceiling windows and large tropical plants that give it almost an atrium feel. Cozy sitting areas are located throughout the spacious lobby and include brown leather bench seats along outer walls and a TV viewing area with orange upholstered armchairs and individual tables. The restaurant and lounge off the lobby is a cheerfully bright area, with banks of windows and a variety of comfortable seating options, including a small bar. The hotel's meeting space hosts various corporate events as well as the occasional weekend wedding in the ballroom. 

The Hilton Garden Inn is located just off Interstate 75 at Exit 5, between downtown Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport. It's a busy yet safe commercial district surrounded by other hotels and numerous restaurants, several of which are directly across the street. Access to the Interstate is a short two-minute drive, and once there, the airport is an eight- to 10-minute drive. The hotel operates a free shuttle to the airport on weekdays. Hamilton Place Mall and its dozens of retail stores and restaurants are only a five-minute drive away, as is the Hickory Valley Golf Course. The Volkswagen of America Group headquarters, a destination for many business travelers, is a nine-minute drive away. Most attractions in downtown can be reached in approximately 20 to 25 minutes, including the riverfront Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Convention Center, and the campus of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Lookout Mountain’s attractions, including the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, are approximately 25 to 30 minutes away by car.

Though straightforward and unsurprising, guest rooms are clean and well maintained, with matching, pecan-colored furniture of above-average quality. Amenities include microwaves, mini-fridges, single-cup coffeemakers, and 32-inch flat-screen TVs. Deep-red drapes, off-white painted walls, and rust-and-gold patterned carpets accent the natural wood furniture. Generously sized desks have black ergonomic office chairs and adjustable lamps. Framed black-and-white photos of Chattanooga scenes hang on some walls. Standard Rooms come in one-king or two-queen bed options and include upholstered armchairs and ottomans. Suites have more space for separate sitting areas with sleeper sofas, and each has a second flat-screen TV. Whirlpool Suites, as the name suggests, have whirlpool tubs that sit on tiled platforms outside the bathroom along with walk-in showers with glass doors. Bathrooms are pleasantly decorated with gold-patterned wallpaper, large tan granite vanities, and beige tiles on the floors and framing the shower/tub combos. Neutrogena toiletries are provided. Rooms are mostly quiet, but past guests report a bit of noise from the busy roads in the units facing the highway. Views are mostly of the hotel grounds and the various restaurants and other businesses surrounding the property. 

This property offers the full array of features expected of a mid-range Hilton catering to both business and leisure travelers. The full-service restaurant and bar offers a buffet or cooked-to-order breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening, but breakfast is not included in room rates. The 24-hour pantry also sells sundries, snacks, beverages, and ready-to-microwave entrees. And there's free coffee, tea, and ice water in the lobby. The 24-hour business center has two computer stations with Internet access, a copier, and free printing. There is 2,500 square feet of meeting space with spaces including a ballroom for larger events (up to 180 people) and a boardroom-style library for smaller meetings. The fitness center has a range of cardio and weight-training machines, plus free weights. There's also a heated indoor pool and outdoor sundeck with lounge chairs. 

The hotel operates a free shuttle service to the airport on weekdays and has free on-site parking. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Self-service laundry facilities as well as valet laundry and dry cleaning are available. The front desk has a safe deposit box, and the lobby has an ATM and shoe shine stand. Note that no pets other than service animals are allowed.