Homewood Suites vs Hilton Garden Inn: What Are The Differences?

When traveling for business or leisure, deciding where to stay is an important choice. Two prominent hotel chains catering to such travelers are Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn.

Both offer comfortable rooms and amenities tailored for short- and long-term visits.

However, there are some key differences between the Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn brands that travelers should consider when booking accommodations.

Homewood Suites distinguishes itself by providing spacious suite-style rooms equipped with kitchens, while Hilton Garden Inn is more of a traditional hotel with a greater focus on convenience. 

To assist travelers in making an informed decision for their upcoming trip, it is essential to evaluate various factors such as Hotel Amenities, Food and Beverage Options, Pet-Friendly Policies, Pricing, Local Attractions, Meeting or Event Spaces, Booking and Payment Options, Rewards Programs, and Customer Reviews and Ratings.

This article looks at what both Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn offer to help you understand what they are good at and where they might not be as strong.

Difference Between Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn

We have identified 9 differences between Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn that we will discuss further.

1. Hotel Amenities

Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn each offer a distinctive hospitality experience tailored to different traveler needs.

At Homewood Suites, the focus is on extended stays, providing fully equipped kitchens with amenities such as full-size refrigerators, microwaves, and dishwashers, fostering a home-like environment.

Guests enjoy the convenience of complimentary groceries, allowing for cost-effective home-cooked meals.

The hotel further enhances the stay with a free hot breakfast featuring a variety of options, an evening social from Monday to Thursday with complimentary food and beverages, and additional amenities like an outdoor pool, sports court, and barbecue grills.

Extended stay benefits such as on-site laundry and weekly housekeeping make it ideal for prolonged visits.

On the other hand, Hilton Garden Inn caters to business travelers seeking shorter stays, offering an on-site restaurant and bar serving breakfast, dinner, and cocktails.

The focus is on comfort with great beds, adjustable mattresses, and high thread count sheets. Amenities like basic complimentary WiFi, a 24/7 snack shop, and printer access at the front desk are designed to accommodate the needs of business professionals.

While both hotels provide valuable extras, the Homewood Suites excels in its extended stay offerings, emphasizing spacious living areas, while the Hilton Garden Inn focuses on efficiency and comfort for shorter business trips.

2. Food and Beverage Options

Homewood Suites serves up a complimentary hot breakfast buffet with your room, ensuring a hearty start to your day.

On weekday evenings, they host social gatherings featuring light meal options like tacos, pasta, soup, and salad.

While additional dining choices are limited, you’ll find a convenient small store on-site.

On the other hand, Hilton Garden Inn takes a different approach.

They offer a cooked-to-order breakfast for purchase and boast a full-service restaurant and bar at many locations.

Room service is also available in various places, providing added convenience. Plus, the 24/7 Pavilion Pantry is there for any snack or essentials you might need.

In a nutshell, Homewood Suites leans towards inclusive offerings, making it a cozy choice for extended stays with complimentary breakfasts and social evenings.

Meanwhile, Hilton Garden Inn caters to those who prefer diverse dining options, offering a range of paid choices like restaurant dining and room service for a more seamless travel experience.

3. Pet-Friendly

Homewood Suites stands out for its welcoming attitude towards pets, recognizing them as vital family members.

They gladly embrace your furry friends, offering a warm reception with a modest extra charge.

Your pets are not just accepted but celebrated during your stay.

For added comfort, Homewood Suites provides pet-friendly perks like bowls, treats, and waste bags.

Similarly, Hilton Garden Inn acknowledges the significance of including your pets in your travel plans.

They have a pet-friendly policy, allowing your beloved companions to join you for a nominal fee.

However, it’s crucial to be aware that pet policies may differ by location.

To ensure a smooth experience, it’s recommended to reach out to the hotel beforehand, confirming their pet-friendly amenities and any specific guidelines.

4. Price

Room rates at extended stay hotel chains like Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn fluctuate based on factors such as destination and seasonality.

A key consideration for travelers is the price, and generally, Homewood Suites tends to be a bit pricier compared to Hilton Garden Inn.

The reason behind this price difference is that Homewood Suites provides suite-style rooms with separate living spaces and kitchens.

This setup is perfect for people planning longer stays or families who prefer the convenience of preparing their own meals.

On the flip side, Hilton Garden Inn offers more standard hotel rooms, and these are usually priced a bit lower.

5. Local Attractions

Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn are two distinct hotel brands, each offering a unique experience tailored to different preferences.

Homewood Suites are typically found in peaceful suburban areas, providing guests with a tranquil environment close to parks, malls, and family entertainment centers.

If you stay at a Homewood Suites, you might enjoy complimentary shuttle services to nearby supermarkets, making grocery shopping a breeze.

The focus here is on extended stays, offering home-like amenities for families.

You can even find basketball courts, sports fields, and fitness centers on the property, ensuring a comfortable and active stay.

On the other hand, Hilton Garden Inn is strategically placed in bustling downtown and urban areas, offering convenience for business travelers and couples seeking excitement.

These hotels are within walking distance of tourist sites, museums, and nightlife hotspots.

Some locations are even connected to trendy restaurants, cafés, and shops, providing a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.

Hilton Garden Inn often features onsite restaurants and bars, creating a space popular not only with guests but also with locals.

6. Meeting or Event Spaces

Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn are both great choices for hosting various events, but they differ in their offerings.

Homewood Suites provides smaller meeting rooms suitable for 10-50 people, perfect for intimate conferences.

These rooms come equipped with a conference table, chairs, basic AV equipment, a whiteboard, and a flipchart.

Some locations even offer a larger ballroom for events hosting up to 100 guests.

Catering services are available for meals and breaks, and some places allow you to rent out their indoor pool area for evening events.

On the other hand, Hilton Garden Inn stands out with its dedicated meeting spaces designed for 10-100 attendees.

These rooms feature flexible layouts, high-speed WiFi, AV equipment, whiteboards, and office supplies.

Some locations go even bigger, offering ballrooms that can accommodate up to 300 guests for larger conferences or social events.

Hilton Garden Inn provides on-site catering and planning services for convenience.

Additionally, certain locations boast outdoor spaces like patios or gardens for a refreshing event setting.

Hilton Garden Inn locations generally have larger meeting spaces and more amenities for hosting professional events and conferences, while Homewood Suites offers smaller rooms more suitable for smaller meetings and gatherings.

7. Booking and Payment Options

Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn give guests different ways to book rooms to meet their needs.

Their websites and phone apps make booking easy for people on the go.

You can also call their front desk to talk to someone who can help pick the best room and dates.

Both hotels want your stay to be comfortable and will help you choose what works for your trip.

Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn take lots of different cards and digital payments to make it easy to pay.

Whether you have a Visa, Mastercard, American Express or use Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone, you can use it to book your room.

Some hotels put a temporary hold on your card when you check in for any extra charges during your stay.

But overall, both hotel chains give you flexible options to pay how you want which makes things more convenient for guests.

The rules for canceling or changing room bookings can be different between Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn, and also between individual hotels.

It’s always a good idea to double check the policy when you make your reservation.

Usually you can cancel or modify with no fee if you give enough notice.

But for deals, packages or special rates, the rules might be stricter.

As long as you check first, both hotel groups try to give guests flexibility if their travel plans change unexpectedly.

Knowing the deadlines upfront prevents getting charged down the road.

8. Rewards Programs

Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn are both part of Hilton’s loyalty rewards, called Hilton Honors.

This program lets frequent guests earn points to use for free nights, flights, and other perks.

The more you stay, the more rewards you get.

All members also get extras like free Wi-Fi, picking your room online, and late checkouts.

So staying loyal to Hilton hotels pays off over time.

Whether you prefer Homewood Suites or Hilton Garden Inn, you’ll be treated as a VIP thanks to the benefits that come with Hilton Honors membership.

It’s a nice way to be thanked for choosing their hotels again and again.

9. Customer Reviews and Ratings

Homewood Suites consistently earns high praise from satisfied customers, boasting an impressive average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars on platforms such as TripAdvisor and Booking.com.

Guests frequently commend the spacious suite-style rooms, complete with separate living areas and fully-equipped kitchens.

The complimentary hot breakfast, enjoyable evening social events, and top-notch customer service are also highlighted as major positives.

However, some guests have pointed out a drawback in terms of limited on-site dining options beyond breakfast and occasional noise disturbances between rooms.

Similarly, Hilton Garden Inn holds its own in customer satisfaction, securing an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on prominent travel websites.

Guests express contentment with the comfortable beds, advantageous locations near highways and airports, and the modern decor.

Noteworthy amenities such as free WiFi and on-site restaurants contribute to positive reviews.

On the flip side, some complaints touch on smaller-than-expected rooms, occasional noise disturbances, and additional fees.

Final Thoughts

Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn each offer distinct advantages for specific travel needs. Homewood Suites shines when it comes to extended stays with spacious suites, complimentary amenities like breakfast and evening socials, and a welcoming atmosphere ideal for families and pets. Guests prioritizing longer visits or home-like comfort will appreciate its offerings.

In contrast, Hilton Garden Inn caters more directly to business travelers and those seeking shorter urban getaways. With comfortable rooms, convenient locations, onsite dining options, and spacious event venues, it’s tailored to business functions and brief city breaks rather than long vacations.

At their core, Homewood Suites emphasizes homeliness while Hilton Garden Inn provides efficient hospitality. By understanding these key differences in amenities, locations, and overall environment, travelers can best match their priorities to the hotel brand that suits them. Whether craving a cozy extended stay or streamlined business trip, the Hilton family of hotels has appealing choices.