Casper's BEST Hotel? Hampton Inn & Suites Review!
Casper's BEST Hotel? Hampton Inn & Suites? Let's Get Messy And Find Out! (SEO-ified, of Course!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Hampton Inn & Suites in Casper, Wyoming. Forget pristine, perfect reviews. You're getting mine. And let me tell you, I'm not afraid to spill the (free!) coffee. First of all: Accessibility. Okay, let's get real.
Accessibility: They SAY they're accessible, and the website boasts about it. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did spend a good chunk of time checking out the hallways and elevators; everything seemed wide and accommodating. They've got the basics covered: elevators, accessible rooms (check the website for the full details, I didn't actually sleep in one!), and the front desk staff, who I'm pretty sure are trained in accessibility, but still, worth checking their skills specifically before assuming, ya know?
Now, where do we go from here?
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: Uhm… there isn't one attached directly. That's maybe a ding against them - but there's PLENTY in Casper to choose from and the fact that it's so close to everything else… well, worth the trade?
Wheelchair accessible: YES! (Probably. Double-check that specific room you book, though!)
Internet: Free Wi-Fi? In all rooms?! Yes! Praise the Wi-Fi Gods! I needed that free internet because I had to work remotely a lot. And guess what? It worked. Usually. Sometimes it's the service provider's fault, not the hotel's. But overall, they get a thumbs up from this digital nomad.
Internet [LAN]: Not every hotel does this, but some may be missing ethernet needs…
Internet services: See above. I'd say the internet here is great.
Wi-Fi in public areas: Yup. You can practically sniff the Wi-Fi from the lobby.
Wi-Fi for special events: Not applicable, but the wifi is there.
Rooms sanitized between stays: Yes, they do. Because you'd think that's the basic standard these days.
Rooms sanitized between stays: See above.
Let's Talk About the Fun Stuff: Things to Do (or, Ways to Relax – and My Existential Crisis in a Wyoming Swimming Pool)
Alright, this is where things get… interesting. The Hampton Inn & Suites, Casper, WY, DOES NOT HAVE A SPA. I repeat, no spa. No massage, no sauna, no steam room, no pool with a view. But they DO have:
Fitness center: A gym. I walked through it. It had treadmills. It had weights. It had the smell of lightly-used gym equipment. So, you know, par for the course.
Gym/fitness: See above.
Swimming pool: SWIMMING POOL! Indoor, but hey, it's Casper, Wyoming. We take what we can get. And here's my confession: I spent way too much time in the pool. It wasn't the most scenic pool in the world. But after a long day of… well, existing… it was warm, it was chlorine-y, and it was enough. And it felt good to switch off.
Swimming pool [outdoor]: No. See above.
Sauna, Spa, Steamroom, Massage, Foot bath, Body scrub, Body wrap: Negative. And I could have used a foot bath!
Cleanliness and Safety: The Germ War (and My Anxiety)
Okay, let's be real. I'm a bit of a germaphobe. So, how did they handle the pandemic? Here's the rundown:
Anti-viral cleaning products: Yep, they're on it. The website (and the signs) boast this.
Daily disinfection in common areas: Seemed to be the case. I saw staff wiping things down.
Hand sanitizer: Everywhere. I basically became a hand sanitizer connoisseur during my stay.
Hygiene certification: Possibly, but I do not know if.
Individually-wrapped food options: Crucial during COVID.
Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Mostly observed, but not always. Humanity, am I right?
Professional-grade sanitizing services: Let's hope so!
Staff trained in safety protocol: Seems like it, they were mostly professional-looking.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: I certainly hope so when I had breakfast.
Safe dining setup: More on that in a sec.
CCTV in common areas, Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms, & Security [24-hour]: Standard safety features.
Cashless payment service: Yes! They do this.
Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Unknown.
Room sanitization opt-out available: Probably not.
Sterilizing equipment: Unknown.
Shared stationery removed: Thank goodness.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Breakfast Buffet Battlefield
The Hampton Inn & Suites has an included breakfast. Let's talk about it:
Breakfast [buffet]: YES! A buffet! (But COVID-conscious. Mostly. They had gloves, sneeze guards, and you could get your own food. Okay, it's fine).
Breakfast service: Standard.
Buffet in restaurant: Yes. See above.
Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop: Free coffee and tea! All day!
Breakfast takeaway service: Yup. Grab-and-go.
A la carte in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Nope, nope, nope. The usual Hampton Inn spread. It's not gourmet, but is is there.
Poolside bar: Nope. Again, indoor pool.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Difference (and the Annoyances)
Air conditioning in public area: Yup. Thank goodness.
Business facilities, Xerox/fax in business center: There's a little business center.
Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Cash withdrawal, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Luggage storage: All available. Standard, reliable stuff.
Contactless check-in/out: Yes! I love this.
Convenience store: Nope
Currency exchange: Nope.
Elevator: Yes.
Facilities for disabled guests: See above.
Food delivery: Maybe.
Gift/souvenir shop: No.
Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Seminars: They do have meeting/banquet facilities, but I didn't go in.
Invoice provided: Yes.
Ironing service, Laundry service: Yep.
Mini bar, Safe deposit boxes: Nope.
Projector/LED display: Not sure, but they may have options.
Safety deposit boxes: No idea!
Smoking area: Yes.
Terrace: No. See above.
For the Kids (and the Kid in Me)
Babysitting service: Nope.
Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: It seems family-friendly, but no specific "kids" stuff.
Getting Around: Parking and Patience
Airport transfer: Unknown.
Bicycle parking: Unknown.
Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Lots of free parking. Woohoo.
Available in All Rooms: The Nitty Gritty (and My Personal Comfort Needs)
- **Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub,
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously color-coded itinerary. This is my Hampton Inn & Suites Casper, Wyoming, survival guide. Oh, and I'm calling it "Casper & the Caveman Blues" because, honestly, after this trip, I might become a grumpy caveman.
Day 1: Arrival & Immediate Regret (Kidding…mostly)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at Casper/Natrona County International Airport (CPR). Okay, first off, CPR as an airport code? Seriously? Makes me want to start CPR on the whole experience already. The flight was delayed, of course. Because nothing ever goes smoothly when you're me. Feeling hangry, the universal travel ailment.
- 1:45 PM: Car rental pickup. Attempted to choose a compact car. Apparently, the definition of "compact" is "fits a small family and a week's worth of groceries." This is going to be an adventure navigating these Wyoming highways.
- 2:30 PM: Check in to Hampton Inn & Suites Casper. "Welcome to Casper," the desk clerk chirped. Bless her heart. Checking into Hampton Inn and Suites in general feels like a warm hug. This hotel’s good. The room is clean and the free Wi-Fi is a gift from the gods. I think I'll survive the next few days and go back to my normal life. I still miss my cats.
- 3:30 PM: The room! It's decent, really. Basic, but hey, clean sheets are a win in my book. Immediately started eyeing the questionable art, a landscape that looks like a fever dream of the Grand Canyon. Feeling immediately peckish.
- 3:45 PM: Snack run. Hit the gas station nearby for some immediate relief. Found a bag of chips that tasted like cardboard and existential dread. Ate them anyway. #TravelLife
- 4:30 PM: Attempt to "work." Laptops are heavy, there's too much to do at home, and the internet is bad. I guess this is a working vacation. Started to write, but got side-tracked listening to the people at the lobby.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner: "The Cottage" - This place was recommended. "Rustic American cuisine" they said. Turns out, that translates to a slightly overpriced burger and fries in a room with a thousand taxidermied animals staring judgmentally at you. I felt like I was eating in a museum. The burger was underwhelming. The fries were okay. The elk was…well, stuffed. Definitely not a first date spot.
- 7:30 PM: Back to the hotel. Decided to go to bed at 8 PM. I'm officially in my 30s.
Day 2: Casper Mountain & Existential Hiking
- 7:00 AM: Free breakfast. I'm a sucker for hotel breakfasts. This one was better than most. Waffles, enough coffee to fuel a small army, and those little pre-packaged yogurts that always taste suspiciously like they've been sitting in a warehouse since the Reagan administration. Not bad.
- 8:00 AM: Headed to Casper Mountain. This was the whole reason for the trip!
- 9:00 AM: Hiking. I thought it would be a leisurely stroll. Wrong. It was straight-up mountain hiking. Like, actual inclines, rocks, and the looming threat of a bear encounter. I almost turned back at the first sign of elevation. But persistence is key, right? Or maybe sheer stubbornness.
- 10:00 AM: Views from the top of the mountain were something else. Vast, empty Wyoming stretching out before me. Pretty stunning, actually. Made me feel…small. And slightly terrified of what might be lurking in the trees.
- 11:00 AM: "Hiking" back down. My legs were already screaming, and the idea of being lost in the wilderness was becoming increasingly appealing.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at some diner. Burger and fries.
- 1:00 PM: More work. Can't shake the feeling I have to do something.
- 2:00 PM: Nap time. I needed it desperately.
- 3:30 PM: Visited the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center - actually really interesting! Learnt something. Got inspired, etc.
- 5:00 PM: The hotel pool. A small, lukewarm haven. It wasn't crowded, and it was quiet. Spent 1.5 hours in the pool. My mind was shut off.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Pizza at a place with a surprisingly loud music system. The pizza was okay. Felt extremely lazy.
- 8:30 PM: Back to the hotel. Watched some TV. Started to think about the cats.
Day 3: The Devil's Tower and…Contemplation
- 7:00 AM: Ate the free breakfast.
- 8:00 AM: On the road again. Today’s the day for the Devil’s Tower, and I'm equal parts excited and terrified. It's a long drive.
- 10:00 AM: Driving, driving, driving. Lots of empty roads.
- 11:00 PM: Lunch. Gas station again. This time, the food was even worse.
- 12:00 PM: Arrived at Devil's Tower National Monument. Whoa. The sheer size is mind-boggling. It's just…there. Huge, imposing, and defying gravity. I did the short hike around the base. It's an understatement to say that the views were amazing.
- 2:00 PM: Hiking. It did require a good amount of physical effort. The sun was out, the air was dry, and I felt like I was on top of the world and on the edge of the earth.
- 3:00 PM: Thought I should go to the gift shop for some souvenirs. I bought a t-shirt and a postcard (because if you didn't, did you really go?).
- 4:00 PM: Head back. Drive.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant. The food was okay. The company was my own.
- 7:00 PM: Back at the hotel. I sat by the window and just looked at the stars.
- 9:00 PM: My cats. I miss them.
Day 4: Departure (and Mildly Disappointed Acceptance)
- 7:00 AM: Last free hotel breakfast. Managed to get a waffle this time. Feeling bittersweet.
- 8:00 AM: Packing. Always a chore, no matter how much I try to streamline the process. The suitcase barely closes.
- 9:00 AM: Check out. Said my goodbyes.
- 10:00 AM: Drive to the airport.
- 11:00 AM: Airport security. Because if the universe could conspire to delay a flight, it would.
- 12:00 PM: Waiting. The flight is delayed. Sigh.
- 1:00 PM: Boarding. I'm ready to be home and cuddle with my cats.
- 2:00 PM: Take off.
Overall Assessment:
Casper, Wyoming, you were…an experience. A mix of stunning landscapes, questionable food choices, and the occasional existential crisis. Would I go back? Maybe. Probably. Eventually. But first, I need a serious nap and a whole lot of cat cuddles. And next time, I'm packing a better snack.
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Hampton Inn & Suites Casper: The REAL Deal (My Rambling Review)
Is the Hampton Inn & Suites in Casper REALLY the "BEST" Hotel? Or is that just, you know, *marketing*?
Okay, okay, settle down. "BEST" is a hefty claim, right? Look, I've stayed in some dumps, alright? Like, *legit* haunted-house-in-a-motel dumps. So, compared to *that*, the Hampton Inn & Suites in Casper is practically a palace. But best in Casper? Hmm... here's the deal. It's a *very* solid choice. It's not the Ritz, folks, but it's certainly not the Creepy Crawly Inn. It depends on what you're after. If you want a clean room, free breakfast (more on that later - HOLD YOUR HORSES!), and a decent pool, then yes, it's top tier. If you're expecting gold-plated faucets and a butler, you might be disappointed. But for the *average* weary traveler in Casper, it's a winner.
Let's talk about the rooms. Are they… livable? Because some hotel rooms are like, prison cells.
Livable? Absolutely! Now, I've had my share of hotel room horrors. Remember that time in… never mind, that's a story for another day. BUT, the Hampton Inn rooms are generally clean, spacious enough (unless you're traveling with a whole football team), and the beds… oh, the beds! They're actually comfortable. Like, I actually slept through the night *without* waking up with a crick in my neck. Praise be. The decor is… well, it's Hampton Inn. You know the drill. Neutral colours, generic artwork, but… functional. The little desk is a godsend for laptops and the Wi-Fi actually works (most of the time). I once spent a whole evening battling the TV remote, but I chalked it up to user error.
The Free Breakfast. Is it WORTH it? Because hotel breakfast is often… tragic.
Ah, the breakfast. This is where things get… interesting. "Free Breakfast" is a siren song, isn't it? Hopeful, promising… sometimes even *delicious*. Sadly, sometimes it is a collection of sad, congealed eggs. AND THEN THERE WAS THE PANCAKE MACHINE! Okay, here’s the thing… The Hampton Inn & Suites breakfast is… serviceable. It's not gourmet, folks. Don't expect fluffy, artisanal pancakes or a fresh-pressed juice bar. But it's *free*. And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing when you're on the road and starving. You get your usual: eggs (sometimes scrambled, sometimes… well, you know), some sort of meat (sausage, mostly), waffles (from a machine, which is always a gamble – sometimes they're perfect, other times… cardboard), cereal, fruit (pre-cut, bless them), and the holy grail: coffee. The coffee in the Casper Hampton Inn & Suites? Surprisingly decent. It gets you through the day. I loaded up on about a gallon, and was buzzing all day in the BEST way. Now, the ONE TIME I was there, there was a lady who REALLY loved the waffles. I mean, she was *all* about it. "This waffle machine! It's a miracle!" She kept saying it. I mean she was clearly there for one or two waffles, even! I think she was right, I think it was a miracle, she looked 10 years younger leaving the breakfast room. The only thing is, watch out for the vultures hovering around the toaster. They are relentless.
Tell me about the pool and gym… because sometimes you just need to escape.
The pool! Ah, yes. An oasis. The pool is… well, it's a pool. It's indoors, which is a bonus, particularly if the Casper weather is deciding to be… temperamental (which it often does). It's usually clean. The temperature is typically a comfortable range. Nothing fancy, but refreshing. The gym? Okay, I'll be honest. I peeked in the gym. Once. It looked… functional. A few treadmills, some weights, all the usual suspects. I didn't actually *use* it because, well, I was on vacation. Vacation time is not "gym time". But, it's there if you're feeling ambitious (unlike *me*). I'd probably recommend just relaxing, honestly. The bed is way more comfortable than a treadmill, trust me.
What about the staff? Are they friendly? Or are they jaded, like at *some* hotels?
Okay, MAJOR props to the staff! They're genuinely friendly. Which is gold when you’re tired and travel-weary. They're helpful, always smiling (or at least *acting* like it, which is fine by me), and they actually seem to *care* about making your stay pleasant. Now, look, I'm not saying they bend over backwards to bring you chocolate fountains, BUT they're responsive to requests, they handle issues quickly and professionally, and they make you feel… welcome. That's a big deal, people. It's a world of difference to getting a grunt behind a desk. One time, my key card wasn't working, and it was like, 2 AM. I went down, expecting a battle. But the front desk was like, "No problem, honey! Let me fix that right away!" And they did. No attitude, no sighs, just… helpfulness. That matters. Big time.
Location, Location, Location! How's the Hampton Inn & Suites location in Casper?
The location is … fine. It's not smack-dab in the middle of all the action, which isn't necessarily a *bad* thing, depending on what you're looking for. It's a bit outside of downtown, which means you might need a car to get around. It's close enough to restaurants and shops, but not so close that you're kept awake by late-night revelers. So, moderate. I think it's pretty good, you have to be around 20 minutes from all the tourist attractions, so that's not bad at all.
Okay, so… is it perfect? Because nothing is. Spill the tea! What are the downsides?
Perfection? Nah. Let's be real. Okay, here's the not-so-perfect stuff: The walls aren’t soundproof. You can hear the occasional door slam, and the kids yelling in the pool, or someone loudly enjoying the TV at 3 AM. *sigh* Bring earplugs, just in case, you know? Also, parking can be a bit tight sometimes. Another thing, the elevators… okay, the ELEVATORS. They worked, mostly. But they're… slow. Really slow. And sometimes theyPopular Hotel Find
