Hampton Inn - St. Louis Downtown at the Gateway Arch

This Hampton Inn is fairly typical of the chain: It's a basic 11-story rectangular building with no distinguishing features. Guests enter through sliding glass doors with large potted plants on each side. Inside, there are several modern seating areas throughout the lobby where guests can gather. There's a particularly homey area to relax next to a fireplace, with a sofa, chairs, and bookcases. A flat-screen TV and a large checkers game provide entertainment, and self-serve free coffee and tea are offered around-the-clock. Black-and-white photos of St. Louis hang on the walls near the elevator, adding a little local flavor to the hotel. The hotel's straightforward style suits all sorts of travelers, including families, couples, individuals, and businesspeople, a fact that's only bolstered by its prime location. 

The hotel is conveniently located on Washington Avenue, just off Memorial Drive, in a mixed business and residential district. Downtown begins at the hotel's front door. Look east and guests will see the interstate highway overpass and the Mississippi River; walk west up Washington Avenue, past the historic Missouri Athletic Club, and the tall buildings of downtown St. Louis rise up in every direction. The location is near Busch Field, home to the Cardinals. Some of the most popular entertainment districts in St. Louis are also close at hand, including the popular Laclede's Landing area, which is home to plenty of bars and restaurants and is just five minutes away on foot. The Gateway Arch is just half a mile away, or a 10-minute walk. America's Center Convention Complex is about five minutes from the hotel on foot, as is a stop on the city's metrolink line. St. Louis Airport is a 25-minute drive from the hotel. 

Rooms are clean and crisp. Beds are made with white duvets and mid-tone wood furniture is set throughout, from the headboards to the desks. The overall aspects are well-kept and provide a homey level of comfort, and a single piece of traditional artwork hangs on the walls in most rooms. All rooms include mini-fridges, coffeemakers, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, lounge chairs, ergonomic desk chairs, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms are on the small side, but offer ample counter space, hairdryers, and curved shower curtain rods in the shower/tub combos. Some rooms have views of the Gateway Arch.  

A free breakfast buffet is served daily in the breakfast room. Options are mostly continental, though hot items like waffles and oatmeal area also offered. The heated indoor pool is suitable for swimming laps, and there is a small hot tub as well. Windows provide views of downtown, while a skylight lets in a good amount of natural light. Lounge chairs and cafe seating surround the pool. A play house and pool toys keep the little ones entertained, and pool towels are provided. The small fitness center overlooks the pool. It has few pieces of cardio equipment and a limited selection of free weights along with a TV. A business center provides computers, a printer, and a shredder for guests to use. The laundry room has three coin-operated washers and dryers and a folding table, and there's a small game room with a few dated machines. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but there are fees for parking.