Whether you’re looking for accommodations during your summer visit to Water Country, a hockey tournament at The Rinks at Exeter, or taking a family trip up the New England coastline, the Hampton Inn & Suites Exeter offers an ideal place to stay for you and your family.
Through the years I have come to realize that you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars and travel far to have fun as a family and create memories, there is so much to do here in New England. There’s Mount Washington, Loon Mountain in Lincoln, Story Land and North Conway in northern New Hampshire, and Portsmouth, Water Country and Hampton Beach along the Seacoast just to name a few.
During a recent trip to the seacoast the kids and I stayed two nights at the Hampton Inn & Suites Exeter. Located in the small New England seacoast village, the Hampton Inn & Suites Exeter is close to shopping, dining, and downtown Exeter. It is also within walking distance to Exeter Hospital, American Independence Museum, Phillips Exeter Academy, and a Walgreens in case you forget something at home.
The 111 guest rooms all have free WiFi, 37-in TVs, mini fridges, and microwaves. The is also a fitness center, accessible indoor pool and hot tub that are available to all guests. One thing that drew me to the Hampton Inn & Suites was the indoor pool and complementary hot & cold breakfast, two huge bonuses when traveling with kids.
Check-in was a breeze, the staff was friendly and noted that the playpen was already in our room, I had requested one during booking. I grabbed a coffee from the All Day Coffee & Tea Bar that was located in the lobby and we headed to our room to get settled for the afternoon.
King Bed Studio Suite:
The King bed studio suite was spacious and just the perfect amount of room for the three kids and I. Since we were spending the afternoons at the hotel, the larger room gave us more area to spread out instead of the standard sized room. The older kids enjoyed their own space in the living room area and there was plenty of room for the playpen in another corner for baby boy.
Having recently learned how to crawl, baby boy loved the large space, allowing him to roam around. The 37-inch HDTV is attached to the wall and can be turned towards the living room area or towards the bed. There’s also a large desk located in the center of the room which is perfect for those traveling on business.
The linens were all fresh and clean and although I didn’t sleep the greatest due to baby boy missing his crib at home, the bed was very comfortable. The small touches of having a mini-fridge and microwave in the room is a huge convenience for families and certainly makes traveling easier. Whether you’re traveling with a small cooler, need a place to store leftovers, or want to microwave a meal.
In the entry way, a mini fridge, microwave, additional sink, coffee pot, and cabinets for storage.
Traveling with young kids can be busy & at times stressful and I prefer breakfast on site whenever possible, it cuts down on having to load up the kids in the car and provides a more relaxed atmosphere. Having the breakfast buffet included also helps to cut down on the extra costs, it could have easily cost our family an extra $45 a day for the juices, coffee, waffles, pancakes and eggs.
I knew before our visit that there was a free hot breakfast, but I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was impressed with the selection of hot and cold items, there was something for everyone in our family including the baby. The older boys were excited to see cereals, individual yogurts and the waffle bar. The waffle bar was the highlight for the kids and they looked forward to choosing their own toppings each morning. While we chose to eat in the dining area since high chairs were available, I did notice quite a few guests bringing their food back to their rooms which was also an option.
On our first morning the hot dishes included biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs, on our second day the options included scrambled egg & cheese omelet, bacon, and a breakfast topper (English muffin/egg/bacon). Everyday items included:
- Cereal, bagel, toast, muffins, pastries
- Belgian waffle bar with toppings – sprinkles, whipped cream, syrups, chocolate chips
- Yogurt, oatmeal, Fruits – apples, bananas, & fresh sliced fruit
- Milk, Juices (cranberry, apple, orange) and a coffee & tea bar
The pool was on the smaller size, but since it wasn’t the purpose of our trip and more of a luxury it was okay. Although a bit crowded on the Saturday night during our visit the kids still had a great time. For an added convenience, the pool towels were located right inside the pool area.
What features do you look for in a hotel when traveling?
*Media rate provided.
