Hotel Review: DoubleTree by Hilton Sacramento, CA

I recently stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Sacramento, CA since it was close to the Oddities and Curiosities Expo event, which my brother and I covered for my other site. Keep reading for my honest hotel review.  

Lobby and Check-In

Upon arrival, parking was a breeze and the hotel was easy to find. Apparently, there were multiple events in the area and the check-in line was long with a wait time of about 30-45 minutes. Once it was my turn at the counter, I was asked if my room was part of the "Allures" block. I said, "No, I'm here for the Oddities and Curiosities Expo." I had no idea what the Allures event was about. 

Due to the Allures event, which I later learned was for swingers or couples that like to swap, it caused a mix-up with my room. I booked two rooms with a connecting door but was told they didn't have it. I wanted what I paid for so I showed my receipt and they did their best to accomodate me. 

Then, after a few minutes on the phone and a few strokes on the keyboard, the front desk guy told me I was upgraded. Once my brother and I headed to our rooms, we discovered were only given the key to the first room. Luckily, the friendly front desk guy fixed the situation and gave us the other key. 

Check-in was a little chaotic, so I would rate it a 3.5/5 stars.

The Room

The rooms were clean, the beds were large and I appreciated the couch and desk. The Smart TV had all my favorite apps including YouTube, Netflix, DIRECTV, and Tubi. 

My bed was soft and comfortable so I slept like a baby. The AC in my room was too cold so I switched to the heater. 

The rooms get a 5/5 stars despite it being noisy in the hallways due to all the events taking place. 

The Bathroom

The bathroom was bright, clean, and equipped with the usual hand soap, lotion, and shower items including shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. The water pressure in this hotel was great and I enjoyed a hot shower, both nights. 

Google Reviews scared me a bit as some people reported mold, but my bathroom was spotless. 

The bathroom gets a 5/5 stars. 

The Gym

I decided to use the gym for an 8pm workout and had the place to myself. I used the dumbells, the kettle bell for squats, the cable machine, and the treadmill. Water was provided in the gym along with towels. After an hour, I made my way back to the room and getting there was like walking through a labyrinth. The hotel had multiple wings, and felt like a maze. 

The gym gets a 5/5 stars. 

Pros

The hotel was clean, comfortable, and centrally located to the event I was attending at The Cal Expo.

Cons

I'm no prude, but while I was on my way to the gym, I spotted an upside-down pineapple on one of the doors down the hallway of the 2nd floor, two doors down from my room. Turns out, this was a symbol for those partaking in the Allure event.

A simple Google Search told me, "An upside-down pineapple is a symbol that can have multiple meanings, including:

Casual non-monogamy

An upside-down pineapple can represent swinging, which is a type of consensual partner-swapping in a long-term or married relationship.

Here are some places where you might see an upside-down pineapple:

On doors

Couples might display an upside-down pineapple on their doors while traveling, such as at a hotel or on a cruise ship."

Overall Thoughts

Given the proximity of the hotel to the event I was attending, the cleanliness and the amenities, I'd rate this 3-star hotel a 4 out of 5 stars. Sure, the interior walkways looked a bit retro, but it reminded me of Palm Springs, CA and added to the 80s vibes.

Have you stayed at this hotel? Let me know in the comments. 

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Trip Resources

If you’re planning a road trip, here are some helpful sites that I use. Note, below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission for every booking, with no extra cost to you. Thanks so much, in advance!

Booking.com - Anytime we need a rental car, we use this site to find deals. 

Expedia.com - I like to use this site to explore upcoming cruises that I'd like to take. I also refer to it to compare hotel prices, flights, and car rentals. 

GetYourGuide.com - Book things to do, attractions, tours and discover new food. 

VRBO.com - When we’re not staying in an AIRBNB, we’re in a VRBO rental. We use this option when we want to enjoy a full house with individual bedrooms, a kitchen, backyard and other amenities. 

TripAdvisor.com - Anytime I want reputable reviews, tips, and overall advice about a vacation area, I leverage this site. 

Viator.com - Looking for cool tours in your vacation area? This site has a number of options.