Of the hotels in Lafayette I’ve stayed in, the Hilton Lafayette and Towers is my favorite. It is one of the few full-service hotels and quite possibly the largest hotel in the city. It’s also probably one of the more expensive places to stay in town, although you can find rates around $90 online for weekend stays. On my business trips taken during the week, the rate was usually around $140. That said, do not expect four- or five-star accommodations from the Hilton; when compared to other full-service Hiltons, I’d rank the Lafayette location no better than average. But, when compared to some of the other options, the Hilton stands out, even with its faults.
So why do I say the Lafayette Hilton is no better than average? First, in my opinion, the hotel is in fairly serious need of renovation and modernization. Much of the property’s public areas retain the original 1970s-era fake antebellum, Louisiana plantation-style décor. Think Scarlet O’Hara and Gone With the Wind here, only to an extreme. To me the lobby and other public areas are very dated, and the southern theme could be done in a more modern, tasteful way. But maybe that’s just my personal opinion; after all, this Acadiana and the pre-Civil War plantation look is big here.
Moving upstairs to the guest room floors, one of my chief complaints about the hotel’s infrastructure are the extremely slow and unreliable elevators, and hallways that seem to always be at least 80°F. The rooms are not bad, although the bathroom fixtures are showing their age. The furnishings again fit the plantation-style, French-provincial theme. Beds are comfortable, but nothing special; don’t expect the plush pillow-top mattresses and down comforters that some newer Hilton properties feature. Some nice features, like high-speed Internet access, are available. The upgraded Towers rooms, available at an extra charge, add a few amenities to an otherwise standard room, including a bathrobe. Towers rooms also feature access to the hotel’s VIP lounge, with complimentary evening hors d’oeuvres and continental breakfasts. The lounge, located on the top floor of the hotel, is a nice place to stop in for an evening drink and snack, and the continental breakfast in the mornings features a nice selection of breads, pastries, cereals, fruit, and yogurt. As with other Hilton properties, access to the VIP lounge and space-available upgrades to the Towers rooms are complimentary for Hilton Honors Gold and Diamond VIP level members. Hilton Honors members are also more likely to get the more desirable river-view rooms, which overlook the scenic Bayou Vermillion that runs down one side of the property.
Overall, the Hilton Lafayette and Towers is not a bad choice. In a larger city, I would not consider it the best hotel in town. My main complaints, as I said above, concern the dated furnishings and infrastructure. However, given the local competition, it still gets my vote for best full-service hotel in Lafayette.