Arrival/Check-In: My colleague Mark and I arrived at the Hilton Long Island after a day of meetings in New York, ready to relax as we were on the first leg of a multiday road trip. Check-in was quick, and we enjoyed a drink at the lobby bar before visiting our guestrooms. The lobby of this newly renovated property is a massive space capped by a domed skylight that houses a bar as well as Basil’s Bistro. We sampled a few items from the bar menu to hold us over until dinner — a flatbread and some tasty bruschetta.

Guest Quarters: My suite, room 401, was at the far end of the hallway, away from the noise of the elevator. It was not a true suite so much as a large oval room with a bisecting wall partition, open on either end. It was spacious and well-lit, and it was obvious here that the hotel had just been updated. A large table served as my workstation, and the bathroom included all of the standard amenities. I was comfortable here for the one evening of our stay. In-room WiFi is complimentary for HHonors members and AT&T subscribers; other guests pay a fee to receive the service.

Services/Amenities: After settling in and checking email, we met at the lobby bar again for dinner. We would have liked to try Masterson’s, a steakhouse inside the hotel, but it was Monday and it was closed for business — a shame, as the menu was quite appetizing. The menu at the bar was served from Basil’s Bistro. The service was impeccable, but unfortunately we could not say the same for the food. Our fish and duck entrées were subpar, surprising based on the quality of their earlier offerings.

I did not get to enjoy some of the other unique aspects of the hotel, including a beautiful indoor pool complete with waterfall; or the tennis, basketball and volleyball courts (the outdoor facilities were closed for the season).

The hotel also includes a variety of flexible spaces for meetings and events, from boardrooms to thousands of feet of ballroom space with a separate outside entrance.

The Experience: After a 2012 full renovation, this hotel is clean, welcoming and well-run. Its location makes it convenient as a home base for meetings throughout Long Island; however, it is too far from Manhattan to be used for business in the city unless there are limited options. Our overall stay was positive, and I would gladly return next time we need to spend a night in the area.

GT CHECKLIST

• Doorman/valet
• Less than 10 minutes for check-in
• Separate tub and shower
• Large vanity
• High-quality towels
• Powerful, unattached hair dryer
• High-quality bed linens
• Large, flat-screen television
• Large desk with convenient outlets
• Large, complimentary laptop safe
• Complimentary in-room WiFi
• Complimentary bottled water
• Stocked minibar
• Ample lighting
• In-room coffeemaker
• Iron and ironing board
• On-site restaurant and bar
• 24-hour room service
• 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center
• Turn-down service

Hilton Long Island/Huntington

598 Broad Hollow Road
Melville, NY 11747
tel 631 845 1000
hilton.com