Name: Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central
Address: 131 DOW AVENUE, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States of America, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, US
Price range: $131–$506 per night
Rating: 8.25

What guests think

At Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central, travelers consistently praise the welcoming staff, solid complimentary breakfast with waffle options, and convenient spot just off the highway near shopping, making it an easy base for short drives into downtown Portsmouth.

Guests like the indoor pool and hot tub, but repeated comments note closures, lukewarm water, murky appearance, chemical smells, and occasionally reduced hours. Rooms are generally comfortable and often spacious, yet some feel dated or in disrepair, with noise near the highway, very firm mattresses for some, and occasional confusion around Wi-Fi access. Cleanliness is often commended, though several reviews report odors, hair or housekeeping oversights, and by-request service expectations. Expect a friendly, value-focused stay with convenient access and some facility variability.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Indoor pool and hot tub are well used, yet recurring reports cite closures or reduced hours, lukewarm or murky water, and strong chemicals. Pet friendly (with a fee), free parking, and a simple weekday happy hour with drinks/snacks are positives; renovations were noted during some stays.

Related guest reviews

8

KIMBERLY

Apr 24, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The staff is great. Decent rooms. Too much chlorine in the hot tub.

6

John

Aug 19, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice hotel overall. But was VERY DISAPPOINTED that the hot tub only work 1 of the 3 days I was there. That’s my go to on vacation and I missed out

10

Lisa

May 18, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Check-in was easy and we were greeted in a very friendly manor. The room was very clean as was the lobby and hallways. Breakfast was good and constantly being re-stocked. We traveled for the purpose of running a 5K and were looking forward to using the hot tub but it was closed due to being out of order when we returned from our race. Other than that, we had a great stay!

10

Connie

Aug 12, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Pet friendly

4

Sandra

Apr 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

My husband and I stayed 4/2-4/5/25. When we booked the hotel we saw that this location was doing construction to update the rooms. We had requested the 5th floor to be away from the construction. We were given the 1st floor with a remodeled room. We were told the 2nd & 4th floors were still under construction. Our room was nice & clean and quiet during the night. Morning breakfast was great every morning. Front staff & breakfast staff were all very friendly. *1st issue: In the mornings (around 9am), there was very loud construction in the room directly above us. We had to get up early and leave every day to avoid the loud construction noise. *2nd issue: After long day of walking and exploring, we were looking forward to using the hot tub each night. Hours for the pool/hot tub area is posted as 6am -10pm on the pool door and on the website. We were able to use the hot tub until 10pm for 1night. Then on 4/4, there were a large group of cheerleaders that checked in and small girls using the pool & hot tub for most of the night. We waited patiently (20 minutes) for them to leave and then we were able to use the hot tub at around 8:50pm, which we didn't mind since the previous night we hung out until 10pm. Around 9:05pm, a large man with a "security" shirt comes into the pool area and starts yelling at us "time to go, pool & hot tub is closed". We said we thought it closed at 10pm, then he yelled back at us - the sign is posted that it closes at 9pm! They had printed a new sign.

8

Jamie

Apr 6, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Overall, we had a great stay, unfortunately our last night was disappointing due to an unannounced change to the pool hours. My party got there about 8:45pm and then a "security" person came around 9:10pm and said we needed to get out of the pool area as it was now closed. There was a different pool sign posted that said the pool was closed at 9pm instead of the usual 10pm. We didn't think to check to see that the sign changed because why would it?? Oh, it changed because there were now about 100 kids staying at the hotel and the hotel didn't want the kids in the pool area after 9pm so they made it closed for all guests of this hotel. It felt like the hotel prioritized the large group of kids over the rest of the guests. Very disappointing.

10

Ellie

Mar 13, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

They are Amazing, everything is perfect except the pool was cold and jacuzzi was no to hot! but front desk were Amazing.

8

Kim

Jun 26, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Quite a few repairs going on during the stay. Pool and hot tub were Great. Convenient location. Service was very good. Loved the continental breakfast. Convenient washer/dryer.

10

John

Apr 22, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Close to shops, great hot tub

10

Carlos

Dec 15, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

The pool & Hot tub were very nice.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Cleanliness

Many guests describe clean rooms and public areas. However, cleanliness is inconsistent, with repeated mentions of odors, hair in bathrooms or bedding, damp carpets, and occasional pests or maintenance grime.

Related guest reviews

10

Mary Ellen

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel is very clean and the staff are remarkable!

2

William

Jul 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

They need to close this hotel and gut it. It was disgusting. The bathroom floor was sticky, the upholstery worn, stains on the window covering the carpet hadn't been vacuumed, the lampshades were bent and dirty. I felt dirty just being in this room.

4

Wayne

Aug 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Would not stay again. Intense overwhelming smell when entering building. Like bouquet of flowers about a thousand of them. Rooms and floors dirty.

6

Craig

Oct 22, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The desk help was very good but 2 hours after checking in I found a cockroach in the room. Changed rooms, took a shower and found something else (bug) on the shower floor. Changed rooms again. Received no compensation for any of this.

2

Nicole

Aug 22, 2023

·

I have never had such poor customer service, awful cleaning and a staff that disregarded the customers' issues. My stay was for 2 evenings. My 1st room was not cleaned. The bed had filthy sheets that had not only makeup on them- but hair in them as well. I went to the front desk- the manager gave me excuses of the "one washing machine was broken" and "theyre short staffed" (NOT excuses for a room NOT to be cleaned and dirty sheets to be left on) I was given the room next door as I had to be at a wake and they "didnt have anyone to clean the room" at that time. 2nd room smelled musty- but I had zero time to go back to the front desk. The bathroom was dirty. (multiple hairs on the toilet) Mold on walls/ceiling in the bathroom. But more disgusting was the significant amount of fruit flies in the room. I left a complaint at the front desk that was ultimately ignored. I had a funeral to be at in the morning and was going to be gone all day. Upon my return late on the 2nd evening- the fruit flies were out of control -I took care of at least 25 of them between the 2 nights. (I have pics of them on towels, mirrors, desk- etc.) When I checked out- I told the young man at the desk about the stay and was returned a dismissive reply/head tilt of "awww- Im sorry- that's too bad" (I kid you not) In short- I should've read the bad reviews. I had to book this 4days prior due to the death- this wasnt a planned trip. I spent well over $730 total for both nights. Absolutely atrocious!

2

Christopher

Aug 4, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This property was very dirty and smelled like it was sprayed in Lysol instead of being cleaned! Awful room!!

10

Amanda

Aug 27, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very clean and well cared for property

8

Mary

Aug 19, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

We chose this hotel for the affordability, amenities, proximity to Water Country & beaches, and lack of consistently negative reviews (lol). We had an excellent time--service was excellent, the building and our room was clean, the pool area was well-maintained with towels/chairs/shower, and we especially enjoyed the free breakfast. So nice to have a hot meal and the kids loved making the mini waffles. And the ice machine was working and located in the laundry room, both of which are convenient to have on our floor. We would definitely stay here again despite a few minor aspects: (1) the hotel itself was a little hard to find as it is tucked away behind a Home Depot next to deserted/closed department stores (Christmas Store, Bed Bath & Beyond); (2) the hot tub tiles/grout were black--not sure if they are supposed to be that way but I just made sure we took showers afterwards; and (3) the carpet in our room felt a little damp and sticky. I wore slippers in the room the whole time so it was fine for me. Kudos to the manager and staff for doing an awesome job! We look forward to coming back! PS: There is Caribbean food at the nearby mall!!

4

Sylvia

Jul 8, 2024

·

Stayed 4 nights

The room was poorly cleaned. We found hair on the side of the tub, hair in the sheets, dirty q tips in the nightstand, electric sockets were very loose and the room smelled musty, The AC was very noisy. We had to ask for new sheets and clean the bathroom ourselves. The outside parking area was very neglected. Animal feces and trash was everywhere.

6

Sharlene

Jul 10, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Unhappy with the strong smell of cleaning products when walking into the room, also felt dampness in the carpet, However, the bed was comfortable & the continental breakfast was good.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms are generally comfortable and often spacious, but several feel dated or under renovation, with occasional maintenance issues and highway-facing noise. Mattress comfort varies widely (some very firm), and a few guests reported confusing Wi-Fi access or fee prompts.

Related guest reviews

8

Janita

Jun 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Quick overnight stay. Staff was friendly, though not overly helpful when checking in. It felt odd to have to ask where things were (elevator, pool, breakfast, etc.). Most times the staff will give that information when checking in quote being asked first. There was a broken shelf in our bathroom but a quick text to notify the staff made sure we were not charged for the preexisting damages. Breakfast was standard and had grab and go options. The mini waffle machine was a plus! I would definitely stay here again.

10

David

May 9, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was really nice and overall our stay was excellent. Breakfast in the morning was good. Our only complaint is that the mattress was a little hard lol but other than that, nice place and great location too!! It's tucked away from everything so there's no street noise.

10

michael john

Mar 28, 2024

·

Stayed 5 nights

chair and sofa in room very uncomfortable

10

Abla

Oct 24, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Stayed here for a night. Beds were comfortable and it felt very safe. The staff at the desk were very kind. My only complaint is that the AC/heater unit in our room kept turning on with a very loud crackling sound, so had to turn it off. Also Pillows were on the softer side and the bathtub had some discoloration/ rust around the drain hole.

8

peter

Apr 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything good but couldn't access the wifi, so I used my phone as a hotspot

8

Doug

Apr 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Undergoing renovations, so we were on a floor that hadn’t been done. Room was clean but needed an update. Bed was comfortable.

6

Eileen

Aug 14, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Standard Hampton Inn layout and room appointments. Spacious bathroom with large counter and shelf storage. Extra towels. Plenty of outlets and usb plugs. Tub was bit worn and no exhaust fan. Staff was very friendly though there was no perk as an honor member.

4

Kyle

Apr 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I stay in Portsmouth quite a bit and this is usually my preferred hotel. On this stay, however, I was on a higher floor than usual and it seems that the rooms haven't been renovated there yet. It's very clear a couch was once in the room but now it's just a big empty space. The room I was in was much closer to the highway than I've been before and it was incredibly loud. I know there are renovations going on currently but this is the first stay I've had here that's been impacted by it; every other time I'mt the last few months has been exceptional. And as always, the staff was excellent.

6

Leeanna

Jul 31, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

It is so unfortunate to have to give such a low rating, and it’s only because the beds were like sleeping on a rock. I woke up at 2 am with terrible back pain, and was unable to get comfortable enough to sleep. The breakfast was TO DIE FOR. There were so many toppings for the waffles and/or oatmeal (fresh blueberries, brown sugar, cinnamon sugar, chocolate chips, FOUR different kinds of sauces, strawberry jam, almonds. The eggs bacon and potatoes were delicious too. The staff were incredibly nice. When I realized it was check out time I called the front desk and explained how exhausted I was from not sleeping and they said I could check out late (with no fee), which I appreciated! When I was checking out I asked if they get a lot of complaints about the beds and they said they just replaced them a couple weeks ago. It is unfortunate that the beds are so terrible because everything else was perfect. If you like very firm beds then I’m sure you’ll find this hotel to be wonderful!

6

Michael

Nov 30, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The bathroom, particularly the shower was in very poor shape. "Free" WiFi was difficult to set up without paying extra for Premium WiFi. Only a small cupboard for hanging up clothes. Free breakfast was good, and typical of other Hilton properties.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Service

Service is a strong point: many guests highlight friendly, welcoming front-desk teams, quick check-in, and responsive help. A few report lapses such as curt or rude interactions, a missed wake-up call, unclear housekeeping or pet-fee communication, and abrupt enforcement of pool hours.

Related guest reviews

8

Janita

Jun 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Quick overnight stay. Staff was friendly, though not overly helpful when checking in. It felt odd to have to ask where things were (elevator, pool, breakfast, etc.). Most times the staff will give that information when checking in quote being asked first. There was a broken shelf in our bathroom but a quick text to notify the staff made sure we were not charged for the preexisting damages. Breakfast was standard and had grab and go options. The mini waffle machine was a plus! I would definitely stay here again.

6

Jeanne

Oct 9, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

All in all it was a nice stay. I was not impressed with staff. We requested a six am wake up call which we did not get. When I mentioned it to the desk clerk when we checked out he came across as being unconcerned. He said "Oh no" and continued to tell me my receipt would be sent by Expedia and insincerely said "sorry" at the end. Not at all acceptable.

10

Robert

Apr 4, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was efficient, friendly and professional. Property was very clean and tidy. Breakfast was great. Staff were very courteous. Excellent hotel!

10

mike

Sep 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very nice person at check inn, quick, great room

10

Jaime

Jun 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice clean room and great and helpful staff

10

Suzanne

May 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

A quiet and comfortable property. Cozy from the great fireplace at the front reception area to the clean,spacious room, comfortable furniture and great mattresses for a comfortable night's sleep. Friendly and competent staff.

2

Christopher

Dec 27, 2022

·

Stayed 1 night

The woman (Kim?) who checked me in was exceedingly unpleasant. The first thing I said to her as I walked in, “Hello, how are you?” was met with a smirk and a grunt. Seriously. A smirk and a grunt. I said, “Sooo, not having a good night?” “Yeah,” she said. “I need an ID.” She didn’t ask my name. Just, “I need an ID.” And it went downhill from there. She was so grumpy and impatient and miserable and argumentative. Never stay here again.

2

Julie

Dec 8, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Rude attendent at the desk upon check-in. Hotel accommodations were booked a month in advance for 2 queen beds. Was given King room. Told to sleep on sleeper sofa or we could feel free to try to find another hotel in the area. It was late at night & we had traveled a ling distance and not familiar with area. Sleeper sofa was paper thin, sucken in middle. Woke up with horrible back and shoulder pain. This was the worst Hampton Inn experience ever and I travel frequently, staying in a Hampton Inn the majority of the time.

4

Sandra

Apr 7, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

My husband and I stayed 4/2-4/5/25. When we booked the hotel we saw that this location was doing construction to update the rooms. We had requested the 5th floor to be away from the construction. We were given the 1st floor with a remodeled room. We were told the 2nd & 4th floors were still under construction. Our room was nice & clean and quiet during the night. Morning breakfast was great every morning. Front staff & breakfast staff were all very friendly. *1st issue: In the mornings (around 9am), there was very loud construction in the room directly above us. We had to get up early and leave every day to avoid the loud construction noise. *2nd issue: After long day of walking and exploring, we were looking forward to using the hot tub each night. Hours for the pool/hot tub area is posted as 6am -10pm on the pool door and on the website. We were able to use the hot tub until 10pm for 1night. Then on 4/4, there were a large group of cheerleaders that checked in and small girls using the pool & hot tub for most of the night. We waited patiently (20 minutes) for them to leave and then we were able to use the hot tub at around 8:50pm, which we didn't mind since the previous night we hung out until 10pm. Around 9:05pm, a large man with a "security" shirt comes into the pool area and starts yelling at us "time to go, pool & hot tub is closed". We said we thought it closed at 10pm, then he yelled back at us - the sign is posted that it closes at 9pm! They had printed a new sign.

10

Hugh

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Comfortable and quiet. Excellent staff and service.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Location

Just off the highway near retail, the hotel is a short drive to downtown Portsmouth and UNH, convenient for drivers but not especially walkable. Several guests found it hard to find or in a deserted big-box area, with occasional highway or nearby store noise.

Related guest reviews

10

Macallan

Nov 12, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Nice place to stay that’s a quick drive from downtown Portsmouth.

8

Christine

Oct 5, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Strange route to get to hotel. Hotel itself good, but weird and deserted area.

8

Timothy

Mar 28, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Not the most appealing location, but easy to get to downtown and pretty quiet considering location.

6

John

Feb 2, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hot tub not working and difficult to find. Not central location as the name implies. Room was clean and comfortable and staff was nice and friendly.

10

Madison

Aug 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a fantastic location right off the highway, near shopping and restaurants, and close to Portsmouth.

10

William

Jun 10, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

Property was clean and well kept. Breakfast was above average and there were plenty of dining options within 5 minutes drive. Downtown Portsmouth was a 10 minute drive.

10

William

Jul 27, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location and clean!

8

Jefferson M

Aug 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Convenient hotel off 95

8

Victoria

Aug 19, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

not an ideal location to get to.

10

Danielle

Dec 18, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Girls weekend for Christmas festivities in the Portsmouth area. Check in was quick and easy. All employees were friendly. Location is a short distance from downtown Portsmouth but very close to local shopping, Home Goods, TJ Maxx etc. Room was clean and bed was comfortable. Closet door was broken and didn’t stay closed. Room was adjacent to home depot so could hear the beeping from the fork trucks most the day and early in the morning. Could also hear the highway noise. Pool and hot tub was nice. Lobby was festively decorated for Christmas.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Dining

Complimentary breakfast is a consistent highlight, frequently described as varied and well stocked with hot items and waffles; lobby coffee and cookies are appreciated. Some note average quality, limited options late in the morning, or early closing on occasion.

Related guest reviews

10

Lori

Aug 15, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great hotel. Friendly staff. Clean. Comfortable bed. Nice TV. Small but good gym and a wonderful breakfast buffet. The cookies in the late afternoon were a nice bonus. Will be staying there again if/when we come back to Maine.

6

Fred

Jun 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Property under renovations. No bottled water in the rooms? Also a weird smell in the room and the breakfast bar closes early.

10

Gisele

May 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Very clean and nice rooms. Great breakfast selection.

8

Felicity

Jul 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Friendly staff, good breakfast. The corners of the bathroom floor could do with a good clean, otherwise comfortable and pleasant.

10

Tracey

Nov 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Room was a great value along with an excellent breakfast.

6

ValenteJeanne

Jul 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Room had a smell. Very basic hotel. We arrived at 9:30 for breakfast and most main hot dishes were gone.

10

Maynard

Apr 11, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Appreciate the great breakfast, access to coffee and treats, and closeness to shopping etc. Room was clean, quiet with larger bathroom than usual. We'll be back.

4

Linda

Jul 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The breakfast was adequate but not what it was advertised to be.

10

Kenneth

Mar 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Everything was perfect. My only concern was in the morning for breakfast, they should add multiple waffle machines so there isn't a long wait

10

Richard

Nov 5, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was great all around room staff and breakfast

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Month	Average price
January	$101
February	$102
March	$109
April	$119
May	$154
June	$185
July	$200
August	$219
September	$201
October	$195
November	$116
December	$103

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16 $235	17 $204	18 $231	19 $207
20 $161	21 $183	22 $216	23 $246	24 $225	25 $264	26 $242
27 $140	28 $160	29 $168	30 $159

Su	Mo	Tu	We	Th	Fr	Sa
				1 $148	2 $251	3 $291
4 $139	5 $139	6 $148	7 $174	8 $154	9 $290	10 $321
11 $131	12 $160	13 $145	14 $155	15 $208	16 $506	17
18 $179	19 $154	20 $147	21 $144	22 $153	23 $251	24 $253
25 $139	26 $144	27 $131	28 $146	29 $131	30 $168	31 $169

Select dates to see prices and availability

Monthly average prices

About this property

Location

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible, Bathtub

Room, 1 King Bed, Accessible

Room, Accessible

Suite

Two Queen Beds

Standard King

Room, 2 Queen Beds, Accessible

One King Bed

Guest reviews

Very good

Who stays here?

What guests think

Property Policies

Check-in instructions

Good to know

Optional extras

FAQs about Hampton Inn Portsmouth Central

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Considering this hotel for your Portsmouth trip?

Prices for upcoming dates