Built in 2007, this 12-story Homewood Suites shares a lobby (and a handful of amenities) with a Hilton Garden Inn hotel. Extended-stay business travelers are the main clientele here during the week, while tourists and families pack the house on the weekends, eager to take advantage of the hotel's proximity to the National Aquarium and Inner Harbor restaurants and shops (under than a 10-minute walk away).

While this property doesn't offer the most memorable hotel experience, it wins big points for its location, 165 comfortable suites, and access to the impressive Maryland Athletic Club. The club is connected to the hotel and boasts three heated indoor pools, tons of modern workout equipment, and free group classes. The hotel has a small restaurant where a free breakfast buffet is served every morning, and a free “evening social” is hosted with light meals, wine, and beer (Monday through Thursday only). The property has another on-site restaurant, Garden Grille & Bar (shared with Hilton Garden Inn), which is open daily for breakfast and dinner.

Style-wise, the hotel is a bit of a bore. The roomy lobby features off-white tile floors, wood-paneled accent walls, fake plants, and bland furniture. There are two main sitting areas to choose from -- one with a flat-screen TV and one with an electric fireplace.

Homewood Suites is located between rows of shops and restaurants in the recently developed Harbor East neighborhood. The waterfront is a two-minute walk from the hotel, and Inner Harbor tourist attractions like the National Aquarium and Harbor Place shopping mall are about a 10-minute walk away. Guests can also pick up groceries from a nearby Whole Foods. The immediate area is polished and modern, but historic Fell's Point and the restaurant district of Little Italy are within walking distance.

• 10-minute walk to the National Aquarium
• Six-minute drive to the Baltimore Convention Center
• Eight-minute drive to Oriole Park at Camden Yards
• 20-minute drive to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

This Homewood Suites offers studio and one-bedroom suites, ranging from 400 to 626 square feet. They are spacious and pleasant, designed as fully functioning apartments for long-term guests. All include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and kitchens with full-size refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, stovetop burners (no ovens), coffeemakers, and cooking utensils. The living areas are decorated in neutral shades of beige and brown, with contemporary but unmemorable furnishings. Every unit comes with a sofa bed and choice of one king or two double beds.

This Homewood Suites has a solid range of amenities, including a spacious business center, guest laundry room, and a lobby convenience store with microwaveable dinners, wine, beer, and snacks (all open 24 hours). The second floor is also home to a small lounge and two restaurants (one with a free breakfast buffet and light evening meals -- for Homewood guests only) and the Hilton Harden Inn’s signature restaurant (open for breakfast and dinner). Other perks include an eighth-floor courtyard garden, limited room service, and a fridge-stocking service. The real gem of the hotel is that it’s attached to the Maryland Athletic Club. Guests get free access to three indoor saltwater pools, a hot tub, free group classes, and tons of top-notch equipment.  Valet parking is pricey and self-parking doesn’t include in-and-out privileges.  Pets are allowed for a one-time, non-refundable fee.