A family gathering held in Dover, New Hampshire in October 2026 led me to return to Ascend Collection Hotels - The Garrison Hotel - a well-established location, one I had visited before during visits with family members who live in Dover. I enjoyed this stay, like the others. This time was a bit different, however, as the staff had decorated the grounds, the front desk, hallways, even the elevator, for Halloween. The decorations were very cool - especially the mummy in the elevator and the little girl holding candles and waiting for people to pass her by in the hallway near the elevator. As always, breakfast was included and well stocked. There is also a mini mart at the front desk where guests can purchase microwavable meals for use in their rooms. Note however that the hotel does not offer any form of alcohol, so stock up before you arrive. The rooms too were well equipped: mine had a two-burner electric stovetop with a range hood, a sink, a mini-fridge, and a microwave. The bathroom was spacious and safe, with a shower that included a well-positioned grab bar. The hotel still depended on single-use plastics for shampoo and conditioner, and on small bars of single-use soap, so there's room for improvement in the environmental department. Every staff member I interacted with treated me with kindness, respect, and courtesy. Amanda at the front desk was alert, helpful, and made check-in and check-out easy, with no problems during my two-day stay. I return regularly to The Garrison whenever I visit Dover. The hotel is located about a seven-minute drive from the C&J Bus stations, which offers express trips to Boston's South Station (served by Amtrak), Logan Airport in Boston, and New York City. I've found the 90-minute bus trip to be an inexpensive way to get to the hotel from Logan, using Uber or Lyft for the short trip from the bus station to the hotel. I'll be back and will keep in mind the festive feeling I felt when visiting during the Halloween season. read more

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Stayed here for a wedding block recently and it was such a great location! They have a large common space (with a nice breakfast as well!) in the morning that we were able to spend time in the night before the wedding. The pool is a nice size for a smaller hotel read more

The Garrison Hotel Dover-Durham, Ascend Collection - Hotels Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

Accidentally booked the wrong night. There was some confusion around the reservation but they claimed they found it on Expedia. It was for the same type of room I had thought I had reserved. I pointed out that the name on the paperwork was different. They said that was fine. Booked us in. SIX hours later as we are falling asleep they wake us up, say we don't have a room and kick us out. Not a sorry. Not an offer to help find another spot. Then when my bf tossed the keys on the desk he was told the HE was rude. I do apologize if he was a bit out of line but the business practices here are disgraceful. read more

We stayed here for one night and it was, at best, perfunctory. The front desk staff were unpleasant in each interaction. The room itself had no keycard lock (like all the other rooms). Instead, it had an ill-fitting handle with a metal key that looked like it would pop right open with a push. The room was clean and large (we got the king suite), but smelled faintly of urine. The breakfast was fine (avoid the eggs). We did enjoy the large backyard and patio. Lots of room to run around and cute bird houses. Also liked the free coffee and tea station. read more

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Great hotel. Amazingly friendly and helpful front desk team! Rooms were great and exactly what we needed. Happy to find the mini fridge. Toiletries were better than expected. Quiet hotel w solid morning coffee. We left earlier than expected and the front desk provided us a few snacks for our morning! Overall highly recommend and a perfect place. read more

Excessive over the top, some in poor taste, halloween decorations. Clean and comfortable hotel obviously run by someone who is a a bit kooky. read more

The Garrison Hotel Dover-Durham, Ascend Collection - Hotels Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

A great hotel choice and for a cheap price. paid about $90 a night. The pool is in a heated room and keeps it nice and warm. It's a bit rundown but it's still really nice. I had booked a king bed with a sofa bed and the room was absolutely massive. The bathroom is very nice and it comes with some really nice small amenities. The complementary breakfast isn't the greatest but it was still very good. For the days we were here they had scrambled eggs, sausage patties, muffins, bagels and toast with a spread of peanut butter, jelly, or Nutella along with a pancake machine. The staff at the front desk is there 24/7 and are extremely friendly. The housekeepers are amazing and very friendly. 100% recommend read more

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Great place to stay. Lovely grounds, birds, chipmunks and fireflies galore. Convenient location with plenty of near by restaurants, brewery's etc. Complimentary breakfast (they just need to add more protein options). Clean rooms, friendly staff. We had an efficiency with a small kitchen area with dishes etc but no glassware. read more

The location was great--just minutes from downtown Dover. The hotel was decorated nicely for Christmas--complete with some quirky touches like a life size cardboard cutout of Will Ferrel as Elf in the elevator and some strange wendigo-looking wooden sculptures in the stairwells. But, the room itself was poorly thought out and the amenities could be better. There is a small fridge in the clothing bureau beneath the 32" (not-smart) TV, but no microwave. There is a communal microwave in the hallway for all guests to share. And it made the hallway smell like kfc, fish, and curry, at various points throughout our stay. The shower door only opened on one side and the bathroom felt very small and cramped. In addition to the tip envelope in the room, there are signs all over the hotel with a QR code so you can tip the staff. I'm not sure why this is, because rooms are only cleaned every 3 days. We stayed for 2 days and never saw a person from housekeeping--until they accidentally came into our room at 10:00am on the morning we were to check out--while we were getting dressed. Checkout isn't until 11:00am so I'm not sure why they didn't knock, but just let themselves into our room, but it just was not cool. I did appreciate the coffee and tea available 24 hrs a day and the sunrises available for purchase at the front desk. But, I would advise fellow travelers to purchase drinks and snacks from CVS, located across the parking lot from the hotel. We bought 2 Boylan's sodas for $10 at the front desk. I'd imagine the ice cream and chips would be overpriced as well. read more

We arrived late from a wedding tired and ready for a nights rest. The room was clean and a bit cold, the thermostat was set at 67 degrees, we turned it up to 72 and went to bed. Awhile later the AC kicked on, it sounded like a jet taking off and the fan screeched the whole time the unit was on, and when it reached the correct setting and shut off, it sounded like a jet landing, So every hour or so we woke to this sound. After 3 or 4 times of this we put tissues in our ears. In the morning we told the staff about our experience, they looked at each other, there were 3 of them present, their reply "thanks for letting us know, we will check it out. Our nights non rest was at the cost of $269, which was a reduced rate for the wedding guest read more

I'm home! Best beds, reliable staff, everything is pure comfort and joy... Tonya is the best! BECCA N read more

One wing is a homeless shelter from Nov-Apr. not sure why this wasn't disclosed. Made the stay a bit uncomfortable under the circumstances. read more

Garrison offers a great value including a decent grab and go breakfast, good clean room, and comfortable safe surroundings. I did not find the review speaking about the property having gone downhill to be accurate whatsoever. In fact, it was clear that the staff took pride in the appearance and cleanliness of the building. Make sure you grab a milk from the middle of the fridge. The first one I grabbed was warm to the touch, and obviously hadn't been brought to right temp before being placed in the cooler. So I overcompensated by grabbing one from the very back, which turned out to have some ice chunks in it. Despite being placed in a non smoking room, heavy smoke did come wafting in the bathroom vent from an adjacent room. Also, a few times I found myself wanting to walk the long way around the property to avoid smokers congregating by the elevator entrance instead of adhering to signs which said they should follow common courtesy and walk over to a designated smoke table instead. I'd definitely stay here again as it is probably the best value around. read more

Stayed here for two nights in order to do some sight-seeing. The hotel is easy to get to and much nicer (for the money) than those in nearby Portsmouth. Room was spacious, clean, and very comfortable; staff were very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend making the drive to stay here. The area is scenic and so lovely. read more

Had a great stay there over the 4th of July weekend. I chose the Garrison due to it being well-rated and fairly priced so I went in with reasonably high expectations and those were easily matched. Tanja and her team work hard to address problems when they occasionally arose. In general, the staff was engaged and went the extra mile when we needed some assistance. Highly recommend The Garrison specifically, and newcomers (generally) to check out Dover! read more

We spent five days in this well maintained and comfortable hotel while visiting family! The facility is very clean and the staff is friendly and courteous! The indoor pool was fabulous and our grandson was thrilled to swim on a rainy day! The hotel had been decorated for Halloween which is my sweetheart's favorite holiday, so we all enjoyed watching the grandson with wide eyes enjoying all of the decorations! Totally happy with everything at the Garrison Hotel! We will stay here again on our next trip! read more

A clean and pet-friendly hotel. Price is pretty reasonable for the summer season, we booked a king bed standard room and it's a bit tiny but overall pretty clean minus a couple hairs on the bed cover and mildew in the shower. read more

I've read so many cringe worthy reviews for this hotel. We were nervous staying because we are typically at the Marriott or Hilton. However the pictures were beautiful here and really impulsively booked it before reading comments. Anyways we were nervous almost backed out after reading them the night before our stay BUT we checked it out and loved it! The rooms are so clean and comfortable. It didn't smell which is always a plus. The bathroom was clean as well, and water was hot The beds were white, which is a must for me and comfortable. The staff were very kind. The continental breakfast was nice nothing insane but many options to grab muffins fruit bagels cereal and more! Even uncrustables pb&J for this kids. You can eat your breakfast outside and it was beautiful. Birds and trees. Upstairs the view we have is beautiful as well Spacious fridge with freezer and actually cold inside ! Pool is great and open 7a-10p We came here for a gymnastics camp at UNH right down the street and Dunkin' Donuts and CVS is in the plaza the hotel is in. A two minute walk. Anyways there's so many negative comments recently that I felt the need to assure others that this hotel is up there with there with the Marriotts and much more affordable We had room 207 and are here another two nights! Sarah and Emily read more

Took a reservation through a 3rd party booking app (including the money) just to deny an 18 Year Old her PAID room. Basically told this young girl that it was her problem... they don't honor reservations from 18 year olds, even if they happily take their money. One would think that they'd make sure that THEIR 3rd party representatives would check that very basic demographic before taking the reservation, but no. Turned this young girl away, so she has no room and now has no money (because they "can't" refund her). Garrison Hotel will absolutely leave a vulnerable kid out on the street based on "policy" that they could very easily check in advance. These people have no moral compass. I offered to send my id and credit card... but again, throwing a young adult out with nothing is "policy" and letting me take responsibility for my child is not. Don't give these heartless people your business. read more

This hotel is fabulous! Comfortable, clean, and friendly. We had quite the fiasco with another location, but the management was excellent!!! They upgraded our room to a suite upon arrival!! Location is beautiful as well. I enjoyed reading on the outdoor patio area! If traveling this way again, we will definitely be back. read more

This hotel is a big disappointment and I'm not 100% sure if it's solely because of Covid-19 or they actually run a hotel like this. My sister got a block of rooms for her wedding and from day one they gave us nothing but attitude about everything. I called to cancel a night because I wasn't going to be able to make it the first night so I just stayed the night of the wedding and they changed the price of my room. I asked why my room rate went up $50 and the lady on the phone was zero help. I didn't change days of anything I just canceled one night. The suite my sister booked for bridesmaids to get ready smelled like cigarettes sooooo bad. But the room was non smoking? I get it people smoke in rooms it happens but when we called the front desk someone came up handed my sister a bottle of room freshener and walked away.... By accident I left a sweater with my car keys in it at the hotel. It's in New Hampshire and I'm in Massachusetts so I can't really just go get it. I called and politely asked if anyone found a jacket. The lady on the phone took my number and never called me back. Dont get excited about a complimentary breakfast either. Bananas, granola bars and milk. So go to the dunks down the street. All in all if you want to stay at a hotel with teenagers running the front desk and older ladies who absolutely hate their lives. You should definitely go to this hotel. I will not be returning. read more

The room we stayed in was smaller than anticipated by the photo, but it is a nice hotel. The breakfast area and outdoor dining area are quaint and well-appointed. The rooms are clean and the beds comfortable. There are microwaves in the common areas, tea, coffee, etc... available all day. We ran into a light stain problem with an iron and Yvonne at the front desk was a pleasure to deal with. She was great from check-in, very helpful regarding the stain, and in the end, comped us a portion of the fee without is asking. She is a refreshing reminder that good customer service still exists. read more

You can't beat this hotel. It's brand new , clean and super friendly staff . It was also the cheapest in the area. They offer a free continental breakfast, free cappuccino and fruit infused water . If your gonna stay in the Kittery , Portsmouth area stay here . Gorgeous hotel . Also pet friendly for a $25 cleaning fee . read more

The Garrison Hotel Dover-Durham, Ascend Collection - Hotels Near Me - Dover, New Hampshire

I'm so happy that our Dover family selected the Garrison for our stay during a family wedding. I loved the hotel and everything about our stay. I liked the room, free and easily accessible parking, the coffee machine in the lobby (big winner!) and the breakfast and snacks that were included in the room price. I especially loved the service we received from the excellent staff. We truly appreciated the kind and friendly way we were treated by everyone we dealt with. Special thanks to Katherine, Eli, Nick, and Lindsay for their excellent customer service! Wonderful maid staff, too. read more

This place has really gone down hill. Are used to enjoy staying there as they had a lovely breakfast buffet and wonderful front desk staff. Not worth the money anymore as I have seen some unsavory people staying there wondering if there is drug activity. If you were to come to the Dover or Durham area don't waste your money here. read more

We had a lovely stay at the Garrison! The hotel is very conveniently located off the highway, with tasteful modern design and fixtures throughout. Our room was clean and quiet, which meant a restful night's sleep. The breakfast spread was among the best I've experienced at a hotel without a kitchen. There are healthy, organic options, which I cruised past in favor of delicious pastries and the waffle bar. From check-in onwards, the service was personable and efficient. The staff even kindly mailed our Nintendo Switch back right away when we left it behind. I highly recommend staying here if you're visiting the area! read more

Beautiful hotel. Great rooms. Very friendly staff. Loved staying here. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a nice hotel on a inexpensive budget friendly read more

This hotel is the GOAT. Newly built. I stayed here for a night during a work trip and loved my room, the customer service and the fitness center which I used. Had I been prepared, I would have loved to use their indoor pool which looked so relaxing. The hotel was quiet and the bed was beyond comfortable. They accommodated my late check out request and even assisted me with breakfast although hit was already over. Will be my hotel when I return. read more

This place is housing the homeless currently and just had someone die of a drug overdose in one of the rooms. The surrounding homes in a nice neighborhood have had their cars and homes broken into since then. I don't know about you but I'd be weary of all kinds of things staying here read more

Just completed a four night stay and already plan to make it our go-to hotel on our next visit. And considering our new baby granddaughter is in nearby Rochester, we will be visiting often! Very clean and modern rooms. The breakfast selection was just right with a bit of a change each day to keep it inviting. The 24 hour espresso/latte/cappuccino/coffee maker was my favorite perk. Also available 24/7 were gluten free cookies and a selection of fruit (bananas, apples, clementines). The staff; from the front desk to housekeeping to the folks who manage the breakfast, were all top notch. In fact, even the people in the community were very friendly. Thanks for the hospitality! read more

This hotel is fabulous! The front desk clerks are so friendly and helpful. The rooms are spacious and very clean. The breakfast is very good! My husband and son loved the waffles. In the evening they have the coffee out and delicious gluten free cookies. I am not a water person but my guys enjoyed the pool, we all wished there was a hot tub, but not an issue. I used the fitness room every day I was there and was able to get a good workout. We would stay here again! read more

Visiting from NJ for UNH college tour. Never been to NH so we picked it based on location to University and hoped for the best. This hotel is beautiful, clean & friendly. opened in 2017 so everything is relatively new. Nice Heated pool and fire pit. I would definitely stay here again and recommend this hotel. read more

Super charming, brand new hotel. Stayed on opening night, and wished we could have stayed longer. The entire place is beautifully done, and despite some small areas still under construction, the place was quiet. There's a continental breakfast in the morning, with a nice selection available, as well as fruit and infused water available whenever. Really looking forward to starting here again! read more

I absolutely love staying here, staff is awesome and it is very cozy, clean and I always enjoy my stay here. I needed an early check in on Thanksgiving, and they were awesome to accommodate that. I definitely recommend this hotel, perfect little gem of a place. I look forward to my next stay here read more

This beautiful property was immaculate, the towels plush and the beds and linen were some of the most comfortable we've ever slept on in a hotel. It was quiet and the pool clean. We did wish they had hot options on the breakfast bar. read more

I wish there was an option for 0 stars. I've stayed at this hotel before and had nothing but good experiences. My boyfriend had booked this room 2 months in advanced under the impression we were getting a king suite complete with a jacuzzi tub. We walk into our room that looked like it hadn't been updated since it was built. The small that came with the room was one of stale cigarettes. I couldn't believe it. My boyfriend went upfront to talk to someone and was met with a "I'm not sure what to tell you". We quickly left and booked at Homewood suites where we found a beautiful king suite. read more

This place his a "hidden jem." We heard about it though a friend that swore it would be the perfect place for our In-laws! I asked, "are you sure? These guys are very critical, especially when it comes to ideas I have, or suggestions I make. So far it has been impossible to please them." She said, have a little faith. If my In-laws love it your will too! Truth be told, they love it there! They can't say enough good things about the place! The staff made them feel like family, that's what they said! I don't know whether to kiss or kick management there, because now they have decided to extend their stay... This hotel helped me win them over, but now I am stuck with them!!! All joking aside, the grounds of this hotel are well maintained, and we have really enjoyed the space and time with our family. And are willing to tell anyone who will listen... This hotel is not only the best bang for your buck, but a wonderful experience in and of itself. read more

This property is the old culinary school. The outside doesn't look like much but the rooms are nice and the pool is great. Great customer service! We stayed during the week due to power outages and they let us have a late check out with no problem. They are pet friendly and their breakfast was fresh and delicious read more

This was my first stay at a Garrison Hotel. I visited Dover, NH to see family, and was very pleased. The location was perfect. Not too far from Rochester or Portsmouth. The employees are very nice. They also genuinely care about making sure you are comfortable and enjoy your stay. The allowed me to have an early check in and a late checkout. I had a room with a queen bed. The bed was comfortable, The furniture and amenities are nice quality, and the TV even had showtime and other premium channels. Finally, the prices are very competitive. I would highly recommend the Garrison Hotel to anyone looking for a place to stay in Dover! read more

My husband and I really enjoyed our weekend stay at The Garrison. The room was immaculate, the bedding felt so comfortable, and the hospitality was so friendly. Breakfast had a very homey feel, including the best yogurt, toppings, and lots of goodies. We typically stay in boutique hotels and I have to say that The Garrison ranks as one of the best! Will definitely return next time we're in the area. read more