We just went to the World Oddities Expo here at the convention center and it was great. Plenty of…read moreparking and easy to get too. This convention center is bigger than it looks, so I confused as to why they don't have more events.

I was joking earlier this year about not ever having had the opportunity to go to our local…read moreconvention center- now that I am attending various conferences- it struck me as odd that I never have. That being said- a friend of mine was a vendor at the Christmas in the South Arts Market & I wanted to support her. Mini Giving Tree is a local organization that makes various art- including ceramic ornaments, to sell and raise money for our local foster kids. Pretty spectacular! She's going to make it a full fledged non-profit very soon. This was her second year doing it and she raised $2200 dollars to buy gift cards for kids. Funny enough- I have a pretty strong policy of not paying to go to markets- I always feel like it's double dipping to charge vendors and charge customers and that less money being spent with a small business. That being said- the event space I saw was a great room. Parking options vary- very limited street parking, all other lots charge a variety of fees. I spent almost $40 between parking and entry. I did find it funny that employees directing people where to go had no idea what event was actually taking place! I asked where to enter to find the market and the guy said- I don't think there is a market today, but they have the Christmas in the South going on- enter at the side door. LOL. I smiled and thanked him and chuckled. I need to pay closer attention to events, but I am really just hoping someday we will have NCECA here in Jax and really give me an excuse to explore the entirety of the center.

The hotel was nice but the pool needs some maintenance. We were hoping to cool off after checking…read morein but we notice the concrete edge around the pool is peeling and breaking apart and the pool was covered with the debris on the bottom. The building itself needs a pressure cleaning around the windows. You can tell that they are not maintaining certain areas. Other than that the room was clean and spacious.

Quick Disclaimer (for those who don't want to read the full review):…read more Choose this location only if you're comfortable with repeated parking-lot break-ins and minimal post-incident support from Hilton or Remington Hotels. For readers who want the full, documented details: I stayed at Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville JTB / Deerwood Park in December 2025 for a graduation commencement. During the last night of my stay, my vehicle was burglarized in the hotel parking lot and the rear window was shattered, rendering the vehicle hazardous to drive. Despite this, I was forced to drive multiple hours back home in that condition. The property displays signs stating "guest parking -- assume all risks," which are partially obscured by overgrown trees on a poorly maintained lot. These signs function less as safety notices and more as legal disclaimers. The photos posted online do not reflect the current condition of this property -- please be advised. I stayed here previously in 2021 for my undergraduate ceremony and again in 2025 for my graduate ceremony, and the decline is unmistakable. This property has gone completely downhill, and a serious operational reorganization is overdue. Posting a sign does not resolve a known safety issue -- it simply shifts responsibility and practically gives whoever the thieves are a green light to vandalize guest property. What made this experience worse was the complete lack of support and professionalism from staff. When the incident was reported, a front desk associate, Lexie, stated that "cameras won't stop the crime." My contact information and the police report number were written on a loose sheet of paper, and I was denied a copy of the hotel's incident documentation. That alone told me security is not a priority here and that this property has clearly navigated similar incidents before without making real changes. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office responded on site, and a police report was filed. Law enforcement advised that similar vehicle incidents have occurred at this property previously. I was informed that in 2025, on at least one occasion, multiple vehicles in the front row of the parking lot were broken into on the same day -- cars parked directly at the front entrance. Officers stated that these break-ins happen often and that management has been pleaded with to at least install cameras. That speaks volumes about leadership accountability here. My December incident was later classified as an advanced burglary -- and that's not even the wildest part. The same day as the incident, I escalated the matter to Hilton Corporate, who pin-ponged liability to the property's management company (Remington Hotels). Remington then handed responsibility to their insurer (Gallagher Bassett). All these trick plays -- Hilton should honestly be a football team. Responsibility was passed around for three weeks, after which I received a formal written denial. Despite direct outreach and corporate-level communication, Remington's corporate team and the property's General Manager, Lacey Childress, never responded. During this process: I was only reimbursed for a late checkout, even though I checked out roughly 30 minutes late solely because I had to remove glass from my vehicle so my two service dogs wouldn't be injured. I paid $285 for the stay, had my car burglarized on their lot, and then had to pay an insurance deductible to repair damage that happened on their property. The on-site manager responded days later and tried to smooth things over with 10,000 Hilton Honors points instead of addressing the actual vehicle damage. The physical damage to my vehicle was significant, and no meaningful assistance was provided at any level. For context, I am a Hilton Honors Silver member and have stayed at many Hilton properties across the U.S., often with more luggage and visible cargo than I had here, and I have never experienced anything like this. This isn't bad luck -- it's a serious location and property-management failure. Luckily, I had reliable insurance, because neither the hotel nor its management accepted accountability despite known security issues. It's disappointing that large, well-funded corporations continue to operate properties with recurring safety problems and then leave guests to deal with the fallout when something predictably goes wrong. While the burglary itself was upsetting, what stood out most was the lack of urgency, transparency, and accountability -- even after police involvement and documentation. Being offered loyalty points and minor fee adjustments instead of addressing real damage says everything. This review reflects my documented experience, police involvement, and written responses from Hilton, Remington Hotels, and their insurer. Any rebuttal minimizing the incident or suggesting it was resolved does not align with the facts or the lack of accountability for vehicle damage that occurred on hotel

What an absolute masterclass in entertainment tonight! Even with a rainy Thursday evening in the…read more904, Barry Manilow brought pure sunshine and unmatched energy to the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena for one last unforgettable night. I'll admit, I only knew a handful of his songs--all thanks to the office radio locked on Yacht Rock over the years. LOL. But honestly? That was more than enough to be completely swept away by the nostalgia, dazzling showmanship, and incredible production. Seeing him light up that stage at 83-yrs young, looking so vibrant and completely owning the choreography after everything he has faced with his lung cancer recovery, is nothing short of inspiring. *:｡ﾟ \ (･‿･) /ﾟ*:｡ﾟ May we all have that kind of grace, talent, and energy to rock sparkly jackets and shoes at his age! Thank you, Barry for stopping by "The River City" one last time on this farewell journey!

The area was nice & pretty big. I'm not sure what teams play here but it was a nice area. I enjoyed…read morethe food options & was even happier that the prices were cheaper than most areas. On the steps of each entry way, they honored all of the military branches.

Amazing, friendly the Staff is very helpful and very attentive, The amenities are very nice , me…read moreand my family find a place very nice very clean and very outgoing as far as the staff. I would highly recommend this hotel and next time I'm in Jacksonville Florida me and my family will definitely be staying here again. I would definitely give it a five-star review and two thumbs up. . Additionally I had the most amazing breakfast here at the Holiday Inn Express, biscuits and gravy and egg omelette and a glass of orange juice , oatmeal and a Danish.

Clean and comfortable room We stayed in 122. Overlooking the pool. We had a wonderful bathtub…read morethat I loved soaking in. There was also a walk in shower. Spacious room with a small refrigerator to cool beverages in. Coffee maker also in the room. Breakfast was tasty. Especially the cinnamon rolls. Staff was friendly and helpful when I asked for extra towels. Definitely will stay again when I visit family there.

This is a good hotel. Clean room, comfortable bed, free breakfast was like most every other free…read morehotel breakfast. Oat meal, easy scrambled eggs, potatoes, turkey sausage, make your own waffles, etc etc... I would say when I was here they stick to their 10am breakfast cut off as they didn't refresh since about 9:30 when I got there and much of it was running low. They started breaking it down at 9:55. So if you think you're going to squeak in and get breakfast at 9:59 think again. Also I want to point out that they allow a homeless man to park his basket outside and have breakfast and use the computers. No judgement as they seem to know him well. Some people may see this as a heartwarming gesture some may not but I'm just reporting the facts. I like that the little book lights on the headboard were positioned in a way to make a heart on the bed.

ROACHES!! From the room door that quit working that required the fire department to breach it when…read morethey hotel didn't have a way to open it, to the room we were moved to for 30min that has roaches in it, to the 3rd room that has large red stain next to the bed with dripping stains above the bed. We were kicked out after I showed the picture of the roaches to the front desk to prove they were up there. The GM, Andrea response was that I must have taken the pictures elsewhere and had to leave the property. Pictures have GPS and time stamps. They also show the hotel couch and floor and walls.

Chris is a true professional at his craft and has such a gift for finding that perfect shot. He's…read morereliable, easy to work with, & clearly loves what he does. I would not hesitate recommending Chris to anyone. He's fantastic!

I would say I am not photogenic, but Chris really makes you comfortable and at ease to get…read morefantastic photos. ( I was able to get multiple photos that i was satisfied with) He is professional but also sincere and truly a wonderful person to work with. I would definitely recommend him!

The Hilton Garden Inn is always a pleasant stay. There's ample parking and it's pretty convenient…read more It's kind of tucked away from the busyness of the city, but conveniently located to the arena, parks and restaurants. They unfortunately don't offer any complimentary breakfast.

I have no problems with this hotel. Nice staff, clean rooms. Very spacious. Didn't eat any of the…read morefood at the hotel but uber eats was easy to order. Good location and prices.

Newer, beautifully designed hotel located a short walk to downtown St. Augustine. The staff were…read moreextremely friendly and had extensive knowledge about the area amd the events taking place. They will be happy to give you restaurant and activity recommendations. I had a room with a river view and thay was spectacular. I will definitely stay here again when im back in the area.

Very nice staff, particularly front desk person Lori Mann. Great location. The bathroom and bedroom…read morewere a little dark.