Review: the Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport hotel

This is our review of the Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport hotel.

The hotel website is here if you want to learn more or book.

This is, I admit, a bit of a niche review.  However, I liked this hotel and wanted to give it some PR.

I was in Exeter on Tuesday to speak at a Flybe conference.  It made sense to travel down the night before rather than have an exceptionally early start.

You might be surprised that Exeter Airport can support an on-site hotel.  The reason it works is that Flybe’s head office and training academy is at the airport, and I understand that the airline committed to a substantial annual commitment of room nights in order to ensure the hotel got built.

Getting to the Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport

This, I admit, was bizarre.

I met an Exeter-based HfP reader on the trip down, and when I asked him about getting to the hotel he warned me against walking.  He told me tales of a single-track country lane with minimal lighting.

This sounded a bit odd, given that the hotel is very close to the airport car park.  However, I jumped on the shuttle bus anyway as it was on the stand as I exited the terminal.  The reader was correct.  Everyone except me jumped out at the airport car park.  I was the sole passenger as the bus headed down a dark one-track country lane, which suddenly opens out to become the hotel.

If you take nothing else from this review, it is this: don’t try to walk it – especially in the dark.

I like Hampton by Hilton hotels.  It is surprisingly difficult to design a hotel which feels friendly and welcoming and can appeal to all ages, but is effectively a budget hotel.  A modern Hampton feels more laid back and less sterile than a Holiday Inn Express, whilst not falling into the trap of trying to “get down with cool kids” which is what puts some people off Marriott’s MOXY brand.

Above is my room, which was on the 2nd floor.  Note that there are quite a few ground floor rooms – if this would make you feel uncomfortable, don’t let reception give you a room number starting with ‘0’.

I don’t know why I got a twin room.  Flybe made my booking so I won’t blame the hotel.

There was a desk, I’m pleased to say, with decent wi-fi and enough plug sockets.  The TV was a little small by modern standards – I don’t normally watch TV in hotels these days, but as I was appearing on Sky News that evening I did have it on.

The bathroom was also more than adequate.  Toiletries are the ‘bolted to the wall big bottle’ types.

This is a stock photo of the main lobby area, because it was exceptionally busy with people eating and drinking when I arrived:

There was still plenty of space towards the back though:

There is no stand-alone restaurant but the bar – which is itself part of the lobby – serves a fairly long list of typical bar snacks.  Here is £10.95-worth of chicken goujons:

Breakfast was the standard three-star hotel buffet.  All guests at Hampton by Hilton hotels get free breakfast.  The highlight was a ‘make your own waffle’ machine which I felt obliged to try.

and

There’s not much else to add.  Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport is a new, clean, bright and light hotel and I certainly wouldn’t bother staying in the city centre if you are arriving late or taking an early flight.

Rooms here cost as little as £49 on a Sunday night and from £57 for the rest of the week.  Redemptions are capped at 20,000 points – potentially less when cash rates are very low – but given the cash price I would pay up and save your points for another day.

The Hampton by Hilton Exeter Airport website is here if you want to find out more.

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 2025)

There are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit and debit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

There are two dedicated Hilton Honors debit cards. These are especially attractive when spending abroad due to the 0% or 0.5% FX fee, depending on card.

You also receive FREE Hilton Honors status for as long as you hold the debit cards – Gold status with the Plus card and Silver status with the basic card. This is a great reason to apply even if you rarely use it.

We reviewed the Hilton Honors Plus Debit Card here and the Hilton Honors Debit Card here.

You can apply for either card here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 30th April 2025, the annual fee on the basic Hilton Honors debit card is halved from £60 to £30. The sign-up bonus is also easier to earn – you need to spend £1,000 either in the UK or abroad within three months. The usual bonus rule requires you to spend the full £1,000 outside the UK.

NEW: Hilton Honors Plus Debit

10,000 bonus points, Hilton Gold status and NO FX fees Read our full review

NEW: Hilton Honors Debit

2,500 bonus points, Hilton Silver status and 0.5% FX fees Read our full review

There is another way of getting Hilton Honors status, and earning Hilton Honors points, from a payment card.

Holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as they hold the card.  It also comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

The Platinum Card from American Express

80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton Honors points is 1:2.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Hilton Honors points.