A fews weeks ago, Steve and I were invited to participate in a reception and hard hat tour of the new Home2 Suites in west Omaha. The Hilton property owners

Gigi’s Wedding Cake cupcake was amazing. (Photo by Ann Teget for postcarjar.com)

and operators welcomed us (and other area bloggers) to a fantastic wine and cheese reception at the Hilton Garden Inn where we were treated to great food, complimentary drinks, and sweet treats from Gigi’s Cupcakes. The cupcakes were delicious, but the real treat was a sneak peek at the Home2 Suites that is expected to open soon near 180th and Dodge in Omaha.

Led by Home2 Suites General Manager, DJ Miller, we toured a couple of the nice rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn and then walked across the street to the Home2 Suites, which was still under construction. The reception area and first floor were not finished, but we could easily envision the free standing front desk and the community area where complimentary breakfast will be served. We even got to check out the area that will house a chemical-free, saline pool and for the first time in a long time, we found a hot tub without kids in it! (Doesn’t Steve look excited?)

This Home2 Suites, which will be the first in Nebraska and just the 35th in the country, is perfect for people who are staying in Omaha for more than one night.

Like the Hilton Garden Inn across the street, it is conveniently located just 15 minutes from downtown Omaha, the CenturyLink Center, and TD Ameritrade Park and it’s also near several hospitals and medical facilities. And if you’re like me and shopping completely exhausts you, Home2 Suites would be a great place to put your feet up after a day at the nearby Village Point Shopping Center. Because the Suites are designed for multiple-night stays, the rates will start at about $100 a night but discounts will be given the longer you stay.

From the looks of it, the Home2 Suites will be a place  you won’t necessarily want to leave.

The 105-suite facility offers one or two-bedroom suites, each with a living area and full kitchen, equipped with a dishwasher, microwave and refrigerator (and I’m not talking about the dorm-sized ones you find in most hotels).

The suites are all spacious and include contemporary decor with a local flare exhibited through custom artwork that brings attention to local notables like Omaha Steaks, Boys Town, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, and the College World Series.

The couches sat well and the living space included a portable table, which we thought was a great idea for business travelers who needed a desk space, or families who wanted to eat a meal together.

We appreciated that the suites will offer free WiFi not only in the common areas, but also in the rooms, even if you’re not a Hilton Honors Gold member.

No leaning over to get your hair wet in this shower. (Photo by Ann Teget for postcard jar.com)

It also has a nice fitness room right next to a laundry facility that they call Spin2Cycle where you can do a load of laundry for 50 cents.  Since Home2 Suites is being built with a focus on sustainability, the carpets are made from at least 60% recycled product and the rooms are equipped with Energy Star appliances and dual-flush toilets to use less water.

Steve wasn’t as interested in the dual-flush option as he was the fact that the shower heads were placed quite high and at 6’4″, he would not have to bend over to get his hair wet like he does in most hotels.

We stay at a lot of Hilton properties and appreciate some of the things that will make Home2 Suites unique, such as moveable furniture, an outdoor patio, fire pit and walking trail, and … wait for it … NUTELLA. That’s right. The complimentary breakfast is a little different here. It will include open-faced breakfast sandwiches with optional toppings, yogurt parfaits you make yourself, and several baked items with toppings like Nutella (it’s the little things that make me happy).

We liked a lot about the new Home2 Suites, which is owned and managed by Kinseth Hospitality Companies, including its owners’ commitment to the local community through the Your 2 Hands program. I suspect with our daughter, Meghan, transferring to the University of Nebraska – Omaha this fall, we’ll spend a night or two at the Home2 Suites. After our hard hat tour, I’m confident DJ and his staff will make us feel right at home.

What makes you feel at home when you travel? Leave us a comment and let us know. We’d love to hear from you.

Our hard hat tour with Home2 Suites General Manager DJ Miller. (Photo by Tim Trudell of The Walking Tourists)