Dr. Jameca CooperForensic Psychology Consultant, Emergence Psychological Services · Board Certified Counseling Psychologist and Forensic Psychology Consultant

Gen X Approved: My BEST Hotel Experience Yet

3 Dec 2025 · 3 min

Watch on YouTube

3:21

In this enthusiastic, first‑person video, Dr. Jameca Cooper shares a detailed review of a recent stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Ridgeland, Mississippi. She opens by declaring Embassy Suites her favorite chain and then walks the viewer through the entire experience—from the modern lobby with a large chandelier, to the knowledgeable and exceptionally friendly check‑in staff, to a moment where hallway cleaners promptly assisted her with a door issue. Cooper highlights the bar staff, especially bartender Rhonda’s rum punch, and praises the complimentary breakfast and happy hour. She describes the room’s comfort: a “hallelujah‑good” bed, bright modern décor, spotless bathroom, an in‑room steamer (which she prefers over an iron), a fully equipped kitchen, and a plush sofa. The hotel’s location is noted as ideal, situated directly off I‑55 with easy access to I‑20 and close to Jackson State University and Tougaloo College. A unique observation is that all staff members were Black and exceptionally friendly, which she finds both surprising and delightful. Throughout, Cooper’s tone is exuberant, comparing the experience to a blend of “Soul Plane” and the Four Seasons, and she concludes with a strong recommendation to future travelers, promising they’ll thank her for the stay and the rum punch.

Chapters

How many of you have a favorite hotel? Many of you probably do. I don't know what chain it is, but let me tell you what my favorite hotel is. It's Embassy Suites by far. I just love it. I love the breakfast, everything. But this past weekend, I stayed in the Embassy Suites Hilton in Ridgeland, Mississippi, and let me just tell you about that experience. It was wonderful. From the time I pulled up, I was like, okay, this looks like a new building. I'm happy about that. Didn't know it, but happy. Walked into the hotel and immediately I see this big chandelier and I'm like, "All right, chandelier, I see you." It's huge, huge ceiling, spacious, lots of room. Check-in staff from the very beginning were knowledgeable, quick, helpful, friendly, everything. Small error I made, they fixed it right on up, apologized, no big deal, right? Go on up to my room. Having problems getting to my door, the staff on the hallway that are cleaning rooms immediately look at me and say, "You need any help?" I was like, "I know they're not talking to me because I have never been asked by any hotel staff," except maybe at a Ritz or something, that if I need any help. They helped, got on the walkie-talkie thing, called downstairs, got me some help immediately. Friendliest staff I've ever seen. And let me just tell you about the bar staff. Rhonda, she knows how to do a good rum punch, if I do say so myself. And they do have, you know, the free breakfast in the morning and the happy hour evening. Excellent. Everything across the board. Let's talk about the decor and the comfort. The bed was hallelujah type of good. I slept so hard I almost didn't want to go home. It was just so comfortable. The decor, very modern, very bright, very light but very clean as well. Uh, bathroom was extremely clean and well laid out. They had a steamer in the room instead of an iron, so I was able to steam my clothes, and that was the best steamer I ever had because my clothes were just like quick, quick, done, done. Nice. I definitely prefer the steamer over the iron. The kitchen had everything you needed as far as the microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker. The sofa was also very comfortable with the little chase on the end of it. Everything just, just great. The location, ideal, right off Interstate 55, very close to Interstate 20 if you need to get in and out of the city of Jackson. If you're coming to Jackson State, my alma mater, Tougaloo College, it's right there. Everything you need. The one thing that I thought was unique, I never experienced this before, was all of the staff were Black, African-American, and extremely friendly. I was like, what is going on down here? I'm from the Midwest, but this right here is something I want to see again and again and again again, because you know what? I want to go back. You know what else I felt? I felt like Soul Plane met and had a baby with the Four Seasons Hotel, and they had this Embassy Suites. And all I can say is I am a fan. I will be back. Like I said, I love me some Embassy Suites, but this one right here in Jackson, originally Mississippi, is the top of my list. I will be back. So if you're ever in the area driving down I-55, gonna stop over at the Embassy Suites. You'll thank me later and get the rum punch.