Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sherwood Park-Edmonton Area by IHG

The gym was being renovated, and some of the equipment seemed dated, but we had a comfortable stay. Staff were welcoming from the moment we arrived and sorted out our pet-friendly room without any trouble. We were given a first-floor room, which made taking our dogs out easy. Breakfast was complimentary and had a good range of choices. I’d recommend this hotel, especially for anyone travelling with pets.

The front desk staff were friendly, but the housekeeping was nowhere near good enough. We were on the main floor with our dog, so maybe other floors are different, but our bedding had obvious stains when we checked in. My travel companion got a rash on her back after lying on the bed. Staff offered a replacement duvet, but we ended up changing rooms instead. The second room smelled a little better and the bedding looked as if it had been washed, though it was stained too. We slept on top of the covers because we still didn't trust it. If it hadn't been the middle of the night, we would have left. I was offered points, but I won't use them. After this, you couldn't pay me to stay at another Holiday Inn. The carpets also looked like they'd been vacuumed badly, if at all. I've seen positive comments about room cleanliness, so perhaps guests upstairs have a different experience. We only stayed because it was so late.

Our stay itself was one of the more pleasant ones, but the bill didn't match what I was quoted. I called the front desk to book three days while driving through an unexpected spring blizzard. They gave me rates of 275 for the first night, 175 for the second, and 135 for the third, and I accepted. I was charged 675 instead. They offered various explanations, but none justified not honoring the prices they had originally quoted over the phone.

The room stayed warm, the beds were comfortable, and breakfast was good after Christmas. They also have plug-ins for vehicles in case the weather gets really cold.