Holiday Inn Express Offenbach by IHG

At check-in I stood in line for an hour while the only staff member dealt with people. The manager and another staff member made no effort to help, leaving everyone waiting. Later, even though I put the “ready for cleaning” sign on the door, the room wasn't cleaned. The bathroom drain is a disaster and the floor floods after a shower. When I called the front desk, they said it could only be cleaned the next day because the system was old and nothing could be done. Seriously, don't run a hotel if you can't provide a comfortable stay. This was my worst IHG and Holiday Inn experience ever.

The hotel parking was spacious, and it was handy to take the elevator straight from the car park to the market right below the hotel. For dinner, there are several good options within walking distance if you don't want to go into Frankfurt. Getting to the city center is easy by car or public transport. We stayed six nights on a business trip, and the rooms met IHG standards, so they were very nice. Breakfast had nice options too.

The room was clean, the bedding and towels were as expected, and the service was nice. They recognized my Platinum Elite status and upgraded me to a large, handicap-accessible suite. The attached grocery store was great, I walked to dinner both evenings, and the shared underground garage felt convenient and safe for my motorcycle. Breakfast was busy but good for a HI Express. The location suited the area, though I found the stay only just over three stars myself, even if the hotel is a solid four. There was no bathroom ventilation, and the door wouldn't stay open, so I wedged it with a clothing hanger. The water temperature swung around enough that you had to watch out for burns. The toilet often smelled bad, didn't always flush properly, and I even smelled it near reception one morning on the way to breakfast. Shower water spread across the bathroom because the floor wasn't sloped correctly. They also didn't have the usual Holiday Inn Dove products, including body lotion, though that wasn't a major issue for me. The suite had a washer-dryer combo, dishwasher, refrigerator with freezer, microwave, and a few dishes, but none of the appliances had instructions. The washer stopped when I left without the key card in the slot. When maintenance came after I said it had been running for five hours, he asked about the card. I suggested putting instructions inside the cabinet door, and he said he'd pass that on to management. I also struggled with the microwave, and there was no dishwasher detergent, so I left some dishes in the sink. The cutlery was in a drawer with no handle or cutout to open it. There were hours of running footsteps overhead each evening until midnight. I don't know if it was another Holiday Inn suite or a private condo, since it's a mixed building. The balcony was nice and had automatic metal roll-down security and privacy doors, but it faced a lot of neighbors and had no furniture.

The breakfast was a highlight, with plenty of fresh choices for different tastes, and transport links and local attractions were easy to reach. Staff were welcoming and attentive from the moment I arrived, and the room was spotless, modern, and comfortable. My stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Offenbach exceeded expectations. I'd happily recommend it and will return.