Holiday Inn ANA Sendai by IHG

The location worked well for getting around Sendai, and the hotel had good amenities. From my room on the 12th floor, two big windows gave me a wide, bright view. The room was very clean, and the spacious double bed made for a comfortable night without feeling cramped. Staff were thoughtful and friendly, always offering help with a smile. I had a very pleasant stay and would choose ANA Holiday Inn Sendai again on my next trip.

The rooms were fairly spacious, and some of the front desk staff were very friendly. Still, I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to families or anyone planning a long stay in Sendai. We booked more than three months ahead but didn’t get non-smoking rooms throughout. The one non-smoking room we did get was on a smoking floor. Smoke in the hallway was strong and seeped into the room whenever someone nearby smoked. There were other cleanliness and service problems. The ice maker outside our room was covered in mold, and my bathroom smelled noticeably of urine. The ECO cleaning was hit or miss: some days we got fresh towels and amenities, other days neither. Breakfast was awkward when the restaurant got busy. I saw staff taking food and drinks alongside guests, and sometimes they blocked access to the coffee and food stations. That seemed like a management issue to me. Getting to Sendai Station takes about 10 minutes on foot, along a narrow walkway that’s difficult with luggage. The Wi-Fi also required a new access code every day. I’d prefer room-specific SSIDs and passwords, as many other hotels provide.

The whole floor and elevator lobby were very smoky, and the room still smelled of smoke. I had to hold my breath going in and out. We’d booked a non-smoking room, but when we arrived at 8 p.m. the hotel had run out. Other guests checking in at the same time were also asking for non-smoking rooms, and the hotel was fully booked, so we couldn’t switch. Even after cleaning, smoke stays in things like the carpet and bedding. I feel it’s easier for hotels to put non-smokers in smoking rooms than the other way around, so they don’t manage their website properly and overbook non-smoking rooms. There are more non-smokers than smokers, and it isn’t fair to oversell these rooms and treat non-smoking guests this way. This is unacceptable. I hope management takes action.

My flight was delayed by 10 hours, so I had to find another hotel right away. I was stressed and disappointed because check-in was listed as 3 p.m., but I needed a room around noon. Even as an IHG member, I really appreciated the hotel letting me check in early. I only stayed a couple of hours, but they saved my day.