Holiday Inn Express Anaheim West by IHG

Last time I visited, I chose the Fairfield inn by Marriott because it was $40 cheaper. That was a mistake. I’ve learned to stick with IHG hotels. The beds were comfortable, the rooms clean, and breakfast was good. I especially appreciated how quickly the two women at the front desk acted when a guest coughed all over the breakfast food. They threw away everything that had been contaminated and put out fresh food. I’d book here again next time I visit Knott's. Thanks to those ladies for the quick, thoughtful service.

We had a pleasant, fairly basic four-night stay. Holiday Inn Express’s free breakfast is something we like, but unlike other locations we’ve visited, the menu here stayed the same every morning. By day four, we were ready for a change. The building feels like an apartment complex converted into a hotel. The rooms and renovation are nice, though some older parts don’t fit with the rest, and the third-floor ice machine was broken. It’s conveniently located near Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm, and cost quite a bit less than the hotel across from Disney, so we’d consider coming back. Just expect large vehicles to be parked in compact spaces.

The window in our first room was blocked by a tree rubbing against the glass and screen, with piles of webs and dirt that shut out the light. We switched rooms after the first night to get away from it, but the replacement had similarly dirty, stained floors. Even though the room had recently been upgraded, the carpets were dirty. The bathroom door dragged on the floor and was hard to close. For four people sharing two queen beds, there weren’t enough towels or even a bath mat. I had to flag down the housekeepers, who had just finished servicing the room, and they reluctantly gave us enough towels and washcloths. There was no non-dairy milk at an otherwise acceptable breakfast. The TV was harder to operate than at other Holiday Inns I’ve stayed in, and the pool had nowhere to sit, just standing room until someone brought a dining-area chair outside on our last day. I could tell the building wasn’t originally a Holiday Inn, but the overall quality was far below what we expect from the brand. I won’t return.

The room smelled moldy, the carpet was soaked, and mosquito hawks were in the shower after someone left the window open without a screen. The top of the microwave was dusty, like it hadn’t been wiped in months, which makes you wonder what else is being missed. Rene was no help when I asked for a refund. I stayed only five hours because our original hotel had overbooked and we were left without a room that night. We had a three-year-old with us and were desperate for somewhere to sleep. I blame myself for staying, but the hotel should have taken responsibility and offered more than little to no resolution.