Holiday Inn Express Austin Downtown University

We were here for the UIL State swim meet 2/19 -2/21, and I wouldn’t recommend the hotel. Parking cost 50.00 for one day, even for guests. The ice machines on floors 1 and 5 were out, and the breakfast area AC wasn’t working, so it felt like the heat was on. Vagrants got into the hotel and slept in the breakfast room, and there were beer cans scattered on the fifth floor. The toilet needed two flushes. Across the street, a bar played music into the early morning, though the hotel did provide ear plugs.

I still like this location, and the room was very nice, but there was mold in the shower. The breakfast was good when I visited in November, though this time only the pancakes tasted good. The eggs and turkey sausage tasted funny. Check-in has been moved to the lower level at the front of the hotel.

Getting between areas was confusing, with one check-in point and two elevators far apart on the way to the rooms. The hotel AC broke, though the rooms still had AC. Breakfast was like a sweatbox, and when the elevators went down, stairs with luggage were the only option. The parking garage is bad. It’s easier and cheaper to take a waymo than rent and drive. Small SUV'S should fit okay, but keep the vehicle small to avoid damage.

The surrounding bars have live events and loud music late into the night, so sleep will be hard unless you’re passing out drunk. The neighborhood feels rough, although there are some decent restaurants within walking distance. Getting to the room is a hassle: check in at Indigo’s desk, take one elevator, walk down a hallway and through another lobby, then take a second elevator. The room was beat up and dirty, with lots of wear, paint problems, rusty fixtures, a brown spot on the light switch, and mold in the shower. These issues would cost only a few dollars to fix. There’s no pride in the workplace here. I’ve usually had good Holiday Inn Express stays, but this one was especially bad. To make matters worse, the license to serve food was a month expired. Picture taken 2/28/26. Management here should be replaced. They’re failing at basic duties. Changed review to 1 star.