Holiday Inn Express Bethany Beach

Ariel deserves a special mention. I saw the manager putting in long hours and treating every guest with kindness and patience. She’s earned her own gold star. We had a great stay from beginning to end: courteous, hospitable staff; a clean, good-sized room with everything we needed; and a dog-friendly hotel where the staff seemed to genuinely enjoy the four-legged guests. Breakfast was the usual fare. My only small complaint was the trash setup in the dining area: there was no designated bin at the hot beverage station, and the single trash can was tucked into an inconvenient corner. Everything else was really great. Parking was well lit, the beach and boardwalk were close, there was a discount at the crab shack next door and a free round of putt-putt, and the building doors were secured. A true 10 out of 10.

The area around the hotel seemed clean and very safe, and the drive in was pretty. The location is close to the beach, though the walk to an access point is inconvenient. Breakfast was pretty good for a standard continental spread, and the bedrooms were standard. We booked a king room, but when we arrived they said we’d been upgraded to two queens, which we didn’t want. That room smelled awful, like someone had cooked and left fish in the sink. They moved us to a much better room, but the next morning there was a spider crawling on the bed. Decent stay overall, with a great location.

The staff made my husband and me feel like family, and Ms. Ariel was outstanding, just like everyone else we met. I wish I’d gotten all their names so I could mention each one. Our weekend at this lovely, very clean hotel was absolutely heartwarming. Before we even left, we booked another stay for August with more family.

I want to recognize the three wonderful women at the front desk, Ariel, Jennifer, and Janis. They were warm, professional, and made every interaction a pleasure. I hope my parking fee at least goes toward recognizing their great service. I’ve been a loyal guest and always book directly. In the off-season, Bethany Beach offers free city parking, but the hotel still charges $10 a night, down from $25 during peak times. Even one complimentary parking night would have shown returning guests some appreciation. For me, it’s more about the principle than the cost. Next time I may look at booking at the neighboring Colony Apartment complex.