Holiday Inn Bloomington Airport South Mall Area by IHG

Service was awful. I was in a second-floor room over the pool, and it stayed loud whenever guests were swimming. The A/C was noisy too and kept me awake all night. Housekeeping only came by on request, and when I asked, they handed me sheets instead of making the bed. The front desk wasn't any help when I called. Poor service for a Holiday Inn.

The breakfast buffet was dynamite for $8.99, with biscuits and gravy, French toast, scrambled eggs including spinach and cheese, bacon, sausage, and make-your-own waffles. There was also juice, water, coffee, bagels and cream cheese, yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, and a few other things I've probably forgotten. It's served from 7 to 9 a.m. The hotel was very clean, staff were friendly and helpful, and check-in and checkout were easy. Great spot for Valley Fair and Mall of America, and I had a great night's stay.

We keep returning because the rooms are clean and the hot tub is warm. During our latest stay, a major snowstorm canceled many flights, so we needed a second night. Jennifer at the front desk was pleasant and efficient at Saturday check-in, then really stood out the next day when travel was nearly impossible and guests were rebooking amid chaos. She stayed calm, friendly, and emphatic, helping people rebook and assisting guests who were having trouble with technology. She deserves a bonus for handling March 15 with such poise and professionalism. Staff like her are why we come back.

The room was clean, breakfast was good, and the location was convenient. We ended up in a pool-facing room, though that wasn't mentioned when we booked or checked in. The pool noise went on at nearly all hours, even late after closing. When I asked about it at checkout around 11 a.m. on March 28, the morning staff member was rude and condescending. She said most people specifically book poolside rooms and described the hotel as being more for big family parties, which made me feel unwelcome about returning. She didn't seem to care about guest satisfaction. The overnight and check-in staff were much better.