Holiday Inn Express & Suites Blythe by IHG

I was glad to be close to Arizona, so the drive ahead didn't feel much longer. We were on a road trip to Dallas and stopped here for sleep after arriving at 11 PM. Check-in wasn't too hard, and the bed was decently comfortable. I'd rather sleep in my own bed, as most people would, but I needed the rest. I stayed at the Holiday Inn express & suites in Blythe, CA last October and was pleased with it. I explored a little of Blythe before continuing my trip, and I'd stay here again.

The room was nice and the place seemed fairly new. Everything worked, though the bathroom plumbing made me chuckle. The showerhead was set really high, like it was meant for an NBA player, but I could adjust it, and I'm 5'6". I don't know if all the showers are like that or just this one. The tub faucet stuck about three inches out from the wall, as if the copper pipe hadn't been cut to the right length before it was attached.

I was a little nervous about staying in Blythe, but this Holiday Inn was clean and comfortable. The beds were nice, the pool was a good size, and the free breakfast was actually good: scrambled eggs, sausage, cereal, oatmeal, toast, muffins, pancakes, milk, and a juice machine. My kids also loved the free coloring pages and crayons in the lobby. It's right next to a 76 gas station, which was the one downside. We arrived kind of late and saw a guy sitting on the curb by the drive-up area, painting his nails with markers. The parking lot could use more lighting.

We picked this spot as a compromise after a business conference in Palm Desert. We wanted to see Palm Springs and Joshua Tree National Park, but also make the drive to PHX shorter. Compared with the dilapidated, depressing town around it, this hotel is a gem. The nearby Comfort Inn looks new and might be comparable; the other lodging options didn't seem appealing. Both nights the hotel and parking lot were completely full. Our room was clean and large, though there was a random odd noise we couldn't find or stop. The bathroom door closes itself, which is a fine idea, but it was annoying and loud if it slammed. The automatic bathroom lights also sound good in theory, until you get up to pee in the middle of the night and WOW, LIGHTS! We didn't try the free breakfast, so can't comment on it. The stairwell was absolutely the nicest and cleanest we've ever seen in any hotel or office building. We always take stairs when we can, which worked out since this was the slowest elevator we've ever used. Impressive!