Holiday Inn Express Boise - University Area by IHG

The hotel uses such heavily perfumed cleaning products that walking into the room felt like breathing in a bottle of cheap floral cleaner. The bathroom had a strong fake vanilla smell. Within ten minutes my throat tightened and I started sneezing. I assume they’re trying to cover a musty odor, though I could be wrong. I hope they change this so rooms aren’t left so strongly scented, especially for people with asthma or other breathing reactions. I assume all the rooms smell that way, but I can’t be sure. There also wasn’t a TV guide in the room like at most HIE hotels we stay in; it’s kept at the front desk. The Barbacoa restaurant across the street wasn’t what I expected from a pricey steakhouse. The steak was good, but the rest of the menu was bland and not worth the price. The $70 steaks are apparently the main draw, and their cheesecake bites were popular, though I didn’t try them. My steak was barely touched, but staff took the box with it. The manager sorted things out quickly, but I’d skip that experience if I could go back, and I’d probably avoid the restaurant in future and wouldn’t recommend it to a friend. Neither the hotel nor the steakhouse met the standards I expected.

I’ve stayed here four times, and it’s one of the best places in Boise, in my opinion. The staff are always helpful and treat me well. For its price, it offers good value. Everything was clean, nothing was broken, and there weren’t any bad smells. Breakfast has more variety and is better than what I’ve had at most similarly priced hotels. The location isn’t ideal if you want to be by the airport, but it’s very close to Broadway, which takes you right to the freeway.

This was the best Holiday Inn Express we’ve stayed at. The place felt like a five-star hotel, with friendly staff, plenty of people on hand, and a clean property. It’s clearly well managed, and we’ll definitely make it a regular stop. Thanks for restoring my faith that great businesses still exist!

The clean, quiet rooms and the breakfast make this a very good place to stay. There are lots of food choices in the morning and plenty of seating. I’m not saying everything is perfect every time, but I stay at this Holiday Inn Express whenever we travel through Boise. I love the location, near the Boise River and three parks. It’s an ideal spot.