Holiday Inn Express & Suites

We asked for a ground-floor double queen room when we booked four months ahead, but were put on the third floor. So much for easy access for someone handicapped.

The breakfast was better than expected, with eggs, bacon or sausage, mini omelettes one day, plus bagels, waffles, yogurt, oatmeal, cereal, and a few other things. The restaurant inside the casino next door was very basic, and its food was mediocre. Browning has little in the way of nice restaurants, though there’s a nearby Subway for sandwiches. You do get cell service, and the drive toward the park has terrific views. The hotel is somewhat far from the park, but closer to Many Glacier and Two Medicine than West Glacier. I stayed four nights in early fall and found it average. The rooms were comfortable enough, but the walls are paper thin. I could hear people talking next door, and one woman’s dog barked constantly. I asked to move, and the girl at the counter was sympathetic and changed my room right away. For the nightly cost, I didn’t think it was good value, though it’s in line with other places nearby because of Glacier National Park. It’s probably still the best option in Browning and could work out fine.

For a stay on Glacier National Park’s east side, this is a convenient and appealing option. The hotel was clean, attractive, and nicely furnished. Everyone on staff was polite and very helpful. They even made an extra effort to get us the best rate and ensure we received the senior discount at check-in. Breakfast was high quality, and the person serving it was pleasant. The east entrance is a short drive away, and St. Mary is about half an hour away.

The hotel and room were clean, but breakfast was poor even by continental standards. The bacon was paper thin, the eggs seemed highly processed, and the waffle makers weren’t working. We ate at the casino restaurant instead, where the food was good, especially compared with breakfast. It was odd that everything, including napkins, salt, pepper, sugar, and cream, was kept behind the counter rather than on the tables. Only one staff member was friendly. The others made me feel like I was interrupting their conversation while they stood around. Also, staff and guests smoke right outside the main entrance, so going through that cloud of cigarette smoke wasn’t pleasant.