Holiday Inn Express & Suites Carlisle Southwest – I-81 by IHG

I had to leave before breakfast, though it’s included with the stay. Otherwise, I enjoyed my overnight work visit to Carlisle, PA. The room was spacious and clean, the bed was comfy, and the evening staff were pleasant and helpful. I did start running out of hot water toward the end of my shower 🤔, but everything else was great.

The clerk who checked me in was nice, and breakfast was okay. The eggs in the omelet were a little overcooked, but the sausage biscuits and gravy were great. I was there overnight while my truck was being repaired, and the room smelled like curry and armpits. Spraying alcohol and deodorant didn’t get rid of it. There was hair in the shower and on a towel, and the toilet was weak but usable.

The breakfast nook is modest in size but really good, with two omelette options, French toast, bacon, bagels, muffins, cinnamon rolls, yogurt, and fruit. The coffee from the fresh-ground, per-cup machine is outstanding, and the seating area stays tidy. Parking is great, the building is well kept, and the staff were exceptional. There’s normal wear, like chipped bathtub porcelain and scuffed cabinet kick panels, but everything worked perfectly and was very clean. The shower head was great and the water pressure excellent. Highway noise is audible but not annoying, though nearby trucking and logistics facilities mean you may hear a little more truck noise. The room air conditioner can be quite loud. I slept fine with it, but some people might find it objectionable. I’ll definitely stay again on future travels. Measured Sound dBA (A-weighted decibels): Quiet room: 29 dBA; refrigerator on: 31 dBA; truck/highway noise: 36 dBA peak; heater/air conditioner on HIGH: 51 dBA peak.

The front desk staff were friendly and helpful, but the bedsheets were dirty, so I left. Clean beds are the whole point of a hotel stay. From now on, I’ll only stay at Hilton hotels.