Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cedar Park by IHG

Getting to this location took some maneuvering, and the stay was miserable. We had no hot water, and nobody mentioned that at check-in. A woman with multicolored braids blamed the weather and said they hadn’t known, even though the freeze had started four days earlier. Our room was cold when we arrived, and the heater had been unplugged. After my partner plugged it in, we couldn’t control it: it ran above 80 degrees despite being set to 70, so we had to unplug it again. It was hotter than a sauna. The woman’s response was basically “oh well,” as if she didn’t care about these problems or how guests were treated. Maybe she’d feel differently after a freezing shower and a cold night. They should hire people who take the job seriously and address guests’ concerns.

I asked to switch rooms because ours hadn’t been cleaned properly, but was told that wasn’t possible. They fixed the clogged bathroom sink, yet left the room dirty. There were shoe marks on the bathroom floor, food on the carpet, a loose sheet hanging off one unmade bed, and food left in the dirty refrigerator. After going to my daughter’s volleyball tournament, I came back that night and found housekeeping still hadn’t cleaned it. I had to spend the night in that room.

This was my second business trip here, and I’ll be back. The staff are what make the place stand out for me: the front desk is attentive and friendly, and the breakfast cook greets you with a smile and a good morning. That matters most to me.

The hotel is easy to reach by car, parking is simple, and there are plenty of nearby places to eat. My stay was predictable. The rooms were clean, though the shower pressure could be stronger. A removable shower head on a hose would help with that. I also wish there were soda machines on the floors.