Holiday Inn Express Chelmsford by IHG

The heating unit was quiet, so we could sleep without the usual constant noise, and the rooms were clean, tidy, and surprisingly spacious. Service was attentive and genuinely friendly. Staff welcomed our large tour group and accommodated us without hesitation, which made check-in and coordination easier than expected. A few doors don’t close tightly, letting hallway light and some air through, which can be distracting at night. Apart from that, the Holiday Inn Express in Chelmsford was comfortable and reliable, though just shy of a four-star stay.

At these prices, hotels charge more and offer less. For one night, I’d hoped for organic coffee, pasture-raised eggs, fresh fruit, maybe some avocado. Instead, it felt like a rip-off. The lobby is cold and feels more like a business venture than a welcoming entrance. It’s upsetting that people can speak up and nobody at the top seems to listen.

Lexi, the manager, and the whole team made the service feel effortless. My room at the Holiday Inn Express in Chelmsford was spotless, modern, and really comfortable. The place is clean, convenient, and easy to get to. One of the best stays I’ve had, five stars.

We were only an hour into our stay when an employee yelled at our group, threatened to kick us out and call the police because we cheered after a touchdown. Other people who weren’t with us were watching too. If she’d asked us to keep it down, I could have understood, but there was no warning. She wouldn’t talk it through, and we were made to leave the lobby. We’d been respectful and had no problems before this. Management offered no support and let the employee threaten us. Our group pays more than an individual customer, and we didn’t deserve to be treated this way. Any complaints before we arrived were about other people, which the employee would have known if she’d had customer service skills. We had a busy schedule and early plans on the previous nights, and this was the only night we’d planned to relax at the hotel. I understand staff have to balance guests’ needs, but ours were ignored and the situation was handled badly and disrespectfully. Don’t take groups if your employees don’t know how to deal with them. Think twice before bringing a group here. Very disappointed.