Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Clearwater/Us 19 N by IHG

The staff were friendly and accommodating, and the rooms were clean, better than a motel, though they could use updates that seem to be underway. The Wi-Fi didn’t recognize my room number and name, so they had to give me a special code. The continental breakfast was the best I’ve seen in a while, with biscuits and gravy, a pancake maker, eggs, sausage, bacon, cereal, and assorted breads. I’d stay here again just for that.

It’s a spotless, well-kept hotel with very pleasant staff, but I didn’t sleep well. The highway nearby makes it noisy, the stiff box mattress offered little support, and the shower pressure was so weak it was barely more than a trickle. It’s okay for a quick stop if you mainly need a clean place, but don’t count on comfort or a quiet night.

The hotel’s being remodeled, so some hiccups are understandable. Our TV wouldn’t work because it couldn’t connect to the Wi-Fi, which was disappointing, though I hope they’ll have smart TVs when the work is done. Jake at the front desk checked us in and was extremely polite and helpful. We had a trailer with Jetskis, and the staff kindly helped us find a place to park it. The location is great, and the staff’s courtesy made up for the problems.

David really made the visit stand out. He was warm and welcoming, and his customer service made the experience for me. The hotel was nicely updated, the rooms were clean and comfortable, and breakfast was a great start to the day. I’ll definitely be back.