Holiday Inn Express & Suites College Park-University Area by IHG

I enjoyed the trail behind the hotel, which leads straight to the University and passes tall trees instead of busy road traffic. I spent ten days here and was comfortable the whole time. Breakfast was good every day, and the staff were friendly, approachable, and helpful. Nicola from housekeeping deserves a special mention for being so nice and keeping my room tidy. I’d recommend this place.

The manager, Javier, seemed unable to handle basic customer service or understand English. He made me repeat myself several times. After we complained five times about the noise, they finally did something. Staff in housekeeping said they didn’t speak English when we tried talking to them. They also blamed our Expedia booking for not being able to provide basic service. At one point a woman insisted we’d booked a specific room because of Expedia, but when I asked her to explain, she quickly moved us. What she’d said sounded like nonsense. The construction was never disclosed, and we had to switch rooms three times to get some peace. Our second room was wedged between a room being worked on and the housekeeping closet. Drilling, slamming doors, and staff tossing things around in the closet kept waking us all morning. The first room was run-down and falling apart. The place is in the middle of nowhere, too. Other problems: the lobby is small, the elevator’s floor layout is confusing, the pool is closed, and the toilet in the only public bathroom is always clogged. Breakfast was bad, with almost no vegetarian choices. I got undercooked, unseasoned potatoes and a dry biscuit; the eggs came with peppers mixed in, which I don’t like. You wait five minutes for the pancake machine, and the pancakes are kid-sized. Parking costs $6 a night. If you can avoid this place, I’d try the hotel down the street.

Both elevators were broken when I arrived. One suddenly started working, but its operating certificate had expired. The carpet in my room was wet enough to soak my socks, and the air conditioning didn’t work. The room felt more humid than Florida in mid-August. This was easily the worst Maryland hotel I’ve stayed in for a long time. The place is pathetic, and management should be fired.

I’m from LA and wanted somewhere really quiet for my first trip to the East Coast. My uncle recommended this place, and he was right. The staff were friendly and amazing. The hotel was quiet, relaxing, clean, and comfy, and I slept well. It’s been a while since I stayed, but I felt I owed them a review because they were so good.