Holiday Inn Express San Bernardino - Colton by IHG

We planned three nights in a two-queen room, but stayed one extra after my daughter became extremely sick and couldn't stop throwing up. The staff were compassionate and accommodating. They promptly removed and disposed of the soiled items, kept bringing extra towels, toothbrushes, and shaving cream as we needed them, and brought extra pillows and a comforter when we asked. Breakfast was a highlight, with delicious food, turkey sausage, and omelets that my son and I both enjoyed. The pool and spa were clean and well maintained, and the hot tub was genuinely hot and comfortable. I only wished it didn't close at 10 PM, since I enjoyed using it. Laundry was $2.50 per load, so two loads cost $10, which seemed a bit expensive, though I'm unsure how that compares with prices elsewhere now. Check-in was easy, but the required $200 damage deposit was much higher than any I've encountered at a hotel. Even so, the staff, cleanliness, and comfort made a stressful situation easier. This was my favorite hotel on our whole trip from Texas to California and back, and I'd absolutely stay again.

Our booking was through a third-party site. After a long morning traveling and an all-day seminar, we were exhausted and looking forward to a shower and sleep. My husband is diabetic, and his blood sugar was low. At check-in, the young woman at the desk said our booking was for a handicap room. My husband showed her the email, booking number, and confirmation for a “classic room,” but she didn't seem to care or offer customer service. Her attitude was basically that it was our problem, and because we'd booked through a third party, we should call them. We did, and spent about an hour and a half in the lobby on the phone while watching other people check into rooms. The third party tried to escalate it, but we were exhausted and my husband's blood sugar was low, so we had no choice but to accept the handicap room and deal with it in the morning, since we were staying two nights. The shower barely produced a trickle. When we first reported it, the employee said handicap showers worked differently and both handles had to be pulled out. I said I'd done that, but we tried again anyway, and the water was still barely flowing. My husband was starting to feel ill, so he sent me to handle it. By then we'd spent more than two hours on the room problem. The employee was helping someone else but asked whether we'd figured it out. I said no, the water was barely trickling and we needed another room. She said the hotel was sold out and radioed maintenance to our room. When it was my turn at the desk, I showed her the email again and asked how we ended up in a handicap room when the reservation clearly said “classic room.” She saw we'd booked a classic room, but she'd already made us try to sort it out ourselves, and now the hotel was supposedly full. I was upset and speaking louder, but I wasn't yelling, swearing, or threatening her. She seemed hurt that I wasn't accepting more excuses, then said in a condescending, threatening tone that she'd make me leave the property if I didn't lower my voice. I asked her name. She said “Amia.” I told her I'd got her, then walked back to the room. As I went down the hall, she yelled in the same condescending tone that I could talk to the manager in the morning. We'd been patient until we couldn't take any more, and then I was threatened with removal for being upset. The customer service was horrible, and she was a terrible reflection on the hotel. Don't worry, dear, I will speak to the manager and leave a review on every possible site where this hotel is listed. Room 141, date 6/5/2026.

The staff were friendly, the hotel was clean, and breakfast was good with plenty of options, though there was no bacon. The outdoor pool looked clean and fun, and the property felt safe. The place is cheaper for a reason: it felt like a discount version of a typical Holiday Inn Express, with dated details. Our room smelled oddly like old food, as if someone had lived there before, and the couch had strange stains all over it. I'd still stay again if I were passing through and needed a quick place.

Friendly staff make you feel welcome, and knowing the rooms are consistently clean makes a big difference when traveling. It's also a relief when they have the little things you might've forgotten, like a toothbrush or charger.