Holiday Inn Columbia East by IHG

As someone who has worked for Holiday Inn, I tend to be a bit critical. This one is generally what you'd expect and makes a decent place to stay. The price was fair for the neighborhood, and getting to other parts of Colombia was convenient. Still, the room felt tired, even though it was clean, and may need a facelift in a couple of years. I also thought $13 for breakfast was cheeky for something that seemed about equivalent to a Holiday Inn Express breakfast. I'm an IHG fan and recommend their hotels when I travel, but that breakfast price bothered me.

I just checked in, and the room already feels gross. The carpet is worn out past the point of shampooing, and the paint looks like a child did it. There's mold growing in the shower, and the bathroom wallpaper is peeling away from the wall. The AC won't stay on, so the room is warm. I don't know why the bathroom has been bleached. I also didn't realize breakfast cost extra. Next time I'll pay more for the Drury.

The staff were nice, but this was the only disappointment among the five Holiday Inns we stayed at over the last five nights of a long road trip. We chose this I-70 location because it was $50 cheaper than the in-town Express we usually use. Once breakfast was added, though, the price came out about the same as that nicer Express, which includes breakfast. The outside and lobby looked fine, but the rooms were dated. Ours smelled strongly of cigarettes, the ice maker on our floor was broken, and the AC ran all night without getting the room below 75 degrees. The area behind the building was oddly dark. A Jimmy John’s across the street was an easy walk. For families, I'd choose the location on Cinnamon in town in Columbia instead. It's less than 10 minutes south of I-70 and felt much nicer, safer, and more family-friendly.

This is a late review. I've made about six trips this year from Atlanta to Columbia, Mo., and stayed in hotels with different ratings. This was one of my best experiences. The rooms were comfortable, the service was top-notch, breakfast was fresh, and the on-site restaurant and bar didn't disappoint. Managers Danay and Melissa were so accommodating that I'll remember their hospitality. I found my new home away from home for trips to Columbia. Thanks, ladies. Jacuzzi was a pleasure!