Holiday Inn Express & Suites Columbus Airport East by IHG

I was impressed by how well this Holiday Inn is kept and managed, especially after staying at three hotels this week. I booked at the last minute after a business meeting so I’d be near the airport for my departure the next day. Everyone was friendly, from the front desk to the people keeping breakfast stocked, and they all said hello and wished me a good day. My room was spotless, and the bed and pillows were the most comfortable. I also walked next door to Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant & Cantina for dinner and really enjoyed the food, the large beer selection, and the spicy homemade queso. If I’m back in the area, I’d choose this place over the other options. Not every Holiday Inn is the same, and this one stands out in every category.

The breakfast staff were efficient and attentive, and the pancakes may be the best I’ve had at a hotel in years. The room was okay, though I had to scroll through every channel because the TV had no guide, and the thermostat wouldn’t control the fan. I sleep better with the fan’s white noise. The elevator smelled like cheese and gave me horror movie vibes. The parking lot lights were strobing so badly that someone with epilepsy might not have made it into the building.

The one bright spot was our check-in employee, who was so sweet and helpful. The pool was disgusting, with hair floating everywhere, and the hot tub had brown stuff on the bubbles and grime on the walls. We left the pool area within 20 minutes, then had to walk back to our room soaking wet because there were no towels. Our room was gross too: stained floors and chair, holes in the walls, mold in the bathroom, and cracking caulk. We even found a Kratom pill on the floor. I’ll never stay here again. When we got home, I stripped everything, washed all our things twice, and made everyone shower right away.

The rooms were comfortable and clean, and breakfast had plenty of good options. The airport shuttle arrived quickly and got us safely to the hotel. We thought we’d arranged a ride back for checkout, but that morning the desk told us no shuttle had been scheduled. We panicked for a moment, then the front desk employee offered to book us an Uber. The stay was excellent overall.