Holiday Inn Resort Daytona Beach Oceanfront by IHG

I appreciated the free parking, especially as I was driving, and the location was great. The sea view room at Holiday Inn Resort Daytona Beach gave me exactly the chance to relax I wanted. From the balcony I could watch the ocean and sky, hear the waves, and feel my mind and body reset. Waking up to the view made it easy to slow down and enjoy the moment. The $35 resort fee was the one downside, and I wish it had been included upfront. Still, I really enjoyed the stay and would come back for another peaceful recharge.

We checked out at 6:30 AM after a one-night stay, then I got an email saying the restaurant had charged $41.21 to my card. When I called the hotel, the woman wouldn't initially tell me what it was for and said they'd investigate. She later said someone had given them my room number. Apparently they don't verify guest room numbers before charging a card. I wouldn't have known if I hadn't caught the email. Please be aware.

The front desk team, including Nancy, Cherion, and Daniel, were friendly and helpful, and the kids loved the daily activities. There was cornhole, a heated pool, a whirlpool, giant chess and checkers, and the oceanfront location was close to both the beach and businesses. We had a pleasant stay, but breakfast was a struggle. It took about 10 minutes to be seated, 15 minutes for someone to take our order, and 45 minutes for the food. Staff eventually told families to sit at any open table, though many still had dirty dishes. With so many families, a buffet or more breakfast staff would make things easier. On day two, I ordered downstairs first and brought the kids once the meals arrived. One night there was a scary burning electrical smell and static noise from the window AC. Maintenance came over, and Benjamin and Wilbur replaced the unit later that morning. I hadn't experienced that before, but was told it may be from the salty ocean air. The lamp interfered with charging devices too, so more lamps and outlets would be helpful.

The ocean facing sixth floor room had a spectacular view, and we caught a bit of the New Year's Eve fireworks at the pier. It was just steps from the beach and away from the main strip, which made the location nice. The room was dated, though clean and comfortable, and the premium rooms are more updated. The walls were thin enough that we could hear sounds from next door.