Holiday Inn Express Dumfries by IHG

The quiet, clean room was just what I needed to relax before my race. Everyone on staff was friendly and professional, and they made sure I was comfortable. Getting to the event in the morning was simple since the hotel is right off Interstate 95 (I-95). I had a fantastic stay and would book here again for my next local race.

I paid $175 for two days, and the hotel was a much nicer surprise than I expected for that price. It's not too far from the metro into DC. The rooms were huge, the beds incredibly soft, and the place looked brand new. The staff were welcoming from check-in through checkout. I usually stay at Hiltons, which were charging twice as much, but the service here at this Holiday Inn was better than what I've had at a Hilton in a long time. It'll be my first choice next time I'm in DC.

The hotel is clean and updated, and the staff are great. I had a few small complaints, though. The rooms feel very dark even with all the lights on, so they need more lighting. The gym is missing both a cable column and a leg machine. Breakfast itself was good, but the coffee tasted old and the toaster didn't work. It would also help to keep breakfast open an extra hour. In the bathroom, there was hand lotion but no hand soap, which isn't the same thing.

We count on Holiday Inn Express hotels to be consistent, so Saturday breakfast was a letdown. We came down as it opened, but there was no yogurt, oatmeal, or milk, and the employee wasn't willing to go to the store for more. People were left eating dry cereal, and no one came out from the back, so we had to ask at the desk. There were still three hours of breakfast service left. We weren't offered any compensation. Unacceptable and disappointing.