Holiday Inn Express & Suites Forney by IHG

We were promised a 20% discount after the first night's room mix-up, but at checkout there was no mention of it. When we asked, the discount came to about $20 for our six-night stay. We'll gladly return to the Marriott, even though it costs 50% more. It's worth it. We arrived around 8:30 p.m. after a long travel day and were given the wrong room first. The next one had a broken deadbolt. The third had broken light fixtures, shredded blinds, and a bright streetlight right outside, so we went back to the room with the deadbolt problem. They said they'd fix it the next day, but after we asked again, it still wasn't fixed, and nobody communicated with us during the stay. I chose this place for the good price and because I expected the usual basic but acceptable HIE experience. I wish I'd read the reviews first. It feels like the property has been ridden hard, even if it doesn't look old. The night front desk staff seemed like teenagers sitting in the lobby on their phones or computers, and only came to the desk when prompted.

I'm a regular at Holiday Inn Express & Suites, so this stay was a letdown. They'd overbooked and I lost the room I'd booked, though they put us in a room with one bed and a pullout couch, which wasn't a huge problem. The room seemed dusty or something. My girlfriend, my two boys, and I were all congested and snotty the next morning. I sprayed Lysol the next day, and the second night was better, but my girlfriend got sick and I stayed congested for almost a week. The second-floor hallway also smelled musty. Only one elevator was working, and it was slow and loud enough that the boys joked it might break while we were in it. Breakfast was fine, just ordinary hotel breakfast. Even with those issues, the stay was rather pleasant overall.

The room was clean and a nice size, with big pillows, and the seating areas were pleasant. Breakfast was great, too. The location suited what we needed in Forney. There were some hassles. Our clothes felt damp, and while the AC kept the room cool, it didn't seem to clear the humidity. The shower dripped constantly, so I put a washcloth over the handle to catch the water and quiet it down. Each time we came back, there was a sulfur or sewer smell when we opened the door. We think it came from the sink drain, since someone else in our group noticed the same smell in her room. The elevator made awful noises.

The location was convenient, with plenty of food options right on the same lot and easy access to the OC. Breakfast was good. The hotel itself, though, wasn't maintained very well, and it wasn't a horrible stay, just below what I usually expect from places like this. There was one cart for the whole hotel, and I had to struggle with it. The carpet was dotted with old stains, the ceiling had badly patched areas, and the tub had huge cracks. There were wet brown stains around the toilet, so the bathroom didn't feel clean, and there was no soap by the sink.