Holiday Inn Hammond by IHG

The front desk staff are the real stars here. Jakob and Melissa greet us by name, and Melissa is always smiling and exceptionally friendly. Ciara is there to welcome us first thing in the morning, a little ray of sunshine to start the day. Trey, the bartender, seems to stay in a good mood even after closing the bar late, and some mornings he’s back for breakfast at 6:30 AM. The rooms are always clean and fresh, too. Thanks to the cleaning staff for all the hard work that makes us feel at home when we’re away working. You’re the unsung superheroes.

I was disappointed to find that breakfast wasn’t free. The booking website gave me that impression, though the hotel’s own site makes the charge clear. For about the same price, I could have stayed across the street and gotten a better deal. The room also needs work: the bathroom seemed to have mold and was falling apart, and I didn’t feel comfortable showering there.

The train tracks behind this motel made it really hard to sleep, and the pool looked poorly maintained, so I didn’t want to wait around to try it. Breakfast was another letdown. After paying $225, including an “incident stay” charge, they still charged for food that was the same as a standard motel’s complimentary breakfast. I felt insulted by that charge and the service this morning. The young woman who checked me in was the only professional staff member. The others barely spoke and were rude when I asked questions. The front desk gave me a dirty look, told me where to leave my keys, then answered “receipt” with just one word. The rooms already cost enough, and I’ll never stay here again.

The food was good and the service staff were nice, according to everyone who came for my son’s band event. They all had a good time, and we plan to return next year.