Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh East - Mall Area by IHG

The free breakfast had plenty of choices, though I wished there were healthier options. I had a banana, a couple of bites of an apple that was bruised all over and past its prime, scrambled eggs, and sausage patties. There were lots of carb and grain choices, but a gluten-free option or non-dairy yogurt would be good. We went to a restaurant for breakfast the second morning to find better choices. We came for a convention in Monroeville, about 10 miles or 20-30 minutes away depending on traffic. The hotel is in a large shopping area, and we liked the price compared with Monroeville hotels, plus getting to experience Homestead. Our stay was pleasant, and we'd stay again for the location, cleanliness, price, and friendly staff. Everyone we met on staff was very friendly and professional. We had to take a cement stairway down to the main lobby, only discovering the ramp a yard to the right later that evening. The elevator floor needed prompt repair because it was a tripping hazard. Our King room, 314, was comfortable and clean, with a large mini-fridge, microwave, Keurig coffee maker, alarm clock radio, and huge TV. The bathroom was sparkling, with a big mirror and bright lights. The shower head had three settings, the pressure was great, and soap, shampoo, and conditioner were provided. I liked the corner chair, small table, and hassock, which we each used for reading or looking up local restaurants. The bed was harder than I like and could use a softer mattress topper, but it was tolerable for our two nights. The walls weren't very soundproof, and we could hear conversations in the hallway.

I never expected bed bugs to be part of traveling, but I woke up with a bite on my arm and saw one crawling across the bed during the night. We stayed in Room 125. At first glance it wasn't sparkling clean, though I don't expect a five-star place from Holiday Inn Express for one night. Aside from that bad luck, the place was nice for the price and location. Update: General Manager Helen reached out and was amazing, calm, and easy to relate to. She explained how she and her team were handling it and checking every surface for anything they might have missed. Helen was very thorough and clearly understands customer relations. She kept me informed and said she'd do everything she could to prevent this from happening again. I had a really good conversation with her and loved how she handled it. Helen has built a great team.

The front desk woman was really nice and helpful, but the hotel could use some renovation. The elevator floor was badly worn, the bathrooms had tubs with lots of discolored tiles, and two of my pillows were stained. If I came back to the area, I'd probably choose somewhere else.

The room was clean, and the bed was super comfortable. The water got hot with strong pressure, the coffee was good, breakfast was passable, and even the ice machine worked great. Staff were friendly and efficient. There was only enough floor space to walk around the beds, and they provided just two towels. There's no pool, and the fitness center isn't worth having. There's a one-mile bike trail out front, though I didn't get to see whether it's runner friendly. This is what a budget hotel should be, and after this stay I'll add Holiday Inn Express to my list of acceptable budget options.