Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Birmingham-Irondale(East) by IHG

The pet fee was a problem. The website says the fee is per night, not per pet. I understand the policy has recently changed, but it needs to be applied consistently. No one told me at check-in that it was per pet. If I’d known one night would cost me over $300, I would’ve stayed somewhere else. The room also wasn’t very clean: an empty Coke can was under the bed, the toilet needed cleaning under the rim, and the shower curtain needed to be washed or replaced.

The shower was the last straw: a big, black curly hair right in the middle of it. You couldn’t miss it. The bathroom was filthy too, with old looking streaks in the toilet bowl and water spots on the seat. The room floor felt gritty as soon as I walked in. Looking closer, there was lint, dirt, thread, a granola spill under the desk, and a piece of release paper from a maxi-pad by the bed. It looked like the whole floor had been missed through several guests’ stays. The fridge smelled awful when I opened it, and it was warm. It wasn’t broken, just turned off, with the freezer thawed and about 1/4 inch of water where the frost had melted. There were lots of black mold spots inside both the fridge and freezer. That doesn’t happen overnight. I’d guess the room sat unrented for several days and hadn’t been cleaned properly before that either. Even if you’re lenient about cleanliness, this place didn’t come close to meeting a reasonable expectation for a hotel. Maybe not every room is like mine, but this points to a serious lack of staffing, cleaning, care, or all three. I’d be scared to check it with a black light. If I’d soiled the toilet and left it unflushed, I feel like it might have raised the room’s average cleanliness. Don’t stay here if you can avoid it.

Divya was pleasant at check-in and explained the hotel details, and Neel helped me at checkout. The breakfast was good too, with a very pleasant dining area attendant who gave great service. When we arrived for check-in on Mar 14, 2026, there were no carts downstairs. We’d driven in from the Metro Atlanta area and were tired and hungry. I’m a disabled Army Veteran, and the property needs more handicap parking spots. I’d stay here again.

We paid nearly $400 for the weekend at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Birmingham-Irondale, and the room was unacceptable. There was dust, dead bugs, hair on the floor, rust and stains in the shower, and it looked unclean throughout. I messaged the hotel asking for proper cleaning and fresh towels but got no response. When I called, the employee, Deidra Patel, got defensive and hung up. At the front desk she avoided me and left the property. I was told no manager was available, and someone incorrectly said housekeeping had cleaned the room when they hadn’t. Housekeeping did come later, but stains were still visible. On our last night there was also a strong sewage smell in the hallway and our room. I expected a clean room and professional service for what we paid. Instead, the stay was frustrating from beginning to end. I hope management takes this seriously so other guests don’t have the same experience.