Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kingdom City by IHG

With all the road construction on I-70, this has become an important halfway stop for us and plenty of other travelers. I stayed overnight here again and found it just as good as before: friendly staff, clean rooms, a solid breakfast, and a quiet atmosphere. The main areas, hallways, beds, bathrooms, and rooms were all clean. It's right off the interstate, too.

There weren't many dining choices nearby, though I know you can't always get what you want. For a one-night stop, the staff and breakfast were great, and I had everything I needed.

The breakfast had a lot to choose from, including omelets, sausage, biscuits and gravy, potatoes, pastries, cereal, fruit, pancakes, juice, milk, and yogurt. The coffee machine was good, and the French vanilla and hazelnut creamers were a rare treat at a motel. Parking was well lit and felt safe. There's not much to do nearby beyond a chocolate shop, though Dairy Queen and McDonald's are walkable, with Taco Bell a short drive away. The rooms were clean and spacious, and this was the best Holiday Inn Express we've stayed at in years. A great stop while traveling.

The pool was one of the reasons I booked here, along with breakfast and workout options, but I found it closed when I went to use it. The front desk staff apparently didn't know it was shut, which was a letdown. I was visiting William Woods University, and this was the highest-rated place within a reasonable drive, about 10 minutes up the highway. The views aren't much, with a big truck stop next door and a tourist souvenir shop on the other side. Still, noise from the truck stop and nearby highway wasn't noticeable.