Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kingston-Ulster by IHG

We booked this late on a holiday weekend for the night before Hunter Mountain, when many other places were full. It was clean, seemed fairly new, and cost $70 less per night than the Holiday Inn 10-minutes away in Saugerties. The beds and pillows were comfortable, and I liked the blackout shades. Staff were helpful. We requested a roll out beef for one of our kids, and it was ready before we got there. The sheets for the extra bed had something gross on them, but I brought them down and they replaced them right away. Breakfast was fine. The kids were into the pancake maker, cinnamon rolls, and muffins. For eggs, there were cheese omelets or hard boiled eggs. I tried one of the pre-peeled hard boiled eggs, and it was robbery. There was also oatmeal, cereal, Greek yogurt, bacon, sausage, and potatoes. My wife thought the coffee was decent. It was what we needed and about what I expect from a Holiday Inn.

The breakfast is the only reason this gets a star. We stayed here a year ago and the conditions were decent, but the hotel has gone downhill badly since then. At $240 per night, the room was nowhere near worth the price. There was just one set of towels, and they were gray and worn, with their freshness and whiteness long gone. The sheets were wrinkled, as if someone had only straightened them instead of changing them, and the pillows smelled stale. There was even trash from the previous guest left in the bin, so the room seemed either barely cleaned or not cleaned at all. It’s very disappointing to see this much decline in a year. We won’t be back.

The staff here are tremendous, and the hotel stays clean, well maintained, and affordable. I’ve been coming for several years, often five to six weekends each winter while taking my son skiing. I also want to give a special mention to the gentleman who runs the breakfast buffet each morning. He’s consistently courteous and attentive, and he’s wonderful with my son. His kindness and professionalism add a lot to our stays.

It’s a handy spot for exploring Saugerties and nearby Woodstock, just down the road from Saugerties’ Main Street. As IHG members, we were also greeted with goodie bags containing a snack and a bottle of water, which was a nice arrival touch. The staff were very friendly and accommodating. Thanks especially to the night front desk manager, breakfast manager, and food runner for their great service and hospitality.