Holiday Inn Express Andover North-Lawrence by IHG

SHOLA made a big impression on our group. He stayed calm, professional, and friendly while helping us get what we needed, and if something wasn't possible, he offered to find another option. He even kept a bit of humor in the mix. Housekeeping and maintenance were also on top of keeping things tidy, and nobody we dealt with seemed indifferent. The hotel was near good places to eat, and the view from the window was peaceful. Our room was clean, and breakfast was hot, tasty, and plentiful. There were pancakes, muffins, juice, yogurt, and usually bacon or sausages, including turkey pan sausages. The eggs were powdered, as you'd expect, but otherwise I loved the stay and the location. Thanks, IHG Holiday Inn Express.

The room's size was the biggest letdown. The king bed and two nightstands took up nearly all the space, so relaxing meant sitting on the bed. Maybe rooms are smaller back East, but every other king room I've booked has had more room. There were some real pluses: the staff were great, and housekeeping clearly works hard. The shower pressure was better than anywhere else we've stayed. We arrived in the evening and I wasn't sure about the area, but by morning it seemed fine and convenient once we figured out the driveway. The air conditioner smelled strongly of pollen, perhaps from an uncleaned outside filter, and the bathroom had a sewage smell that I think came from the sink. I'm usually a Hampton Inn and Suites person.

We'd stayed here twice before, with the first visit going well and the second less so. This New Year's Eve visit was a disaster. We had booked weeks ahead and arrived around 3:30 PM, only to learn the water was switching between cold and warm. There'd been no warning. My companion showered right after check-in and managed with lukewarm water, but later the shower was nearly ice cold. I couldn't shower, shave, or brush my teeth, and the sink water looked cloudy and dirty. When my companion asked the staff about the problem, she mentioned she'd managed to shower earlier. After some back and forth, the staff member joked that we should have showered together. It was stupid and completely unprofessional. No refund or free night was offered, despite the water problem that night and the next morning. The room had other problems: the TV barely received many channels, and the climate control kept cycling between cold and warm air. Breakfast the next morning was mediocre to bad. Avoid this place if you can.

We were here for a few days while moving, and they were accommodating while we packed and shipped a lot of boxes. The price was good, and having breakfast included was a nice bonus.