Holiday Inn & Suites Marlborough by IHG

I was traveling for work and the hotel worked for what I needed. The room was spacious, with clean sheets and towels, and there was a hot breakfast available along with complimentary coffee. Staff were friendly and helpful. There's a restaurant in the hotel, and other restaurants are within walking distance. Plenty of parking, too. The bathroom could have been cleaner, and the room and furnishings showed their age.

The hotel was frustrating from start to finish. There were no bathroom fans or water fountains, and charging for water felt like a money grab. Breakfast cost too much for what it was. The lawn was unkempt, the thermostats didn't work, and cleanliness overall was severely lacking. I wouldn't recommend staying here.

The rooms gave me trouble: our first had multiple issues, and the mini fridge in the second one didn't work. Even so, I'll be back, mainly because the staff were amazing. Everyone I dealt with was helpful, professional, and just really likable, on par with a 5 star hotel. Every employee I interacted with lifted my mood.

The employees were the best part of my stay. They're friendly, helpful people who seem to truly love their jobs, and the customer service is off the charts. Breakfast impressed me, too: bacon, real eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit, and REAL Orange juice!! The rooms are up to date, but outlets are hard to find. They should add lamps with outlets so it's easier to plug things in. I still gave five stars because of the staff.