Holiday Inn Express Harrisburg SW - Mechanicsburg by IHG

I was here for two weeks for work, and everyone on my crew hates it. The plumbing is messed up, and the carpet is 40-50 years old. There's a moldy or old smell as soon as you walk in. Rooms aren't cleaned every day, and sometimes they just come in and leave a towel. The pool is broken, and they don't have amenities. The only work I've seen is paint on the outside of the building, and you always have to go inside. This place shouldn't be open until the work is finished. If I can save someone time and money, find somewhere much better. I wouldn't settle for this if I were paying out of pocket.

The bed was comfortable, the pillows were great, and my truck was still in the parking lot in the morning. The hotel looked worn and dated, though, so the photos were misleading. The entrance is a narrow path leading to an unlit parking lot, and I told my wife I hoped our truck would still be there when we left. At check-in, I was disappointed I couldn't use points for the stay. The local government also charged $57 in taxes for my room. The desk clerk swiped my card to hold $100 for “incidentals.” There wasn't room service, and sodas and snacks were in vending machines. What incidentals?

We had no hot water in the shower or sink, the toilet stayed clogged all weekend, and our room's air conditioning didn't work the whole time. We had to use the first floor lobby bathroom, even after they gave us a plunger for our own toilet. We also asked for a cot, but never got one. Problems were reported throughout the building, and lots of people were complaining about the same issues and more. The front desk kept saying the manager would contact us, but there was no real management response during the weekend, and the manager was nowhere to be found. I couldn't get a response to calls about adjusting the bill. We paid full price for all this. The whole property was in poor condition. This was by far the worst Holiday Inn I've ever stayed at. I can't emphasize that enough, and wouldn't recommend staying here. Added on July 18, 2025: The manager contacted me by email and phone after my review. She said she'd been away for a family emergency, which is very understandable, but staff never told the guests who complained at the front desk. She explained what had happened, agreed to bill adjustments, and is making a real effort to turn the property around. Renovations, changes, and upgrades are scheduled for the near future. If those plans happen, we'll consider staying here again.

The room was clean and the beds were comfortable, but the property is clearly dated. The furniture is old, and while there are several outlets for adapters, there are no USB ports. The tub drained slowly during my shower, and still had water in it 10 minutes later. The usual HIE breakfast was okay, but the biscuits were frozen inside, and the orange juice had run out after 8am.