Holiday Inn Resort Mesquite by IHG

After a long travel day, the clean, warm hot tub was a real treat. The jets felt almost Olympic-grade, and the room was fresh and clean with a nice view from the window. The next morning, we were surprised by the breakfast for just $4 extra on top of the room. Everything was fresh, with calorie counts listed for every option. They had real eggs, real bacon, and Oikos Greek yogurt. The building is being remodeled, but that was a small inconvenience for the quality. This place far exceeded my expectations. I’d absolutely recommend it and come back.

The staff deserve five stars, and the gym is average or better. The pool is clean, but small, far too small for soccer tournaments. Rooms are clean and refreshed with new carpet, paint, and fixtures, though they feel dark and dreary. Food gets two stars. Breakfast is awful, like prison food served with exceptional service. The place has the look and feel of a 1990s resort remodel, with corporate decisions made by people who’d never stay at an IHG resort. It doesn’t meet the standard of other IHG properties. The property itself isn’t offensive, and I can see the vision, but I think IHG oversold the amenities to create a certain idea of value. A high overall investment might bring it up to the IHG standard.

The biggest surprise was the buffet breakfast. The chef was very nice, and the food was excellent: eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, yogurt, fruit, and a wide range of baked goods. It was better than breakfasts at any Marriott or Hilton I’ve stayed at. The clean pool and jacuzzi were another plus, as were the gym and game room. The resort is still under construction, but should be very nice when it’s finished. Staff were friendly and quick to respond when our neighbors were blasting music at 2:00 am. I recommend it.

Our room had three bunk beds, with small, hard mattresses and so little headroom that we couldn’t sit up without hitting the top bunk. It might work for a group of kids, but not two adults. I was very disappointed that the manager didn’t acknowledge my dissatisfaction. When I asked about changing rooms, she said we’d chosen a “standard room” for two adults, so they could assign us anything available, and this was all they had left. We hadn’t booked a discounted room. It cost $300 for one night, but unfortunately it was the only room left in town. What hotel puts two adults in a room like this without telling them first?