Holiday Inn Express Boston - Milford by IHG

The room was clean, everything worked, and housekeeping did a good job. The breakfast staff were also fantastic, friendly and efficient, and clearly working hard. But the selection was limited, there weren’t many fresh fruit options, and the orange juice had an odd color and tasted off. Check-in took forever and felt uncomfortable. They asked for everyone’s names, which I’ve never been asked for at another Holiday Inn, and took my ID and credit card into a back room for a while instead of handling them at the desk. It didn’t feel secure or professional. Parking was awful too. There were practically no spaces, even late at night, so I had to circle several times after a long drive. Front desk service was a 0/10, with no warmth or welcome. The clean room kept the stay from being terrible, but with the check-in, parking, and front desk experience, I’ll probably look elsewhere next time.

The only real downside was the limited parking near the front. Otherwise, this is an affordable, very clean place with a great pool and hot tub, a good free breakfast, and coffee makers and microwaves in every room. The staff are lovely, friendly, and helpful. It’s close to 495 for easy access to Boston, with restaurants, shopping centers, gas stations, and more nearby.

The renovated rooms are clean and nice, a definite improvement. Older rooms are fine for a night or two, though nothing special, more like a step up from a Motel 6. The hotel is being renovated now, which seems common with HIE properties lately. Construction containers out back make parking a bit tight, but getting in and out is otherwise easy. It’s in a convenient spot right off 495, near shopping areas and Milford Regional Hospital/Dana Farber Cancer Center. Staff were generally friendly and helpful. I found it odd that they took my ID and credit card into an office during check-in and asked for the names of additional guests. I’ve stayed at plenty of IHG hotels and never had that happen. It’s a decent place if you need to stay in the area, and it’ll probably be much better once the renovations are finished.

The room was clean, but the hot tub was packed with about 30 people, so we couldn’t really use it. The coffee was cold, and the TV isn’t a smart TV. I’d bring a Roku.