Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston NE Mt Pleasant US17 by IHG

I've never had such a bad stay at a Holiday Inn. The cigarette smell hit me as soon as I walked in, which was awful with my severe asthma. No one seemed to be at the desk, and we waited a long time. The people ahead of us gave up and left. I considered doing the same, but decided to give the place a chance. The woman who checked me in seemed annoyed and didn't even ask for my ID. Our room was dirty, with a terrible smell like a dead animal in the closet. There was lots of mold in the shower, dirty shoe prints on the bathroom floor, and a filthy lounge chair and carpet. The dining room seats looked like they'd been pulled from a dumpster. Breakfast was cold and bad, with omelets still frozen in the middle, hard, stale bread, no bagel cutter, and everything looking filthy. I couldn't find anyone at the desk when I wanted to check out and get a printed receipt. I would never stay again. This was the worst Holiday Inn we've ever stayed at. I have no idea how it has good reviews.

The night desk clerk was too busy on her phone to help, and I couldn't get anyone to fix my broken blind. I told the desk girl, who wasn't the woman who checked me in, that the blind wouldn't close and traffic and lights could see into my room. She said, “I don’t deal with those rooms”. I don't know what she meant, but there was no maintenance man. I asked for blankets to hang for privacy; after huffing and puffing, she found one and said that was all they had. I went back and took the blind apart to fix it myself. I shouldn't have to repair blinds or scrub a bathroom in a room I'm paying to be clean. The room was the usual Holiday Inn Express style, worn and dirty. There was a used Kleenex on the window seal, hair on the bathroom floor and in the shower, and the filthy bathroom smelled terrible. There was what looked like human waste in the toilet, presumably the source of the smell. The floors were disgusting too, even after I wiped them down. I stay in hotels about 48 weeks a year, and I won't return here. I was meant to stay for a week, but less than five hours after checking in, I was already trying to find somewhere else. This is one of the worst IHG properties I've stayed at, especially because of the night staff. I'll look for another place tonight rather than stay the week, or even the night. Spend a few extra bucks if you can. If you do stay, bring shoes and slippers for the shower and probably cleaning supplies.

Handy location, with Cava food nearby, the mall close, and the beach about 12 minutes away. Booking was easy, the room was nice and seemed clean, and the gym was available. The blackout shades were great. We asked for a room away from the street, which helped with noise, though the heater and AC unit still made a lot of noise. We brought our own organic breakfast. The hotel breakfast seemed nice if you like that kind of food, including artificial cereal, dead animals, and pancakes. The bed had a dip around the edges, so while co-sleeping with our toddler we fell into the hole a few times, but it was still comfortable. Good for a one-night stay.

The rooms were the worst part of this stay. We were moved through three rooms that weren't habitable: the AC units in the first two had mold, which staff confirmed, and the third room smelled strongly of urine. I'm an IHG Platinum Elite member, and this was the worst hospitality experience I've ever had. If you care about your health or basic respect, stay somewhere else. The receptionist, Khala, was rude and impolite, as other guests have said. She put personal phone calls or music ahead of guests, and several people waited for her one evening after she suddenly disappeared. When we politely asked for a sanitary room, she became hostile and acted like she wanted a confrontation. She shouted at us, admitted she was mocking my wife with a colleague, and told us we could “wait in the lobby until 6:00 AM” to see a manager. My wife cried afterward. Her aggressive manner was deeply concerning. I have video of her behavior, the verbal insults, and the room conditions. This place is a health risk, and that conduct is dangerously unprofessional. IHG Corporate has been notified, and I'll provide the footage.