Holiday Inn Express Brooklyn

We spent a week here with our two kids, ages 10 and 14, and the room was comfortable, clean, and a good fit for all four of us. The breakfast buffet was delightful, and the staff were courteous and helpful. The elevator does work, despite what some people say, but it’s very slow, so we often took the stairs. There’s no laundry service on site, and the little laundry bag in the closet only holds a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. For the price and location, I’d recommend the hotel and the hard-working staff who try to make your stay comfortable.

The location puts you within walking distance of a lively Brooklyn area with good food and interesting places, and that’s what you’re paying for. Service was extremely friendly, but the room left a lot to be desired. The AC was loud enough to disturb me at night, the sheets were sparse, and the bathroom wasn’t well equipped. We paid extra for a larger bed but still got a ground-floor room that felt almost like a semi-basement. The shower pressure, at least, was a nice surprise.

The room cost $159 a night, plus they held a refundable $50 deposit that was supposed to come back in 3-4 business days. I was surprised by the state of the place for that price. The lobby looked like it needed work and a fresh coat of paint, and my first room hadn’t been cleaned, there was something in the toilet. A staff member came up, took a picture, and then they moved me to another room, which was only a little better. The carpet needed vacuuming and the whole place felt dated. I booked for a business trip based on the online photos and my past experience at Holiday Inn Express, but this hotel wasn’t like that. I wouldn’t stay here again if I had to return, and I’m surprised Holiday Inn puts its name on it.

We paid about $700 for three nights, roughly what a stay in Midtown or downtown would cost, and I wish I’d picked the hotel myself instead of leaving it to my husband. The rooms are small but decent for the price, though our comforter smelled awful, like laundry left sitting in a washer for days before being dried. Breakfast was very limited, and there wasn’t any hot food. In the breakfast room, staff watched guests closely: one worker yelled at someone for taking two apple juices, saying only one was allowed, and another yelled at a guest for reaching across a table for a bagel. That kind of treatment is a red flag for me. I’m not coming back.