Holiday Inn Express & Suites Onalaska La Crosse Area by IHG

The location was easy to find off the interstate exit, with a big parking lot and lots of dining and entertainment options nearby. For the price, the stay and service were excellent, and we'll be back. The hotel felt modern and luxurious inside and out. The lobby and dining area were as neat and clean as the rooms. We were traveling with our young family, and the kids loved the kid-friendly pool and hot tub. We explored the gym too. Breakfast had a big selection and the food was excellent. Our kids weren't disappointed and really enjoyed their stay.

The freeway noise was noticeable, so having the fan run constantly would have helped cover it. But the thermostat won't let you keep the fan running without the heat, and its settings are restricted. The HVAC also takes about 2 hours to raise the room temperature by 2-3 degrees. After a shower, the windows fog up because the air doesn't move enough. It's a very odd system. Apart from that, it's a fantastic new hotel, clean and nice. The HVAC is my only complaint.

JC was very helpful when I called about availability for a busy weekend and worked things out for my high school team. I booked 14 rooms, and he even called the day before check-in to go over a few things. The automatic text was helpful too, and they let my group check in early. Before we arrived, the customer service was great. It was busy at check-in. When my turn came, the woman looked right at me and rudely asked, “are you May? You need to swipe another card.” No hello first? I explained the school district was paying and gave her the district payment information. After the helpful phone service, her response caught me off guard. The district paid over 4k for our team for ONE night, and I think she could have been more understanding about what was going on. I don't know the protocol, but a phone call might have cleared this up before we arrived. It wasn't pleasant, though I'm grateful the rooms and keys were ready. The other staff were helpful and accommodating, the rooms were spacious and clean, and breakfast was good.

The location was great and the room was clean overall, though I think the shower could have been cleaned more thoroughly. There was a lot of crap on the outside of the door and in the crevice. At checkout, five people were waiting in line, and the woman at the front desk could have used some help. I felt bad for her. Not her fault people don't want to work. All in all, it was a nice stay.