Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ottawa by IHG

The 24/7 lobby coffee was pretty good, and the cinnamon roll I had at breakfast was one of the best I’ve had. The staff were kind, and the fall decorations in the lobby made the place feel less clinical. But the stay was a mixed bag. The air conditioner seemed to need service. It ran most of the night on the lowest setting and still didn’t get the humidity out, even though it had cooled into the mid 40s outside in October. Shower pressure was very low even at 6am on Sunday, and the shower base had peeling caulk and what looked like mildew. For sleep, the bedding wasn’t as good as Hampton Inn’s. The bottom sheet shifted around, the comforter could use more weight, and the green light on the ceiling smoke detector blinked continuously. At 50, $200 a night feels expensive for what you get. At this price, I still prefer Hampton Inn.

Leslie at the front desk made us feel at home and was a pleasure to deal with. The whole staff was welcoming and genuinely kind. We slept incredibly well, thanks to a spotless room and a very comfortable bed. Breakfast was delicious and well stocked, and they even had real bacon, which was a big win. We had an amazing stay at the Holiday Inn in Ottawa, Kansas. It’s earned our loyalty, and we’ll be back every year. Highly recommend it if you’re in the area or passing through.

The night staff was pleasant, and there are several food options nearby, but this was a bad stay for us. We were traveling from TX to our home in WI after a late hospital release and needed a place to stop. We’re IHG members and have generally had good Holiday Inn Express stays. I booked directly on the IHG site for $117, but at check-in the total was $145, plus a $50 room deposit that was said to be refundable 7-10 days after checkout. The front desk explained the difference as a 23.5% state, county, and city “Room Occupancy Tax.” It was late and we were exhausted, so we kept the booking. When we got to the room, my husband stepped on an exposed carpet tack strip, though luckily he still had his shoes on. We’d hoped to use the pool after a long day of travel, but only learned at check-in, while asking about the price, that it was closed. I don’t understand how room occupancy can be shown in real time on the website but the pool closure can’t. We arrived at 8pm on Easter weekend, and there were maybe 15 cars in the lot. Even so, after we’d settled in and were about to sleep, someone in the room above us stomped around most of the night. With so few guests in a hotel this large, I don’t understand why they put someone right above us. In the morning I went for coffee and a quick bite. I usually find the newer instant coffee makers with “fresh” ground beans decent, but the creamer pump had a sticky string of old, moldy creamer coming out. I tried a little half-and-half container instead, and chunks came out of that too. When we turned in our keys, the morning staff member didn’t ask how our stay was. I think she was lucky she didn’t.

The room was really clean and nice for the price. I was only there to sleep, but it was top notch. Breakfast the next morning was amazing: biscuits and gravy, sausage, bacon, waffles, muffins, cereal, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, eggs, omelets, and oatmeal. What a spread!