Holiday Inn Owensboro Riverfront by IHG

Amanda made our week. She welcomed us at registration, then managed to switch us from a city view to a river view when we asked. Starting Wednesday, she was also our bartender for the rest of the week. She was consistently friendly and polite, and her personality and extra effort really stood out. The other employees were good too, but Amanda is one of a kind, and the hotel is lucky to have her.

The location was wonderful, and I had a roomy, clean room. The staff were great, and the bartender really knew her stuff. The drinks were fabulous. There was a plumbing problem on my floor, though, and the smell lingered along the hall. I was surprised that breakfast wasn't included, since it usually is at Holiday Inn. The breakfast bar was much like the standard Holiday Inn one, but cost an extra $15. The hotel restaurant was okay. I ordered a burger and fries from the evening menu, and those were good.

The river view was lovely with a hot coffee, and I even filmed the barges while having breakfast. The hotel itself was a pleasant surprise, with playful decorations like the egg wall and silver trees. We came to see a show at the Bluegrass Hall of Fame and museum and booked because breakfast and an overnight stay suited our plans. I piled my plate with good food, including French Toast, and Kaitlyn checked in while I sipped coffee and ate. She asked if everything was delicious and whether I wanted more coffee, and both answers were yes. It's a treat to get away, and even nicer when someone helps make it feel that way. We'll be back. Thanks, Kaitlyn and Holiday Inn Owensboro!

I tried several times to reach the front desk about the problems, but couldn't get anyone. There was no help or response when I needed it. The shower was also nearly impossible to use comfortably, with the water swinging between icy cold and scalding hot. The room was filthy and clearly hadn't been cleaned properly. There were visible blood stains on the pillows, some pillows had no cases, and the blanket looked like it had been left by the previous guest. That was disgusting and unacceptable. This fell short of IHG's cleanliness promise and basic hospitality. I expected much better and wouldn't recommend staying here.