Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Ft. Lauderdale-Plantation by IHG

The room was very tight for a wheelchair, and I wasn't happy with the stay. The online pictures make it look bright and light, but it was more gray and dark. We had reserved a handicap room with a roll-in shower, and I don't see how it can be ADA approved. There isn't enough turning room by the refrigerator without hitting a wall, and a slight rise at the entrance makes it hard to move over the carpet. The regular sink doesn't allow a wheelchair to get close. My husband is a double amputee. From the shower chair on the wall, he couldn't reach the shampoo or soap. I had to adjust the shower head so the water would reach him, and someone in a wheelchair couldn't move the water spout. The room wasn't clean either. I found a fake eyelash in the bathroom, then later noticed hair on the wall and shower seat. I wiped dirt marks off the floor, found little bits of paper that showed it hadn't been vacuumed, and later found hair on the bed that wasn't ours. When my husband called the front desk to complain, the phone cord fell out because the plug was broken. Breakfast was OK, but make sure you're there before 0900. At 0900, a man shut the breakfast-room entrance door, as if to say get your food because the room would close at 0930.

Simone made a great first impression when I walked in, greeting me right away and offering to help or point me in the right direction if I needed anything. I asked if a room upgrade might be possible. She checked and found me a great room, which was a lovely surprise. The front desk sets the tone for a hotel stay and says a lot about its management. I wanted to recognize Simone as a gracious, pleasant representative for Holiday Inn. Good people on a team deserve recognition, especially these days. Thank you.

The pool at the Holiday Inn Express at Plantation was clean and fire, the rooms were alright, and the continental breakfast seemed free, though I haven't tried it yet. But Frederica was what made this stay noteworthy. My friend and I came for a tournament at Seminole Hard Rock, and at 2am we had nowhere to sleep. She gave us a better rate than advertised and was incredibly chill and helpful. It's been a rough poker trip, but the humanity in our brief interactions felt sublime. My first IHG experience was earlier this year at Cherry Hill, NJ. I booked a room, was charged, and drove an hour, only to be told there were no rooms. After driving home at midnight, I called the next morning and was told I shouldn't have been told that, since rooms were available. All I got was an apology. Frederica is the only thing redeeming my IHG experiences. Without that last-second desperation, I might never have met her. I really hope this review helps her in some way.

My husband and I stayed here every week for 12 weeks while I worked at nearby Jersey College, and we'd love to come back to this family atmosphere. The managers, especially Simone, Sandra, Sharmain, and Kenny, did a wonderful job taking care of our needs. The clean, beautiful Holiday Inn Express is well placed for entertainment and lots of different food, with Fort Lauderdale beach about 30 minutes away. We had a blast! Breakfast was excellent: mini cheese omelettes, breads, muffins, cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, and oatmeal. There's also an outdoor pool and a workout room.