Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Port Charlotte

The bed was cozy and comfortable, and both the breakfast attendant and the front desk representative were kind. The woman at breakfast was especially delightful, always helping people understand the food and what was available. Breakfast itself was nothing fancy. Our room wasn’t presentable when we got it. The bed had no headboard, and I didn’t like having my head against the wall. Cleaning could have been better, too: there was hair in the tub, and the floor hadn’t been swept or vacuumed. My wife and I were exhausted from losing our home to Hurricane Milton, so we didn’t have the energy to go downstairs and change rooms. We stayed in that room. It would have been nice to have it properly cleaned without someone else’s hair in the bathtub. The front desk person was understanding, and with a few simple things addressed, I’d definitely come back if I needed a room.

We came for a weekend basketball tournament with a group, including kids, and Chris and his staff made things easy. They were friendly and accommodated us without a fuss. The rooms were clean, and breakfast was better than what I’ve had at most hotels. For a two-star hotel, it exceeded my expectations. I’d recommend it if you need a clean place for a group trip.

The room had blackout curtains, which made sleeping in much easier, and I liked the modern style throughout the hotel. It was also very clean. The bed was incredibly soft, from the mattress to the pillows and comforter. I like soft beds, and these felt like they hugged me. I enjoyed the free breakfast: light apple juice, pork sausage links and patties, an orange, and blueberry Chobani yogurt. There was some chipped paint on our door, and the tub had rusty marks near the drain where the enamel was scraped. The door unlocking process takes longer than usual, so ask the staff to show you how at check-in. I’d definitely stay here again.

The bed was comfortable, but strangely high, about three feet off the floor because of the frame and box spring. I needed the ottoman to get in and out. The pool was in bad shape, with tiles broken or missing. Renovations made the hotel feel untidy, and the lobby wasn’t inviting. Our room seemed to have poor quality materials. The tile work was messy, with dried grout all over the floor that made it look dirty, and more grout had dried onto the porcelain of the new toilet. The toilet already needed repair because it kept running after a flush. The carpet looked dingy, and the wall-mounted air conditioner beside the bed was noisy. Newer hotels have central air.