Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Rapid City by IHG

Housekeeping and the breakfast staff were solid, though one morning I spotted hairs in the gravy. The front desk staff were pleasant, but I wish the guy there had been more lenient about water bottles. I know a free bottle isn’t an official benefit, but I would have appreciated one instead of paying $2. I stayed in a double queen room. It was okay, with a nice faux-marble shower, but the carpet looked old and tired. I like that Holiday Inn offers firm and soft pillow options. There’s no microwave in the room, though some are available in the lobby common area. The hotel is in the northeast part of Rapid City.

Fine for an overnight stop if you can put up with it, but I wouldn’t stay here long. The place and rooms need renovation. My room seemed clean, though there was a smell that made me feel like I needed to Lysol everything. The AC didn’t work right, the old TV couldn’t get online or run Netflix, and there was no microwave.

A heads-up for anyone sensitive to chemicals or fragrances: they spray the rooms heavily after cleaning. The smell was so strong it triggered an asthma attack. Staff did help me find a room that hadn’t been used in the previous 24 hours.

We all stayed safe, and that’s what mattered most. It cost a lot, but the extra price felt worth it. Breakfast was superior, and the exercise equipment and internet both worked, so I got plenty of work done. Some businesses nearby have closed, but the location is still great. Downtown is about an hour’s walk away.