Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown by IHG

Chavonne at the front desk was kind and incredibly helpful. Housekeeping was just as impressive. Our room stayed very clean, and I kept seeing the staff mop the lobby and wipe down the elevator doors. I've never seen a cleaning crew work so hard. The hotel was very convenient for getting around, and town felt safe and walkable, though it was so cold. Uber came in handy to keep warm while moving around SLC in winter. Breakfast had a great variety and was really good, and there's an on-site restaurant if you don't want to go out in the cold. The pool and hot tub were very warm. The sauna was closed.

The beds were the worst part for me. They felt like the cheapest mattresses available, maybe $30 at Walmart. I woke up several times with numb shoulders and a sore back. A hotel bed matters, and these were a complete failure. The room setup was cheap too, with just one bedside table between two beds, as if only one person would need to charge a phone. Breakfast was shockingly poor for a chain that usually makes it a highlight: burnt eggs and toast, and nothing else. Service was nearly nonexistent. I called at 8:30 PM to ask for a comforter for my kids. It finally arrived at 10:15, but it was a bed pad, not a comforter. At a half-empty hotel, why did it take almost two hours to bring the wrong thing? I'm a loyal Holiday Inn Express guest, which made this especially disappointing. This location cuts corners in ways that undermine the guest experience and trades on the brand name without delivering what makes it reliable. Choose another hotel.

For what I paid, this felt like a $100-a-night hotel at best. I spent $1400 for three nights while attending a nearby conference, and got a very old, basic place with negligent housekeeping. The blackout shades had gaps and holes at the sides, so light came in early in the morning. There was a bed, and not much else. My room wasn't cleaned on the first day. I thought maybe housekeeping missed it because I'd left around 1:00 pm. The next morning, I asked the housekeeper outside my room to clean it while I went out. She said no and walked away. Maybe she hadn't understood, so I told reception the room hadn't been cleaned the day before and asked them to have it done. They asked whether I had a do not disturb sign up. I didn't. Five hours later, nothing had been done, the trash and wet towels were piling up, and I was told housekeeping had already left for the day. That's unacceptable. Even at a fraction of the price, I'd at least expect the trash to be taken after asking two different people. Look elsewhere.

After touring the five national parks, I wanted a day and a half in the city, and chose this hotel for its airport proximity. We were picked up and dropped off at the hotel for a city tour, and found lots of restaurants and stores nearby. The staff were super friendly. The room was clean and comfortable, and the breakfast was nicely stocked. We didn't eat at the attached restaurant, though some people we asked approved of it. Parking costs extra, but was very convenient. We loved the view from the sixth floor. For a downtown stay, the price was decent. I'd recommend it.