Holiday Inn San Antonio N - Stone Oak Area by IHG

Aria at the front desk made me feel welcome from the moment I arrived. She was friendly and personable, and the whole team seemed to care about making the stay enjoyable from check-in through checkout. Even the manager was great. I stay at Holiday Inns four days a week, every week, and this one really stands out. The rooms are clean and up to date, with very comfortable beds and a big TV. I’ll definitely return whenever I’m in San Antonio. Five stars all the way.

The breakfast mix-up was frustrating. We paid extra when booking so breakfast would be included for all our days, and at check-in that night I asked the woman at the desk to confirm. She said it was included. The next morning, though, another employee said breakfast was available and then tried to charge us. When I explained what I’d paid and what the night clerk had confirmed, she checked and said we did have it included. Even so, we didn’t get breakfast once during our stay and ended up ordering DoorDash. It was embarrassing to be told we had to pay when we’d already paid extra for breakfast in our booking. We had the money to pay, but that wasn’t the point. Also, there’s a daycare beside the hotel, so it may not suit you if you dislike hearing kids yell.

The room was very clean, but this place was just so-so. The low-flush toilets don’t work efficiently and seem wasteful. The kitchen always looked blocked off and unwelcoming, the bar wasn’t open in the evening, and I couldn’t get a Bloody Mary in the morning. There was a small leak under the bathroom sink, and I saw a water bug.

The location is handy for the north side, and it’s tucked away enough that I didn’t have to worry about “bato's” breaking into my vehicle. For the price, it’s a nice place to stay, and I’ll come back to update this after the renovation is finished. A lot of work is going on, which makes parts of the stay less enjoyable. The new bed and linens were amazing, and the bathroom renovation looked fresh, though soap dispensers were missing by both the sink and shower, so they provided small soaps and shampoos. The old refrigerator couldn’t keep a drink cold. The new TV remote is a struggle to figure out, but once you get it, it’s great. Breakfast was the part that bothered me most. It cost $12.95, if I remember right. The kitchen and wait staff were really friendly and made the experience worthwhile, but the food was just okay. I think I’ve had the same thing free, included in the nightly rate, at another hotel brand.