Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta N-Perimeter Mall Area by IHG

We had a great stay for a price much lower than comparable places, and the staff were friendly and accommodating. There’s a park within walking distance, too. The room had a few minor cosmetic flaws, and I wish breakfast on weekends started before 7:00. Still, it was a winner.

This is my 12th stay here as a traveling nurse on assignment at a hospital minutes away, and the convenience to local places has always mattered to me. I’ve had several rooms. Floor 8 was disappointing, with a glitchy thermostat and water stains on the wall and ceiling. Sometimes I’ve been lucky enough to get one of the newer rooms with glass enclosed sliders. When I can make it to breakfast, I find it satisfying and varied, but the hours don’t start early enough. Ground basement parking used to be one of my favorite features, and I felt safe until this last week. Non-guests approached me in the garage asking for money, and after delivery, someone took my meal from the front desk. I raised the safety concerns with two employees. They agreed it was going downhill, said the manager would review the cameras and get in touch the next day, but nobody contacted me. I know the hotel can’t control unethical behavior, but if staff say the area is unsafe, that needs attention. My last room, 306, also had tiny reddish bugs across all the counter surfaces. And one of the early morning guys is always asleep with his head on the counter. I’ve left my cards there many times and he never wakes up. I’m coming back to finish my hospital contract, but booked seven days at the hilton garden inn instead. It was about 86.00 less than this place.

The property has serious safety, maintenance, and cleanliness problems. Every exterior door was unlocked or propped open on all but my last night. The deadbolt stuck so badly I had to fight to open my room door. A draft blew through the bathroom door strike plate, which someone had stuffed with tissues. The AC didn’t work because the thermostat had a blank screen and was hanging off the wall. I reported it on the morning of my second night, after arriving too late the first night to do anything but sleep. Nobody fixed it, and I had no heat for four days. At checkout I mentioned they should address it before another guest got that room. The agent thanked me and asked for a review. The air vents were rusty and clogged with dust. The room seemed cleaned, but smelled stale, possibly because the AC wasn’t circulating air. There was hair in the tub, dried blood spatter on the wall by the bathroom sink, dust on the headboard and lampshades, and a huge carpet stain by the entrance. I bought Clorox wipes and cleaned everything the morning after I arrived. The 8th floor ice machine was especially disturbing. It looked 15-20 years old, and the grate was so filthy it looked like fecal matter was smeared and stuck to it. If it was that bad outside, I’d bet the filters and inside weren’t maintained either. I told someone at the front desk, who said they’d take care of it. I suspect the same person they sent to fix my AC was sent to clean the machine. As a fellow hotelier attending a conference, with more than 30 years in hospitality, I was deeply disappointed. Many of these issues need attention from upper management and ownership, since they point to neglect of the building and go beyond what line staff can fix. I’ve read the reviews and the copy-paste replies claiming the property meets brand standards for preventive maintenance, deep cleaning, and QA. Walking around, I saw several automatic failures. A hotel full of general managers from other properties agreed that the place needs serious help. It won’t be long before a guest calls the local health department about the safety and sanitation issues. Do better, management and ownership.

The rooms were spacious and clean, and I thought the hotel was great. Breakfast really stood out: it was delicious, with fresh, hot food and a lovely way to start the day. Nadia was in charge when we ate, and when I asked for more eggs and potatoes, she kindly made sure they were prepared and let me know when they were ready. Her hospitality made breakfast even better. Everyone working there was kind and eager to help. This was easily one of the best hotels I’ve stayed at in the Atlanta area. Thank you, Holiday Inn and Nadia. 10/10!