Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Sidney by IHG

I drove nearly halfway across a continent to spread my mother's ashes, and dealing with this hotel was worse than dealing with her death. I got no help or answers, just what felt like malicious incompetence. I couldn't get anyone to answer my calls until I blocked my number, and then they stalled until I came in person. The shower in our booked room didn't work, and the desk seemed to know its diverter was faulty. They offered to let me shower in another room, but not to move us. After I complained again, they switched us into an occupied room where someone was using the toilet. I'm sure we scared that poor person. Back in our original room, our key cards had already been shut off, so we couldn't have moved anyway. The desk clerk said she'd just returned after a week away and didn't know how someone was in the room she'd rebooked us into. When I asked if there were squatters if she was booking open rooms that way, she said she didn't know. She initially had the wrong name for our room, then said she was looking at the arrival list instead of the right list. I was booked for multiple nights, so it seemed they may have double-booked the room I was meant to occupy too. The pool is under construction, and based on the reviews, I wouldn't count on it ever reopening. Avoid this place. There are better options.

The room was clean, but the lobby bathrooms clearly hadn't been cleaned in a long time. The men's toilet was clogged, and the women's room was disgusting. At 7 p.m. nobody came to the front desk when we rang the bell or called. They acted like they couldn't hear us, and leaving a number was no use if the phone couldn't be heard from there. The pool appears to have been broken for months, despite being described as temporarily closed. Green water in the main pool had reportedly been there for over six months. We came specifically so the kids could swim, and their hopes were crushed. If a pool matters for your kids, stay elsewhere. The convenience shop was nearly empty of drinks and snacks. In Room 314, the bed nearest the door had a collapsed box spring that left your back in an uncomfortable U shape. The bed by the windows was fine, but we only found that out after a terrible night. The shower squealed loudly throughout every shower. We didn't notice the bad water smell another reviewer mentioned. The hotel was okay, and the price wasn't terrible, but it felt too expensive for such an outdated place, especially with a pool that may never be fixed. Rooms are clean, and if you stay in 314, maybe the bed won't be broken.

One of my worst motel stays in a long time. Both beds in the room were stained with blood and urine, and the rooms were disgusting. The AC and refrigerator didn't work either. I booked because my kids wanted the pool, but it was closed, and there was no refund or discount. Customer service was horrible on top of all that.

Breakfast was nice, and every employee I met was kind to me and my children. The pool being closed was the main reason this didn't get five stars. I booked based on the listing saying there was a pool, paid double what I could have elsewhere, and still couldn't take the kids swimming. No website mentioned renovations. Also, the elevator seemed to be the only way in or out because the doors were blocked off. That seemed alarming, and I'd imagine it could be a fire hazard.