Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Charleston West by IHG

The indoor pool area was a hit with the kids. It had a fountain arc you could switch on and off with a timer, plus a hot tub with an easy view of the rest of the pool. Tables and chairs were set around the pool. Staff were polite, friendly, and helpful. Our room was spacious, clean, and nicely laid out, and the breakfast bar had a good selection. It was a very nice hotel. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture.

The hotel is dark, dirty, old, and smelly, and the chemical plants outside smell terrible. The parking lot is dark too, and trains ran loudly through the night. We paid $170 for what felt like a low-budget room. The website photos are completely misleading, and the room smelled bad. This was an overpriced IHG location, and I have no idea how it gets its ratings. We chose to break up our trip home with a night in Charleston, WV, after reading reviews and looking at the website. We’re long-standing IHG members and Holiday Inn Club Vacation members, and this wasn’t the standard we expected for $170 a night. The area felt so unsafe that we didn’t trust leaving our luggage on the carrier. I wish we’d canceled and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express a few miles away, which we first drove to by mistake. It looked clean, bright, and fresh. We were told we had the wrong Holiday Inn, and that’s how we ended up here. I would have driven another hour to feel safe, breathe clean air, and sleep comfortably. What a terrible end to our vacation. We paid extra when booking online to include breakfast, but at check-in were told kids over 11 weren’t included. We were also told breakfast costs $13.99 per person if you don’t select the breakfast-included option. The buffet was like the standard free breakfast at any Holiday Inn Express. There were signs warning of construction noise. The elevator was being used by staff for service runs meant for guests. The photos online are stylized. Our door’s security latch didn’t latch, and although the room was for four, there were only three towels. Ridiculous. I expect someone to reach out and address this.

The decor looked a little dated, but that wasn’t a big deal. We felt well taken care of and would stay again. Staff were wonderful, friendly, and helpful. The beds and pillows were very comfortable, the room had a big TV, and the pool was open and clean. The hot tub was large and hot. We didn’t eat or drink here, so I can’t comment on that.

It wasn’t bad, but the place really needs updating. The rooms weren’t much different from other hotels, and the blanket pattern made me think of a tuxedo shirt. The restaurant needs a complete makeover. I ordered a steak that tasted fantastic, but it was so tough I couldn’t cut it. Still, I loved it.