Holiday Inn Express Vernal-Dinosaurland by IHG

I’ve been an IHG rewards member for decades and have usually managed to get a late checkout when I needed one, including at hotels around the world. Here, the desk wouldn’t even discuss it and just said, “We can’t do that.” That was strange and disappointing. For a typical three-star place, you get what you pay for. The bed was okay, though nothing special. The room seemed mostly clean, but there were a few dog hairs on the floor and it smelled like a dog had been staying there. Breakfast was decent, but Holiday Inn could offer more gluten-free and dairy-free choices. At least one cereal could easily be GF, such as Cheerios, Chex, Pebbles, or something similar.

We couldn’t use the pool at all during our four-day stay because it was being renovated. From other reviews, it sounds like the work has been going on a long time, yet I didn’t see anyone working on it. Breakfast was horrible for us too. There were no accommodations for diabetics or people who are lactose intolerant. Other Holiday Inn locations have had sugar-free syrup, oat milk, and fresh oatmeal. Here, you had to make the oatmeal yourself, and it wasn’t good. I’ve been impressed by other Holiday Inn locations that meet those needs, so I’m very disappointed with this one.

We only stayed one night, and they let us check out later when we asked. The continental breakfast was decent, with at least a turkey sausage choice. The hotel was very clean and the staff were really helpful.

JR and the staff make this a great place to stay. It’s clean, in great shape after a recent remodel, and the breakfast is fantastic. They even keep cookies out during the day. I’m here for work whenever I’m in Vernal, and it’s become my home away from home. Every stay has been consistently good, and I’m already looking forward to coming back.