Holiday Inn Express & Suites Zapata by IHG

I left my earrings in the room, but the manager found them and mailed them to Minnesota by priority post, paying the postage herself. The customer service was excellent, and it’s a great place to stay.

Room service never came and I had to ask each day for fresh towels. At breakfast, some items were missing every day, even when we arrived 45 minutes before it ended. The room was supposed to have water, but I couldn’t find any. When I tried to buy some, they couldn’t locate the card I’d provided for incidentals, so I couldn’t charge it to the room. Check-in was a mess too: I’d called the day before to add a night and was told it was done, but the desk couldn’t find the booking. It took 45 minutes and my confirmation number before they found it, though it had been there the whole time. This is the worst Holliday in I’ve ever stayed at.

It’s a smaller place, but the hotel was clean and well kept, with quiet nights and a nice breakfast. The front desk staff were friendly and accommodating, and I liked being able to park close and get help without waiting. Probably the nicest hotel you’ll find in Zapata.

Zapata is a lovely town, with great food and people. Some of the best tacos I’ve had were at the Stripe’s gas station down the street, so do yourself a favor and grab some. I was a woman traveling alone and felt safe throughout my stay. The hotel kept the parking lot well lit, which helped, especially given the location near the border. The whole property is maintained well, though it could use a facelift. My suite was spacious, and I appreciated the easy check-in with a sweet woman at the desk. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and the sheets clean. The AC was tolerable, but I wanted it cooler in the Texas heat. It stayed around 78 during the day and dropped to 75 at night. The towels were very scratchy and probably need replacing, and the carpet looked like it had seen some rough things. It’s a small town right by the Texas-Mexico border, so set your expectations accordingly.