Horror Show
I stayed last Thursday night at the Holiday Inn Express on 5th Avenue.
When I checked in the desk clerk said, “I’m sorry, but the only room we have is on the 1st floor.” I didn’t think anything of it but it should have been a red flag. I went to the room and it was only a few feet off the lobby and right next to the elevator.
The room had a very musty smell and the carpet was wet in areas. In addition, the staff was using a very, very loud floor cleaner in the lobby only a few feet away. There was no way that anyone could sleep in that room.
When I went to the desk to get help, I was told there were no more rooms available and I would have to stay in that room.
They sent the maintenance person who told me that the manager had had him change the shower curtain that day and the musty smell would eventually go away. He sprayed some stuff around to mask the smell.
The lobby noise continued unabated until nearly 2 am and then picked up again at 6 am as the lobby began to fill with guests.
I got about 3 hours of sleep, had an allergic reaction and bad headache from the mold.
In the morning I asked to speak to the manager who didn’t arrive until nine. The morning desk clerk acknowledged that this room is a continuing source of trouble and promised me a call back.
At 10:30 I called the manager who basically took a tough luck, that’s a room that we rent approach with me and offered me minor compensation. After an unpleasant argument she agreed to comping the night.
The bottom line is that this is NOT a room that this hotel chain should be putting customers in. Never, not at all.
Based on this experience I will not return to the 5th avenue location and I’m going to generally avoid the Holiday Inn Express chain.
If their quality reviews allow such a room to be rented, I don’t feel I can trust you to provide me with a minimally acceptable experience.
I’m a frequent traveller. Holiday Inn Express is now the horror story I’ll be telling my fellow travellers over evening beers.