Elyria's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the… well, not exactly luxurious world of the Holiday Inn Express in Elyria, Ohio. But hey, it's Elyria's BEST Hotel? according to somebody, and honestly? After my stay, I'm inclined to agree… mostly. Let's get messy, real, and figure out if this place is worth your hard-earned dough.
First, Accessibility. Okay, good news: it is there. They've got the ramps, the elevators, the whole shebang. I didn't personally need them, but I saw folks cruising around with ease, which is always a win. Now, the wheelchair accessible restaurants… well, there aren't any on-site, so you're out and need to venture into the outside world.
Internet! Oh, the Internet. This is crucial, people. We live in the digital age. And the Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!? Yes! Hallelujah! It worked, it was relatively fast, and I didn't have to wrestle a password out of some surly front desk employee (though I did see one giving someone a VERY side-eye about their phone use, which was entertaining). The Internet [LAN]? I didn't even check, honestly. Who needs a wired connection when you've got glorious, unfettered Wi-Fi? Although for the Wi-Fi in public areas… it could be iffy at peak hours, but hey, you’re there to relax, right?
Things to Do/Ways to Relax: This is where things get a little… well, Elyria. There's a Fitness center, which I, a self-proclaimed expert at avoiding exercise, managed to sidestep. I peeked in – it had treadmills, some weights, the usual suspects. No pool with a view, no sauna, no majestic spa. Let's be real: this isn't a resort. This is a place to crash after a long day of, uh, being in Elyria. They do not have a Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Steamroom, or a Spa/sauna. I am not sure if the pool is in operation at the time of my stay.
Cleanliness and Safety: Okay, this is where the Holiday Inn Express really shines. They're taking this seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products are in use. The room felt genuinely clean, which, let's be honest, is a HUGE relief in these times. They have Hand sanitizer stations everywhere, and the staff seemed genuinely committed to making sure everything was sparkling. They feature Rooms sanitized between stays, yay. I actually watched a housekeeper meticulously wipe down every surface – I’ve never seen anything so thorough! Also, Staff trained in safety protocol – check. Hot water linen and laundry washing – I can attest to the fact that the linen felt clean, so I assume so. They had all the usual suspects for Safety/security feature, including Smoke alarms and Exterior corridor.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Okay, breakfast. The bread and butter of any Holiday Inn Express. The dreaded Breakfast [buffet]! But you know what? This one was actually decent. They had the usual: waffles, scrambled eggs (the rubbery kind, but hey, it's breakfast!), some sad-looking sausage, and a surprisingly good selection of pastries. Coffee/tea in restaurant. I'm not sure if the coffee came in my room or in the lobby, but it was available. They do not have Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Happy hour, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, or Western cuisine in restaurant. Please note that they also do not offer Bottle of water The Breakfast takeaway service is available, which is a nice touch for those on the go.
Services and Conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, check. Elevator, absolutely. Daily housekeeping, my room was always squeaky clean. The Concierge was helpful. Cash withdrawal from the front desk, which is convenient. They offer Laundry service. They have an Ironing service. They have an On-site event hosting. They offer Invoice provided. They have a Gift/souvenir shop.
For the Kids: They have Family/child friendly – meaning, you can bring your kids. Babysitting service is not available. They don't offer Kids meal.
Available in All Rooms: Now we're talking. Air conditioning? Yep, blasted it. Alarm clock? Sure, if you want to get up. Bathroom phone? Nope. Bathrobes? Not a chance. Bathtub? In my room, yes. Blackout curtains? Glorious, sleep-inducing blackout curtains, yes. Coffee/tea maker? You betcha. Complimentary tea? Yeah, some random tea bags. Daily housekeeping? Yes. Desk? Yes. Extra long bed? Thank goodness, I'm 6'2". Hair dryer? Yep. In-room safe box? I think so. Internet access – wireless? Yes. Ironing facilities? Yes. Laptop workspace? Yes. Linens? Clean and comfy. Mini bar? No. Non-smoking? Absolutely. Private bathroom? Yes. Reading light? Yes. Refrigerator? Nope. Satellite/cable channels? All day, every day. Seating area? A small one. Separate shower/bathtub? Yes. Shower? Yes. Slippers? No. Smoke detector? Yes. Socket near the bed? Yes. Sofa? No. Soundproofing? Decent. Telephone? Yes. Toiletries? Basic, but they get the job done. Towels? Fluffy enough. Umbrella? No. Wake-up service? Yes. Wi-Fi [free]? YES! Window that opens? No.
Getting Around: They have Car park [free of charge]. They do have Taxi service.
Now for the Messy Bits…
Okay, so I’m walking in, and the first thing I see is a woman in a puffy vest frantically trying to figure out the coffee machine. I swear, the look on her face… utter bewilderment. I watched her for a good two minutes, just silently judging her caffeine-deprived struggle. (Okay, maybe I was the one who was caffeinated). It was a real-life comedy scene, the kind you see in the movies. But then the front desk guy, bless his heart, swooped in and saved the day. He fixed the machine, and all was right with the world. It shows that the staff is friendly.
And the pool? Well, I think there was a pool. It was definitely mentioned in the brochures. I didn't see it, but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. It’s more of a maybe situation. My attention span, however, is that of your common housecat.
Quirky Observations or Emotional Reactions:
The room itself was clean, which, again, a HUGE plus. But let's be honest, it wasn't exactly… stylish. The décor screamed "Midwestern Comfort," with its muted tones, generic art, and the faint smell of cleaning products. Think "beige on beige with a splash of beige." But hey, it was comfortable, and that's what matters.
The Big Question: Is it Worth It?
Here's the brutally honest truth: This isn't a five-star resort. It's a comfortable, clean, and convenient place to stay in Elyria. If you're in town for business, a family visit, or just passing through, the Holiday Inn Express is a solid choice. It's not glamorous, but it's reliable.
Here's My Persuasive Offer (and Why You Should Book Now!):
Elyria Bound? Stop Googling! Book the Holiday Inn Express and Get:
- Guaranteed Cleanliness: Tired of wondering if your hotel room is truly clean? We’re obsessively sanitizing every surface!
- Free, Fast Wi-Fi: Stay connected with blazing fast internet to work or stream your shows.
- A Surprisingly Decent Breakfast: Fuel your adventures in Elyria with waffles, eggs, and more!
- Convenience: Everything you need is right here!
- Reliable Comfort: Clean and well-maintained rooms mean a good night's sleep.
BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!
For the first 25 Bookings, we're throwing in a complimentary upgrade to a room with a bathtub and a bathtub for you to take a bath in!
Click here to book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Elyria, Ohio… before someone else does!
Important Disclaimer: *I'm just a guy who stayed there. The pool may or
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to embark on a very unfiltered Elyria, Ohio, adventure, courtesy of yours truly. And yes, we're sticking with the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Because…well, it's a damn good starting point, alright?
Day 1: Arrival & the "Oh, Sweet Lord, I Need Coffee" Situation
3:00 PM - The Great Arrival & Check-In: Okay, so I'm flying in. Let's be honest, flying is basically just a metal tube of screaming babies and recycled air. And the Elyria airport? Probably non-existent. So, road trip it is! Four hours of questionable gas station coffee and the existential dread of knowing I'm about to spend a few days in… Elyria. (No offense, Elyria! You're just… Elyria.) Finding the hotel wasn't the issue. The GPS, shockingly, was correct. The real test? The check-in line. It was a slow-moving conga line of weary travelers. Took me an hour just to get to the friendly desk worker. I am not a patient individual.
4:00 PM - Room Recon & Initial Panic: "Oh, this is nice," I thought. Standard hotel room. Two double beds, a desk, a TV that hasn't been updated since the 'oughts, and a microwave. Excellent. Then, the first wave of, "Am I going to be bored?" washed over me. Remember that feeling? Classic.
4:30 PM - Coffee Crisis: Okay, this is a big one. I needed coffee. Immediately. The in-room coffee maker looked like it hadn't been cleaned since the Eisenhower administration. Abandoned the thought.
5:00 PM - Exploratory Mission (The Hotel Perimeter): Time to find coffee. And food. The hotel pool looked underwhelming. Seriously, I didn't even bother. So, I ventured out. The neighborhood was… well, it was a neighborhood. A quiet, suburban neighborhood. Found a gas station. Coffee acquired. Relief washed over me. I also grabbed a bag of chips. The adventure begins.
6:00 PM - Restaurant Roulette: Elyria, you tricky little devil. Finding a decent dinner spot was like searching for a unicorn. After an hour of scrolling Google reviews (always a mistake), I landed on a place that claimed "the best burgers in town." Let's just say, it wasn’t in the top ten burgers I've ever tasted… but it filled the void of hunger.
7:30 PM - Back to Base & TV Time: Back in the room. Flipping through channels. They had a surprisingly decent movie selection (but I had no idea what I wanted to see). Eventually, settled on a documentary about squirrels. Don't judge me.
9:00 PM - The Bed Test: The bed was…fine. Not the cloud-like perfection I crave, but it would do the job. Started planning my next day's adventures.
Day 2: The Deep Dive (and the Deep Fried)
7:00 AM - The Breakfast Tango: The complimentary breakfast. Ah, the siren song of lukewarm eggs and questionable sausage. I'll be honest, I kind of loved the fact that I could load up on carbs. It was a circus of lukewarm eggs and rubbery sausage. I am not made for breakfast. I had a waffle. It was crispy. That made it worth it. I went back for seconds. No regrets.
9:00 AM - Destination: Lake Erie! (or Sort Of, The Shores of Lake Erie): Okay, full disclosure: I drove a little further than I thought. This wasn't just a trip into Elyria, but it was also a road trip into the Lake Erie shore. The lake was so vast that it almost felt like being at the ocean. The weather wasn't amazing but it was a very cool feeling being so close to the lake. I walked down to the beach, picked up some rocks just to feel the sand on my hands. It was really nice. It really was.
12:00 PM - Lunch, Location TBD: I'd heard whispers of the local dive bars. The best bet, I figured. Found a place with cheap beer and even cheaper burgers. The kind of place where the grease stains on the menu seemed like part of the decor. The burger was edible. The beer was cold. Mission accomplished.
2:00 PM - The Elyria Arts Scene (or My Attempt At It): Elyria has an art museum, I am told. Not the biggest or most famous. But I went, and really… It was charming. I saw paintings, sculptures, and a couple of things I'm pretty sure I didn't understand. But hey, at least I tried, right?
4:00 PM - Back to the Hotel & The Great Nap: All that Art drained me. I did. So I took a nap. Maybe I should've been doing more productive things but again I am not much for action.
6:00 PM - Dinner Redemption: Okay, that first burger wasn't great. Determined to find a seriously delicious meal, I found a nice Mexican restaurant. The tacos? Amazing. The margaritas? Even better. I went to bed happy.
8:00 PM - Pool (Take 2): I tried the pool. The water was freezing. I lasted about five minutes. This was not my element.
Day 3: The Goodbye & the "Maybe Elyria Isn't So Bad After All"
7:00 AM - Breakfast Redux: Back to the breakfast bar. A bit of a repeat, but this time I focused on the pastries. I think I found the most delicious ones.
9:00 AM - Final Explorations: I had to depart the hotel and headed out. Found the coolest brewery. (That was my opinion). Went for a coffee. Went for a walk.
11:00 AM - Check-Out & The Great Escape: Check-out was painless. Said goodbye to the desk workers. Time to head home.
12:00 PM - Farewell, Elyria!: The trip was the perfect mix of boring and amazing. I realized that Elyria, Ohio, wasn't the worst place on Earth. It was kind of… endearing. It was a good trip.
Final Thoughts:
Would I go back to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Elyria? Probably. It was clean, it was convenient, and it's a safe place to start, for a trip to who-knows-where. Would I go back to Elyria? Well… maybe. It depends on the tacos, honestly. But hey, at least I can tell you, I've been! And that, folks, is what matters. Until the next adventure!
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Alright, Spill the Beans: Is the Holiday Inn Express in Elyria REALLY that good? (Or am I about to regret this?)
My takeaway? It's not the Ritz. But compared to the competition (which, let's be honest, isn't exactly the Four Seasons), it's a damn sight better.
The Breakfast: Is it truly the "Express" version of sadness? Dish the deets!
My Quirky Observation: I saw a kid try to butter a bagel with a butter knife – a Herculean effort that ended with the bagel remaining stubbornly un-buttered. It was a metaphor for something, I'm sure. Probably my life.
Important Note: The coffee was surprisingly decent. Needed it to survive those family reunion mornings.
The Rooms: Clean and Comfy or Dust Bunny City?
The Real Deal: It’s a solid, no-frills room that does its job. No complaints from me.
The Staff: Are they saints in disguise, or are they secretly judging our life choices?
Emotional Reaction: Honestly, the staff made the whole experience much more bearable. Thank you, Holiday Inn Express Elyria staff, you are unsung heroes.
Location, Location, Location: What's *actually* nearby? And is it worth leaving the hotel for?
Quirky Observation: I spent an embarrassing amount of time wandering around the Walmart, just trying to pass the time. The people-watching was…interesting.
Is it worth leaving? Honestly? If you *need* to, sure. But don't expect to be blown away by the local attractions. Maybe invest in a good book.
De-Brief: Would you go back? Would you recommend it to your (slightly traumatized) friends?
Final Thought: The Holiday Inn Express in Elyria is a solid, reliable choice. It's not going to change your life, but it will provide a decent place to sleep and a warm shower. And sometimes, that's all you need.
