Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bessemer - Birmingham SW by IHG — Hotel in Bessemer

First, let me state my stay was exceptional during my past visit. However, it was a bit different because I didn’t seem as if I was greeted warmly. It was a long day of driving and we had come home to visit. I was in comfy clothes at around 9-10p.m. so maybe my attire -sweat pants and sweat jacket- was too comfortable for the establishment. I do find that last statement very hard to believe since it’s the Holiday Inn (no offense to the establishment). We normally stay only around 10 hours during the week since we are traveling back and forth with my husband’s job. Either way the response received was not satisfactory.

I approached and accidentally asked, if I could retrieve the pickup. I laughed embarrassingly, apologized. I then went on to correct myself and give her my information for my room. My welcome was not the best but just maybe they were both having a bad day, based on an assumption of innocence. I will say that the individual who pulled my reservations for me was in training and her constant lack of (by know fault of her own) made her more accepting and friendly to my minor hiccup. This could all be looked at as a bit over rated on my part but her making me feel uncomfortable was not a part of her duty. As a front desk worker my first impression comes from that individual’s greeting. I have returned to locations of lesser value due to having received great customer service. Oh, and I have yet to be welcomed as a rewards...

The hotel is beautiful! Housekeeping was very very sweet. Breakfast was mediocre. The pool was pretty but too cold & unbearable for my kids to swim. When asked to turn up the pool , for some odd reason , it kept getting back to freezing temperatures. But on the website , it promotes a heated pool which was my whole purpose of booking it. I got stuck on an elevator with my mom , my sister , & my niece for a hour. The staff claimed that has never happened before so no one really knew what to do. Their keys didn't work. My mom had to call 911. The firefighters & the police were called. But they couldn't get their key to work either so ended up just prying it open. The level of concern when we got out of the elevator was HORRIBLE from the firefighters to the hotel staff. I was very irate & upset because that was an EXTREMELY terrifying experience & I didn't even receive an apology. It definitely ruined my whole vacation experience & I won't be returning to Alabama. But I will try another...

I had to stay in this area for a couple days, so I chose the Holiday Inn.

(-) Check-in took way too long for a room already booked online. (- - -) Breakfast was miserable, overcooked sausages, tasteless scrambled eggs, tasteless processed taters, no salt and pepper available at the "buffet", orange juice was a mix of 99 % water and something added to make the water a little colored, the coffee is very average... (+) The bed is comfortable and seems clean (- -) The cleanliness of the shower and bathroom is very questionable. A few hairs stuck to the shower wall... (- -) There is a smell of I don't know in the hotel and in the room I had, like cigarettes or cigars (-) Works all around, noise from running generator/motors pollutes the silence (+) Internet speed is ok at 40-50 Mbps, could be better, could be worse (-) The mini fridge is at its maximum setting and cannot keep my thermometer in the food zone (still in the spoilage zone after 24 hours...