Holiday Inn Express & Suites Laredo-Event Center Area by IHG — Hotel in Laredo

Hello to all, this is my truth. We stayed here 1 night in October 2022. The hotel is very far from Interstate 35 but we thought, "it's alright because its a Holiday Inn Express-should be nice and updated". Nope not so much. First impressions are very important right? Well when me and my husband arrived he dropped me off in the front entrance, walked in and a young girl was waiting to pay for some chips and cookies she got from the concession area. I don't know how long she was waiting there but she finished all the chips and cookies and the RECEPTIONIST, later found out her name was CHLOE because she wasn't wearing a name tag. Well I waited for the receptionist for 15-20 minutes because she was in the restroom. My husband came into the lobby with our luggage expecting for me to have already checked in but NOPE he had to seat down and wait also. He said what happened which I proceeded to explain to him that the cleaning lady for evening had told me that the receptionist was in the restroom. My husband joked, "does she have stomach problems why is she taking so long"? Not sure why she took so long. Finally she comes out and was not apologetic at all. Also the girl with chips and cookies, left her note I guess letting Chloe know that she had taken the items and she was not going to wait any longer. Second issue- the hotel room that we got on the third floor was stuck in the 90's, it was old and dated. The sofa in the room was dirty and the lamps were old. The A/C was horrible-Why? Because if I want my room to be at 65 degrees, I expect it to be at that temperature, since I paid over $160.00 for that night. But the A/C was very loud and never seemed to have cooled down the room, for that reason, I did not have a good night sleep at all, kept getting up to check the temperature. Also, there was a dirty sink in the living room area and on top of the counter was a microwave and a small fridge bunched up together-not a good sight. The carpet is dirty and the TV was small. I do have to say that I enjoyed the water pressure when showering because it was a strong pressure and lots of hot water. The breakfast which was from 7:00 am to 10:00 a.m; was ok. It had a pancake machine, there was scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuits and gravy, yogurt, cold cereal, warm cinnamon rolls and bagels and some muffins. It's what you expect from a breakfast at a Holiday Inn. Personally I will not stay...

My overall experience was average. The day I arrived it was 103 degrees outside and when I got to my room after check in, the A/C was off because it was set high. I'm sure the thermostat was set high (high 70s) to save on electricity cost, but if I am checking in on a particular day and staying in a particular room, I'd expect the courtesy to have the A/C lowered beforehand for my arrival. Outside was 103 degrees and I had to wait a couple of hours before the A/C caught up and finally cooled the room enough to where I would be comfortable. I actually lowered the thermostat and left to a restaurant to allow my room to cool.

Furthermore, don't expect a smiling and happy staff assisting you at the front desk or throughout the hotel. Upon arrival, two ladies were at the front desk. both were staring down at their computers. I waited a full minute for someone to finally lift their head and ask if they could help me. No smile included. I checked in and wasn't impressed. Throughout the week, I walked by employee after employee whether it was a housekeeper, maintenance man, or front desk (I walked by all of them).....no one greets you to say "hello, good morning, afternoon , evening..." This has to be the one hotel thus far that has a staff that perhaps makes me feel the least welcomed. My room was missing an ice bucket - but the lid, bag, and tray were in my room. When I asked the front desk for an ice bucket, the staff member didn't believe me at first and asked me if I was sure. It took a good 5 minutes for the girl to walk to the back and bring one out for me. If I wasn't sure, I wouldn't have gone 4 floors down to ask for one. Day after day, passing the front desk to leave for the day and passing the front desk when I was going back to my room, there was no "hello, how are you, hi...." nothing. The staff would be inconvenienced to tell you hello more than once a week (when you check in only).

Last month I stayed at the Staybridge Suites that is literally down the street and a walking distance from this Holiday Inn hotel. Every single day at every single opportunity, you have a smiling staff who greets you, asks about your day, asks if you are well and if you need anything and who make you feel happy. I'd recommend seeking a competitor for your stay if you want common and...

We've always loved Holiday Inn and stay here when we travel. This particular Holiday Inn (Nuevo Laredo on Lakeview Blvd) is getting 5 ⭐ for the people who work here. The front desk person is nice and helpful. The ladies who cook the breakfast and clean the rooms are extremely nice and helpful. You can see them doing their job throughout the day and they are doing it well. The shuttle driver was very personable and answered my questions about where I could go to do different things. Our visit is still ongoing but I had to write this review now. This hotel is known for "workers" who come into town for work for whatever reason just like my husband. He's here for work and I'm here for pleasure. We are very pleased with the towels, the sheets, the bathroom amenities, the free breakfast, the pool area, the gym although small is still nice and clean. The pool area is very clean. The breakfast area is very clean. Thank you for a wonderful stay. Ok so HOLIDAY INN CORPORATE... Your hotel here in Laredo NEEDS some upgrades. There are things that some people have pointed out in past reviews and they aren't lying. Someone should come do a walk through. For example, the drapes... They are old and have holes in them. Just replace them! The bathtubs could be updated as well. USB plugs would be useful. Maybe new mattresses too. It was a little worn and too soft for my back. So easy fixes... But thank you thank you too the employees here. They should all...