Holiday Inn Express & Suites Rancho Mirage - Palm Springs Area by IHG — Hotel in Rancho Mirage

Came for an event with a reserved block of rooms and my reservation was completely bungled. Everyone else in the party had rooms reserved for 2/20-2/22 (like 14-ish other people/rooms), but my reservation was showing for 2/25-2/28 for some reason, and we even had the email thread from the booking process and NOWHERE did we say anything about 2/25-2/28.

The staff DID work pretty hard to get me a room when I went to check in, but they told me I'd have to check out the next morning and check back into another room in the afternoon as the specific room they were putting me in wasn't available the whole time I was gonna be there; no sweat, I was just happy I was gonna have a place to stay and I'd still be with the rest of my group. I went to check out the next morning like I was told, and the person at the desk said I was fine in the room I was in through 2/23 (which was STILL the incorrect date). I was a little afraid in all the confusion that I was going to come back and be locked out of my room with my stuff removed and no place to stay, BUT it was all smooth sailing from there.

Until this morning (2 days after I've checked out) when I got an email confirming my stay for 2/25-2/28 which was not only incorrect to start with, but should have been cancelled when I was physically there and going through all this last week. So now I gotta make sure that gets cancelled FOR REAL now before we're charged anything.

Aside from the below-average booking experience, the staff that I dealt with onsite really did their best to help me and they were friendly with our large party over the several days we were there. The rooms weren't the coziest I've ever been in, and the walls were paper thin, but good and safe enough to sleep in for a few nights. Most importantly: my room and bathroom were VERY clean, which is my single most important criteria for a hotel. I also think the options for both soft and firm pillows on the bed were a nice touch, I've never seen that in a hotel before and I think that's such a simple no-brainer that should be standard practice, so...

I spent three nights here to get away and chill out. I selected this property due to the number of really good member reviews posted on the IHG site. I was not disappointed at all during my stay.

The location is fantastic. It's a couple of miles to Highway 74 (Palms to Pines) and getting to Interstate 10 is easy (just go up Bob Hope Drive). It's entirely possible to not drive during your stay if that's what you want to do. You can walk to a bunch of restaurants, including quite a few at The River. The restaurants there are generally really good, but they can get pricey (just be forewarned). The Starbucks is in The River on the side opposite of the hotel, but it is one of the better ones to go to locally for your latte needs. If you need it, the CVS is another couple of minutes beyond The River.

Parking and check-in were a breeze; the staff were helpful and courteous. The Plat amenity was a bottle of water (always useful in the desert). There was no upgrade love for me, likely because it was a three-day holiday weekend and I believe the room categories above me sold out.

The room was recently updated and everything was in great order. The pillows and bed were comfortable and the bathroom was in excellent shape. The included microwave in the room seemed a little dated, but I didn't use it. The usual caveats of the Holiday Inn Express brand apply: the HVAC is below the window and breakfast is the typical fare. I didn't have any concerns about them. One great benefit was that the room I was in was very quiet and dark, especially early in the morning; I had a couple of nights of great sleep and I didn't hear any of my neighbors.

All of the staff, especially housekeeping, were quite accommodative to all of my requests. The only thing that caught my eye was that the pool wasn't picked up and ran out of towels late one evening - it may have been an oversight since it didn't appear to be a chronic issue.

Overall, this is a favorite HI Express of mine. I'll definitely recommend it and come back if I need a room...

First, the good stuff. Let’s start with what makes this Holiday Inn Express a little hidden gem: the rooms are surprisingly spacious, squeaky clean, and have that ahh, it’s fresh smell. There’s also a cool, modern vibe going on here. Parking is a breeze—plenty of spaces, and they’re right by the entrance. And if you’re a caffeine addict like me, you’ll be thrilled to know they keep the coffee flowing 24/7. It’s also in a super convenient location, so you can zip around Rancho Mirage with ease. So far, so good, right? Now, the less-than-fabulous part of my stay. Let’s start with the bed, or as I now call it, "The Squeak Factory." Every tiny move was like a soundtrack of creaks and squeaks, perfect if you want to practice your mouse impression. Not so perfect if you’re trying to sleep. And the mattress? Let’s just say, if you like sleeping on a boulder, this is your dream come true. My back has probably aged five years. Then there was the air conditioner, which stubbornly decided not to join the party that night. After a solid fifteen minutes of thermostat-fiddling, I finally gave up and slept with the window open (enjoying my lovely view of…the parking lot). The next morning, someone finally came by to reset it, which I appreciated—eight hours too late, but hey, we got there. And now for the breakfast buffet at 8 AM. Picture a stampede of hungry guests, and one poor staff member valiantly trying to refill trays. No eggs, no bacon, just a lot of empty platters and desperate stares. Let’s just say, come prepared or be ready for a continental diet of toast crumbs. Lastly, getting an extended checkout was a bit like negotiating for a raise, but we got there in the end. Overall, Holiday Inn Express Rancho Mirage does some things really well, but a few “quirks” make it an adventure. If you like squeaky beds, lukewarm coffee (from waiting for breakfast to refill), and a charming parking lot view, you’ll feel...