Holiday Inn VA Beach-Oceanside (21st St) by IHG — Hotel in Virginia Beach

I am very thankful for the Valet Service it was nice to know that there was someone that could take care of our vehicle and find it a parking spot. I am not sure where it ended up the first night but it was nice to find it in the front parking lot the next morning. When we arrived that parking lot was so full and since I wasn't sure where else to park I was relieved that there was a Valet. And it was great to find that when we left at the end of the week that we had the same guy to check us out that was the one to check us in.

I was completely awestruck with the women who checked us in. I was recognized for being with IHG! And she ran through a lot of the info for our stay.

Granted we ended up visiting when there was heat advisories and warnings. And at the start of the stay there was one working elevator though that was fixed by the next day thankfully. Later that day when I had to make another trip up to our room on the 8th floor. I figured I would choose to use the stairs, I didn't realize though that they didn't have any AC for the stairwell. I made it up to the 6th floor when I realized I needed to use the elevator or I thought I would be sick cause of the heat. Yes it brought me back to the first floor and then I rode it back up again. And I also noticed that in our room that the bathroom didn't get much AC either so it would get warm with the door closed even with using the fan.

Even though the heat affected quite a bit of the trip the room was really good otherwise. The beds were comfortable. And the desk/table was Awesome to be able to be wheeled around! It made it really super nice when we had meals in our room to be able to move that between the beds so that we were able to eat together at the table.

I was also greatful for the table that I could use for my cpap and that there was also an outlet nearby made it awesome so that we could set ourselves up as we wished in the room myself and the other two that were traveling with me.

I did appreciate that we have a refridgerator in the room. Though wish it could have been a little bigger.

It was awesome to find out that there is a door from the hotel out to the beach as well that was awesome and that it also includes a spot to rinse off after being on the beach.

We did use the restaurant downstairs for breakfast most of the mornings and I really appreciated how I think (?) the Head Waitress remembered my previous order! It was neat that she was able to do that. The only thing that let me down about the restaurant was the risk we ran that there would end up being a wait list esp for supper time. The one time we tried supper with Hemingways we were pretty much turned away since there was already a long wait list.

I Loved that we were able to have the Ocean View! We were able to make ourselves comfortable in the room and so thankful for the AC in the room it thankfully kept up with our needs. Another plus was the View out the front of the building! Even though it was the street below and the parking lot in the front it was still really super neat! Had a Great View of the City too and able to see the clouds when we had some bad weather run through. The hallways were glass from top to bottom on the city side of the building! So all of the rooms have an Oceah View and it is like 12 floors high we were on the 8th floor. Which really helped make our trip great.

The hallways. elevator waiting areas, and the laundry room were all fairly hot for most of the week. Something else though that I found when I went to the laundry room was that they have a flood? Or lack of venting to release the humidity? It looked like there was mold all over the wall that was being "dried" by a box fan. And it smelled in that room too. Another issue I found too was that one of the driers and it was of course the one I eneded up having to use the lint filter would NOT go down to level with the machine interior. I had another customer who told me that it would probably be best to just take it out cause one of her loads ended up being one long wet or damp rope cause it caught and got all twisted inside the drier. And so when I stayed to watch how my clothes would work with it they started to catch immediately. And so I went ahead and took it out so that my clothes wouldn't catch on the lint trap or get torn from catching on it.

Another thing we found was that there was something... on the wall that seemed to reflect back when we sat in the room just right over the interior bed. And it also looked like there was something maybe ice cream? On the night stand near the bed too that was missed...

I booked an oceanfront suite for a long weekend at the beach with my wife. We have stayed at this property 5 or 6 times previously and had enjoyed it every time, even during the renovations. Upon arrival, I was informed by a manager that there was an error on the IHG website and that none of the suites were available yet as the renovation work had not been completed and that, instead, they were giving me a regular king room, at the regular king room rate (which for the 3 night stay ended up around $200 less total) As compensation for the mix up, the gave m one free drink voucher and 2 free breakfast coupons (for a 3 night stay for 2 people?) I am not one that normally complains, so I accepted this and we went up to our room. On exiting the elevator at this property the first room on each floor are the suites, well to my surprise, the suite on this floor was not only fully renovated, but occupied! the couple that was in it had he door propped open and I got a full view of the inside. Our room assigned to us was right next to a suite that, according to the manager, was not done yet... I go out on the balcony and look up and down and most all of the suites look occupied (towels or people on the balcony). At this property, all the suites are room XX00, the first room on each floor. This was extremely frustrating, as a Spire / diamond elite, I spend a LOT of time and money at IHG properties and to be not only lied to, but not really compensated for this leaves a bad taste in my mouth. On top of that, the renovations that this hotel's website still says were to be completed by spring of 2022 are still ongoing. Our room was directly below one in which they started drilling and hammering at 7am. I understand Covid has delayed many construction projects, but if you are going to downgrade someone that has achieved the highest level of your loyalty program, would you not at least make sure they have a room that is not directly below a room being still renovated? As for the renovations in our room, they did a lot of nice work but made some questionable decisions. The air conditioning unit is LOUD! Like startle you awake loud. Also, this was a complete, tear out the walls and floors renovation, yet there is still just a single electrical outlet on either side of the bed and also only a single outlet in the bathroom. Other than that, the rooms look great and still have that new smell. Last on my complaint list is the parking. Anyone that has stayed at this hotel knows, even when there is no construction, the parking is bad, but close to half the main lot is unusable due to all the construction material, and the secondary lot is a block away. One night, we couldn't find a spot in either and had to pay to park somewhere else. Just a frustrating experience overall. I have never, in all my years of travel for business and pleasure, had my room downgraded before.... and then to be lied...

Used this hotel as a place to lay our head and relax a little after spendings each day in the hospital with my MIL. I didn't get the little we needed. Check in woman was very nice, didn't get a name but she was there around 5:00pm on a Tuesday and had an accent. Other than her, the rest of the staff were rude and condescending. After 12 hour over night drive and a day at the hospital, running on no sleep, we opened our door to a blast of a horrible stink. It smelled like old cheese and feet. It was both the carpets and bed. We ordered food downstairs for take away, they kept pushing for us to get a table and when we made the final refusal they brushed us off. We got cold, mediocre food. Wanted a nice hot shower, nope, ice cold shower. Went to sit on the porch, water was pouring from the floor above us through a black moldy spot, all over the chairs, railing and floor.

I mentioned all of this to the text service that asked how it was going. She said she would mention it to maintenance and housekeeping. Next morning, 5 minutes of lukewarm water to ice cold to wash the stink of the bed off of us. Came back that evening after a long draining day to find no parking and a kid parking for valet behind already parked cars. Watched an accident happen due to this. I asked the front desk ladies where we should park now, and they just kept asking if we were guests. I said yes at least 4 times. Finally they answered with a shrug. That's when they saw the fight coming in my eyes and said we could park in the diamond spot. The rest of the night I worried that it was going to get towed.

Nothing was fixed or cleaned when we came back. When I mentioned this to the text service and the parking issues. They offered me late check out (already mentioned we were out by 9am every morning) so it was useless, or not enough points to even pay for a quarter of a night at their cheapest hotel. I said fine to the points since nothing else was coming of it and we were leaving the next morning and finding a new hotel anyway. Never received the points.

After getting back home I sent corporate a letter, they offered double the original points (not even enough for half a night at their cheapest hotel). I probably will never stay at another IHG brand hotel. I found another hotel on the strip, beach view that we could enjoy, with hot showers and non stinky rooms for a decent amount cheaper. Shop around, trust me, this hotel is not even...