Holiday Inn Express Williamsbrg Busch Gardens Area by IHG — Hotel in Williamsburg

If Busch Gardens Had a VIP Lounge, It Would Be This Hotel!

Y’ALL. LISTEN. I booked Holiday Inn Express Williamsburg Busch Gardens Area because a VERY notable individual (not naming names, but trust me, if you know, you KNOW) personally recommended it. And let me tell you—this hotel did not disappoint.

I was in suite 320 it has 2 rooms. ( A friend recommended I ask for this room)

LOCATION? ELITE.

Busch Gardens? Basically in the backyard. No long drives, no getting lost—just wake up, grab a free cinnamon roll, and be on a rollercoaster before your brain even fully processes being awake. I was out there celebrating Mardi Gras in the streets, catching beads, dancing, and eating my weight in jambalaya before some people even finished breakfast.

THE STAFF? ICONIC.

I don’t know what’s in the hiring process here, but these people are hilarious, sharp, and somehow make you feel like a celebrity the second you walk in. They greet you like they’ve known you your whole life, roast you just the right amount, and make checking in feel like you just walked onto the set of your own TV show.

One of them saw me rolling in with my Mardi Gras beads and said, “Oh, so you just bringing Bourbon Street straight into the lobby?” AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I WAS. 💕

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PARKING LOT…

When I pulled in, I expected the usual—some SUVs, a couple of minivans, nothing crazy. But oh no. I step out and immediately see a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley, and—WAIT A MINUTE—is that a license plate with DIPLOMATIC STATUS?!

Y’all, I had to pause. For a second, I thought I accidentally stayed at a United Nations hotel. Like, am checked into a hotel, and about to negotiate global peace over complimentary coffee? Because if diplomats and power players are staying here, you already KNOW this place is legit.

And this brings me back to the very notable person (again, not naming names, but trust me—global. influence.). When one of his houses was being renovated after a fire, guess where he stayed? RIGHT HERE. If it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for government officials, high-profile execs, and anyone who gets invited to places the rest of us don’t even know exist.

FINAL VERDICT?

Rooms? So comfy, and extremely clean! Breakfast? FREE, delicious, and possibly addictive. Vibes? 10/10

This is literally the best Holiday Inn Express I have ever stayed at. It’s got me reconsidering the IHG brand in general because if every location was like this, I’d be a lifelong member. I can’t wait to come back when I bring my grandkids for Howl-O-Scream, because if the staff is this fun on a regular day, I can only imagine the energy during spooky season.

Huge thanks to the wonderful staff for making me feel seen, appreciated, and genuinely welcome. Y’all are the reason people keep coming back....

I’ve always been taught that it’s not what you say, but how you say it. When I walked into the hotel, I was feeling jovial and excited to check in. I approached the front desk and greeted the staff warmly, introducing myself. The woman at the desk, however, abruptly responded as though she were scolding a child: “I’m not checking in anyone before 3 PM.”

Her tone made it clear that there was no room for discussion. Still, I replied politely, “Oh, I thought check-in was at 12 PM.” She then silently pointed to a sign indicating the check-in policy and said nothing further. That sign turned out to be the only pleasant part of the interaction.

At that moment, I chose not to push further. After working a 12-hour shift, driving 2.5 hours, and caring for a nursing baby and small child, I simply didn’t have the energy—especially with such an unfriendly attitude greeting me right away.

The next morning, I returned to the desk and saw the same staff member. Her expression immediately communicated, “Not today.”Still, needing assistance, I mustered the patience to ask for a complimentary toiletries pack. She handed me a single toothbrush without a word. I recall the signage in my room stating that complimentary essential items were available upon request, but that didn’t seem to apply here.

Later, I realized I might have left my phone charger in the room. When I called the hotel, the person who answered the phone sounded dry and unwelcoming. There was no friendly introduction—no name, no mention of the hotel, not even a “Good morning.” I had to ask if I had reached the correct place. Recognizing the voice, I knew it was the same woman.

I explained my situation, and she took my information, explaining the lost-and-found process. When I thanked her at the end of the call, the line abruptly disconnected—no “thank you for calling,” no “have a nice day.”

The hospitality industry is built on customer service, and I strongly suggest providing staff training on professionalism, courtesy, and creating welcoming experiences for all guests. It is equally important for staff to treat all customers fairly and equally, regardless of race, skin color, or ethnicity.

I observed this same woman—despite us sharing the same skin tone but having different accents—greet another customer warmly, wishing them a “Happy New Year” as they checked out. That customer was treated with kindness and respect, a stark contrast to my experience.

Interactions like these leave a lasting impression, and I hope steps are taken to ensure future guests feel valued...

The hotel itself was just fine, nothing to write home about. One of our pillowcases had a stain that looked like blood, so that was a bit off putting. Otherwise it was the level of cleanliness I expect from a Holiday Inn Express level of hotel.

When I attempted to check in my reservation was nowhere to be found. It evidently had been canceled because the payment didn't go through. I thought I'd prepaid a month earlier, as the payment option I selected was prepay at booking with no cancellation, so I didn't know they waited to collect payment until the day of check in. I was not informed of the payment not going through or that my reservation had been canceled. When I was trying to work this out with the front desk, he kept telling me I was at the wrong hotel. He stated the address, and then I showed him my confirmation with the same address he had just said aloud. At this, he said "yeah that's not us." So I repeated the address and showed him again, and THEN he started to look more into it. He was apologetic and took a different payment and got me checked in. I know it was not his fault it got canceled or that their system did not notify me, but it was evident that he just assumed I had done something wrong/had wrong information instead of genuinely trying to assist me with this issue.

Later that evening I went to get a towel for the 4th person in our room since we only had 3 towels in the room. When I asked for a towel both desk attendants said "that'll be $5, cash." In all fairness to them, jokes of this nature are never funny to me though I realize it would land with some people; but, after my check in experience I figured all bets were off with the standards and procedures of this hotel, so I didn't pick up on the joke, said "I'm good" and began to walk away. Then they called after me saying they're joking, so I explained that after my check in experience I wouldn't have been surprised if they charged for extra towels too. Then the attendant who didn't check me in started asking me if I booked third party and that's why my reservation was canceled with no FYI of any kind and just asking me questions with attitude, again just assuming I had done something wrong.

There was just an attitude from the staff that I did not care for and if I stay in this area again I will be staying elsewhere, as there is nothing notable about the hotel itself so I'd rather take my chances with a different staff...