I'm actually mildly embarrassed to be reviewing a Holiday Inn Express in the same trip report as Qantas A380 first class, Singapore Airlines business class, etc. But sometimes loyalty programs make you do crazy things. In this case I needed another Saturday night stay to complete my Priority Club "Crack the Case" promotion. I had…
Continue reading: Four Continents and 37,000 Miles in Two Weeks: Holiday Inn Express Los Angeles Airport
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I'm generally a big fan of airplane/cafeteria/(insert food here that most people find unappealing) food, but even for me, that omelet looks beyond awful.
I can't remember the last time I got something other than a bottle of water and granola bar (or popcorn) at a Holiday Inn Express. It always made me feel special as a Platinum member, until I saw someone who was just a regular member (not Platinum or Gold) get the same gift. "And here's a gift to thank you for being a Priority Club member." That sure made me feel a lot less special.
But man, they have amazing cinnamon rolls.
A while back the Courtyard Los Angeles Westside in Culver City, about a 10-minute ride from LAX, eliminated their airport shuttle. A manager told me this actually improved customer satisfaction, since customers were no longer upset at the hotel when the shuttle was late. The hotel's two close-by competitors still offer complimentary airport shuttles.
Is this the sketchy looking building at Manchester & Airport, out past Hertz? I don't know why you'd ever choose to stay there.
@ Sam -- Very true! Funny you mention that, because usually when I'm given something like that they just say "this is a thanks for being a Priority Club member." So you're recognizing the fact that I spent 60 seconds to sign up for a loyalty program more than the 60 nights I've spent at your hotel over the past year?
@ Carl -- Hah, it is, though I didn't realize just where it was. It looked nice on the website, that's my only excuse...
Your experience with housekeeping is not limited to Holiday Inn Express hotels. Actually, I had a similar experience at the Hyatt Minneapolis at the beginning of May. Even though I had the "privacy" sign up and it was well before 3pm (I had asked for late check-out at reception the day before), housekeeping knocked and tried to open the door. Fortunately, I had locked and bolted the door or housekeeping might have entered the room while I was under the shower...
My LAX stay is usually driven by how close I can get to In N Out Burger. My preferred property in that regard is the Courtyard on Century Blvd., which is about a 15min walk.
Really hit the spot a couple months back after the 17hr TG n/s from BKK.
Ben, I think I'll pass on the Holiday Inn Express LAX! What's next a review of the Motel 6! 😉
I agree with you on Sheraton Gateway, it is my preferred choice at LAX. Westin is OK, but further away and club lounge.
I have found the same thing thing regarding LAX hotel pricing. They generally are all about the same price, regardless of quality. The Four Points is frequently more expensive than the Sheraton and Westin.
Hilton is also pretty good with a nice lounge that, in my experience offers good food choices.
No pictures of the pancake machine? Or haven't they put one in at this property yet? HIX rolled them out just in time for my Crack the Case stays, and man, the combination of cinnamon rolls + automatic pancakes usually lands the breakfast at HIX properties pretty close to atop the non-cooked-to-order, non-luxury lounge choices.
Pancake machine:
http://www.popcake.com/index.php?sid=13
I think there was a TV show about your maid experience:
(sorry all i could find offhand was one someone recorded w/ their camcorder off the TV)
What is so bad about that omelete ? It is perfectly fine with me. It is one thing I like HIX's breakfast, omelet, bacon or sausage, and the signature cinnamon roll. It is way better than any 2 stars hotel's complimentary breakfast. If you said that omelet is nasty, I wonder what are you going to say about Hampton Inn's scramble eggs. They changed from the infamous "fake egg" to scramble eggs, which is still bad bad bad.
Oh btw, that thank you gift for platinum member, I am sure they will give to even a general member, as I had stayed at HIX JFK, they gave it to me when I was only a general no status member, but that HIX I stayed, they were much generous than what you got. Other than what you had, I also had an apple juice box, a bag of chips, chocolate, and a small bag of jelly belly.
@ ORDnHKG -- What was so bad about the omelet was that it tasted like toxic rubber. And that's me being nice.