Holiday Inn Express

 

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22

jorgina g.

Pittsburgh, PA

12/28/2007

We stayed here this past Thanksgiving while visiting my husband's grandmother - there were 26 or so people visiting so a lot of us had to go to a hotel.  I was a little put off by that fact at first but whew!  This place was SO NICE!!!

Bear in mind my hotel experience is limited...  but this is by far the nicest place I have ever been in.

They put 2 pillows at every bed setting - one firm and one soft (they're labeled).  Since it was just me and my husband and our son - that was 8 pillows for 3 people.  My husband only likes one pillow at a time and my son is only 4 so one is plenty for him which meant 6 pillows for me - and I am a total pillow whore.  I had asthma as a kid and couldn't sleep laying flat - the asthma is not a problem now but the habit is very ingrained plus I am pregnant which makes laying flat uncomfortable even for a normal person.  I need lots of pillows and hate having to ask for more at the front desk.  I was in pillow heaven here - I could have slept sitting straight up if I wanted!  (But I didn't, I'm not THAT weird)

The beds were SO comfy - wish I knew exactly why!  Curtains made the room super dark.

I slept better here than I have anywhere in my life - I missed it when we went home.  It was so dark and pillowy and quiet and perfect.  My son slept in bed with me which he had never done before this trip and I really didn't think that was going to go well but he slept great, too.  he actually slept till 8am every day which is unheard of for him - he is my early bird, always up at 6:30 at home, ugh!  (My husband and I are NOT morning people...  )

Maybe they pump ether into the rooms after 11pm, who knows?

There was a small exercise room down the hall from us with 1 bike, 1 treadmill, 1 elliptical, and 1 weight thingie.  It was usually empty.  I had it all to myself 3 mornings but 2 people came in on the 4th when I was using it.  No matter, i was there first so I got the remote control to the TV.  :-)  Cable TV all to myself and an exercise bike made me a happy girl.  Wish I had tried out the elliptical to comment on that - usually I am an elliptical girl but have been sticking to the bike since pregnant.  The equipment was all "True" fitness which seems to be a good brand.  Bike was nice though more geared at tall people than the lifecyle bikes I am used to at home.

Coffee pot, fridge, and microwave in all the rooms - nice.  (I am not a coffee drinker but I like my tea and had brought some herbal tea with me, nice to be able to make it in my room)

They are starting some "project planet" or something like that thing where they don't do room service or wash towels all the damn time like places used to - nice!!!  I guess they will do it if you want to but we didn't and I am glad of that.  Such a waste.

Continental breakfast was very bountiful - nice!!!  They had hard boiled eggs, even, which was awesome, since continental breakfast usually means "carb city."  Not that I am low carb by ANY means but I like to have a little protein with most meals so that was a perk.

The pool and hot tub were across from our room - looked nice but we never got to use them just due to the the hours we kept - we were at my husband's grandma's pretty much from breakfast/workout time till bedtime.

Random candy dish and some chairs down the hall - big hit with my son.

The free shampoo and conditioner samples smelled like cookies!

The only thing I didn't like was the shower head, which was funny because for miles and miles on the high way you see signs about how HIE has the best rated shower head or some such thing.  I guess it's OK if a gentle rain type shower is your thing.  I like my shower head to be hard and pelting to better blast the soap off of me.  This was one of those kind of big, wide heads...  and I am kind of short...  so with heads like this it's like by the time the water gets to me it's so spread out it drives me nuts and it's easier just to hold my head under the spicket to wash the shampoo out.  Small price to pay for such dreamy, dreamy sleep though.  Highly recommend - can't wait to stay in an HIE again.

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