Kalispell's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review SHOCK!
Kalispell's "Best?" Holiday Inn Express: A Rollercoaster of Expectations (and Surprisingly Decent Coffee)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the beans on Kalispell's supposed "BEST" hotel, the Holiday Inn Express. Prepare yourselves for a review that's less pristine brochure and more… well, me, caffeinated and with a penchant for oversharing. This is going to be a wild ride, so hold on tight. Prepare for SHOCK!
First Impressions (and the Battle for the Parking Spot):
Pulling into the parking lot, my first thought? "Wow, this place is busy." Finding a spot felt like winning the lottery, a testament to Kalispell's popularity or maybe just the hotel's… popularity. You can tell this isn't some sleepy roadside motel. Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site] – check and check. A welcome, I guess.
Accessibility: The Good, The… Okay, and the “Hmm…”
Okay, let's get the important stuff out of the way. Wheelchair accessible? Yep, looks like it! Seeing ramps and clearly designated rooms is a win. Facilities for disabled guests are seemingly well-considered. Now, I can't personally assess the entire accessibility situation, but from what I saw, they're making a solid effort. But, it would have been nice to see more easily accessible information on their website, as it's key for many guests.
Check-in: Smooth(ish), but Bring Patience:
Check-in/out [express]? Theoretically, yes. In practice, there was a brief queue (that coffee better have been worth the wait!). They were friendly, though, which goes a long way. Contactless check-in/out? They say they have it, but I definitely had to interact with a human. Fine, fine, whatever. Front desk [24-hour] is a major plus; peace of mind is priceless.
The Room: A Tale of Two Realities (and Some Unexpected Delights)
Alright, here's the juicy part. My room was… well, a Holiday Inn Express room. You know the drill. Air conditioning, Blackout curtains (THANK GOODNESS!), Coffee/tea maker (crucial, as previously mentioned), Desk (for pretending to work), and Free Wi-Fi – Wi-Fi [free], Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN, Internet (yes, I checked them all). The internet speeds were decent, so I give them a point for getting that right, I mean, it's THE bare minimum these days!
The Bed: Ah, the bed. It was comfy, honestly. Not luxury hotel levels of comfort, but perfectly acceptable. Extra long bed gave me some extra space to stretch! Non-smoking rooms are the standard these days, and I appreciate it.
But the Details? The Details!
- Refrigerator: I didn't need it, but it was there. Nice.
- Safe? I didn't even try to work it. I'm too lazy; don't judge.
- Bathroom: Clean. Hair dryer, Mirror, Toiletries, Towels. Perfectly functional. The lighting, as usual in hotel bathrooms, was a bit… unflattering.
- Soundproofing seemed okay – I didn’t hear my neighbors wrestling all night, so that's a win!
Cleanliness and Safety: Sanitized… Mostly
This is where things got interesting, especially considering the… times. Daily disinfection in common areas felt reassuring. Anti-viral cleaning products - probably. The impression was of trying to be very careful. Rooms sanitized between stays - I'd like to think so but the impression was… good. They've got Hand sanitizer in numerous locations, and the staff seemed to be wearing masks. They're clearly trying to keep things safe. Smoke alarms – thankfully, in place. Fire extinguisher – also present.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast… The Great Debate!
Now, onto the most critical question: the breakfast. Breakfast service, Breakfast [buffet] - yep. Breakfast takeaway service? Not really, but I did manage to sneak an apple. Hot water linen and laundry washing, Individually-wrapped food options, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items. They're definitely trying, although it feels a little like organized chaos.
The buffet itself was… a Holiday Inn Express buffet. Your basic scrambled eggs, sausage, some sad-looking pastries, and the aforementioned surprisingly decent coffee. But hey, Coffee/tea in restaurant! Western breakfast is what you get and what you expect.
Things To Do and Ways to Relax (Beyond the Bed):
Fitness center, Gym/fitness. Yup, there’s a gym. I didn't use it. No judgment, but it smelled like… a gym. Swimming pool [outdoor]: The pool was closed. Sigh. Spa/sauna, Sauna, Steamroom, Pool with view, Spa. None of these existed (as far as I know). A missed opportunity from the hotel.
Services and Conveniences: The Stuff that Makes Life Easier
Daily housekeeping, excellent. Laundry service, yay! Elevator – a life-saver with my luggage. Gift/souvenir shop? Nope. Convenience store? Again nope. Cash withdrawal? Nope.
But… and this is KEY Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, On-site event hosting? This hotel seems geared towards business and events.
For the Kids: (And Parents' Sanity!)
I didn't have any kids to deal with, but I saw some families enjoying the facilities. Family/child friendly.
Getting Around Town:
Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], good for the city. Airport transfer available, and I'm guessing Taxi service is also readily available.
The Breakdown:
What was good: The staff was friendly. The bed was comfortable. The coffee was surprisingly good (I know, I keep harping on it). They're making an effort to keep things clean and safe. The internet worked.
What could be better: More of a "wow" factor.
Quirks and Quirks:
- The elevator music sounded like elevator music.
- I think I saw the cleaning staff arguing with the vacuum cleaner.
- I swear, I saw a business person wearing PJs at breakfast.
The Verdict:
Holiday Inn Express in Kalispell is… a Holiday Inn Express. It's reliable, clean enough, and the staff is friendly. It's not going to blow your mind, but it's a solid choice for a basic hotel in town.
SHOCK Review's Bottom Line: If this hotel had the little touches that made the stay really memorable it would easily be worthy of a higher score.
Now, for the SALES PITCH!
Holiday Inn Express, Kalispell: Your Basecamp for Adventure (and Decent Coffee!) – Book Now!
Sick of boring hotel stays? Crave adventure, but need a reliable base? Then pack your bags because the Holiday Inn Express in Kalispell might just become your new favorite spot!
Why? Because…
- Reliable Comfort: You'll be welcomed in a comfortable room with a clean bed to rest and recharge after a long day of fun.
- Fuel Up for Fun: The Breakfast [buffet, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Western breakfast] (including the surprisingly delightful coffee) will get you ready for your daily excursions!
- Location, Location, Location: Perfectly positioned for exploring the wonders of Glacier National Park and the surrounding areas with ample Car park [free of charge] to get you going!
- Safety First (and Always) with their focus on safety!
Here's the deal:
Limited Time Offer: 15% off Your Stay When you book a stay, and use the promo code "EXPLOREKALISPELL"!
Don't wait – book your Kalispell adventure today. Click here, and let a friendly, clean and modern hotel take you to your next adventure!
Baguio Burnham Suites: Your Dream Baguio Getaway Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is… my potential Kalispell adventure, assuming the universe doesn't conspire to dump rain and existential dread on me the entire time. We're staying at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites, which, let's be honest, the name alone screams "reliable mediocrity" in the best possible way. I'm hoping for a clean, unremarkable room, and a breakfast buffet that's slightly better than the free one at the last chain hotel. Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.
Day 1: Arrival, Altitude Adjustment, and the Existential Dread of the Hotel Room (Probably)
1 PM: ARRIVAL! Fly into Glacier Park International Airport (FCA). Hopefully, the baggage claim isn't a complete free-for-all. I've seen more organized chaos at a toddler's birthday party. Seriously, I'm envisioning the conveyor belt spitting out my suitcase and then immediately devouring it.
- Anecdote: Last time I flew, I swear the airline intentionally delayed my luggage. It showed up three days later, looking like it had a really bad time in some remote Himalayan village. That's the kind of luck I'm working with.
1:45 PM: Shuttle/Taxi to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Pray to the travel gods that it isn't a grueling drive. I’m already bracing myself for the altitude, the dry heat, and my inevitable internal monologue of “Why did you think this was a good idea?”
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Check-in. Okay, here's where things get dicey. I'm anticipating those generic hotel smiles that feel suspiciously plastic. And the inevitable problem of finding the right key card. Ugh, please don't let my room be on the third floor with no elevator access.
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM: Room Reconnaissance and Unpacking. Okay, the moment of truth: the room. Please, please, please let it be clean. I’ve got my own personal checklist: working AC, a decent view (even if it's just a parking lot), and no suspicious stains on the bedspread. Then the unpacking. This is when I realize I've inevitably overpacked, because, of course, I did.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Recon the hotel amenities. Explore the hotel and what it has to offer. (Pool? Fitness room? Hot tub? Free cookies at the front desk? Please, let there be free cookies.) Find a vending machine, raid it for a bag of chips, and feel a moment of pure, unadulterated joy.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Dinner at a recommend local restaurant. Maybe I'll ask the front desk for recommendations. I do hope they recommend something not too awful. I'm going to aim for something local - and hopefully not overly touristy. I'm craving some decent food after a long, travel heavy day.
8:30 PM - Bedtime: Wind down. Prepare for a good night's sleep and the next day's adventures. Read a book, watch some mindless TV, or stare at the ceiling and ponder the mysteries of the universe. I'm already feeling the jet lag creep in, so this part will need to be really easy.
- Quirky Observation: Hotel rooms always have that peculiar smell, don't they? A mix of cleaning products, stale air, and… what is that subtle hint of regret?
Day 2: Hiking (Maybe), Lakeside Views (Hopefully), and a Questionable Amount of Photos
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. This is the moment of truth. Is the "free breakfast" actually edible? I plan on making a plate that will rival the Great Wall of China. I'm prepared for lukewarm scrambled eggs, stale bagels, and suspiciously rubbery sausage. But a girl can dream of a fluffy waffle, can't she?
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Pack a small daypack. Water, snacks, sunscreen, maybe a slightly optimistic first-aid kit (because I'm clumsy). I'm already debating whether I should even attempt a hike. My fitness level is, let's say, aspirational.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Drive to a nearby trailhead. I'm considering the Flathead Lake State Park.
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: HIKING (or Attempted Hiking). Okay, here we go. The big test. I need to find a trail that won't actually kill me. I'm thinking a relatively easy, scenic one.
- Emotional Reaction: I'm going to try, folks, genuinely try to enjoy the scenery. But I'm also emotionally prepared for my knees to scream, my lungs to burn, and my internal monologue to be a relentless cycle of "Why am I doing this?" and "I should have stayed in bed."
- Messier Structure: Let's be honest, the hike itself will be a mess of sweat, breathlessness, and probably a moment of pure, unadulterated awe at the view. And then I'll probably fall. I'm betting on tripping over a root, or finding some sort of wildlife.
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Lunch. Find a scenic spot (or, let's be realistic, a slightly shady spot) and unpack my pre-packed sandwich. I'll probably spill mustard on myself. It's a given.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Lakeside Relaxation. If I'm still alive after the hike, I'd like to find a quiet spot by the lake and just be. Maybe skip stones. Maybe close my eyes and listen to the sounds of nature.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Drive back to the hotel. Feeling that post-hike exhaustion already.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Dinner. I think I'll be craving a burger and some serious carbs tonight. Something completely un-healthy, but deeply satisfying.
8:30 PM - Bedtime: More TV, more contemplating the universe. Or, you know, collapse in a heap and try to recharge for the next day.
Day 3: Exploring the Town (and Avoiding Tourist Traps!)
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast. Trying a new strategy. I'm going straight for the fruit and yogurt this time. Trying to be healthy. Sort of.
- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Exploring the town. Browsing the local shops, exploring the downtown area. I'll need to find some souvenirs. But I'm going to avoid the obvious tourist traps that are selling overpriced junk.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Visit the local museum. I'd love to find out more about the town. It's always cool to learn something new.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: A late afternoon snack.
- 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM: Dinner.
- Bedtime: Pack up, and chill.
Day 4: Departure
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast.
- 9:00 AM: Check out.
- 10:00 AM: Flight.
This is just a framework, of course. Things will inevitably go awry. There will be wrong turns, unexpected rain, and moments of pure, unadulterated frustration. But that's the beauty of traveling, isn't it? The unexpected. The messiness. The memories you make when things don't go according to plan. Wish me luck!
Bali's Hidden Paradise: Uncover Four Points by Sheraton Ungasan's Secrets!
Alright, is this Holiday Inn Express *really* the BEST in Kalispell? Don't lie to me.
The dreaded breakfast. Spill the beans, what's the Holiday Inn Express breakfast like? Give it to me straight!
Let's talk rooms. Are they clean? Cozy? Do they smell like old farts and sadness?
AND THE POOL AND HOT TUB?! The whole reason I'm considering this place! What's the deal?!
Here's the thing: I went for a dip one night, STARVING and exhausted. The place was EMPTY. I swear, I was the only person in the hot tub. It was *glorious*. The jets, the heat... pure bliss. I finally started to relax and just.... *sigh*. Then, out of nowhere, a troop of teens descended upon the place. All energy and noise. And so it goes. Basically, get your swim clothes on and be prepared to possibly fight a horde of kids for a spot.
Service? Is it good, bad, or just… there?
What's the location like? Is it convenient? Is it noisy?
Okay, the big question: Would you stay here again?
