Holiday Inn Express Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs

This was my first business trip to Ruidoso, so I selected a national chain. The room was average at best, a bit rundown. The front desk service person, Mitzi, was the least helpful and least friendly desk clerk that I've encountered in a very long time. I'm usually not too picky about the front desk service. I deal with hotel desk clerks two or three nights a week. Even though it is the room, the quiet and the bed that matter most, the grumpy service at this hotel was a true standout. The bed was ok, the breakfast was what I would have expected from a much cheaper hotel. The rate was at the top end for Ruidoso hotels and was truly overpriced. On the return through town on the following week, I stayed next door at a so-called budget Best Western. The desk clerk was standout friendly. There was a night gift bag waiting because I have a rewards card (I have one for Holiday Inn as well, but the staff seems to want to drive people away from a return stay). The room way just over one-half the Holiday Inn rate. It was much larger and had just been remodeled. The breakfast was actually a bit better than the Holiday Inn. Most Holiday Inn Expresses are sure bets. I stayed in two others last month with good experiences. This one is an exception. Don't waste your money on an inflated rate and underperforming service.