Holiday Inn Exp Hillsborough, Hillsborough

The following is the complaint I submitted to Holiday Inn Express. I wrestled over whether or not to file a formal complaint, because I really only have one grievance in what was an otherwise unremarkable stay in a typical low-frills hotel. Actually, if not for my one grievance I would say the stay was great, especially since I was given the cheaper group rate even though I booked my room well past the July 1 cut-off date. But my grievance has been nagging. I was given room 309, a fine room with a broken toilet. The morning of the 24th my toilet stopped and then overflowed. It was most unpleasant. I complained, and the issue was addressed by the poor lady in housekeeping. My usage of the facilities, I assure you, was normal (especially, I would imagine, when compared to the horrors hotel toilets must be exposed to regularly). I grew up in a large family in Mississippi, and my siblings and I learned to value every square. The morning of the 25th my toilet clogged again (I am nothing if not regular). I went to the front desk and told the lady there that she can no longer rent out that room until this issue is remedied. I asked for a plunger so that I could deal with it myself, figuring that once-in-a-weekend was enough for the poor housecleaning woman. I could shoulder the burden myself that morning. The front desk lady was snide, and disdainfully implied TO ME AS I WAS ABOUT TO PLUNGE THE DAMNED THING MYSELF that I obviously had no idea how to properly use a toilet. To be clear, I am a 35-year-old man who has been faithfully flushing his morning constitutionals without error or incident for over three decades. Even this poor ole Mississippi boy knows his way around an indoor commode. Well, turns out I was the short-sighted one there, as the toilet would not plunge (though that morning it thankfully did not overflow). I left an apologetic note/forewarning on the toilet lid for the poor housekeeping woman I had hoped to spare from my latest indignity. I had a ride to catch to the airport, and frankly already felt plenty humiliated and had no desire to go another round with the front desk lady. This is my grievance. Thanks for your time.

Great service. Friendly people. I felt welcomed. I will go back.

We had reservations at another hotel close by, and were told that we could check in at noon. We traveled from Charlotte, and were only staying one night. When we got there, they were just starting housecleaning, and we were told that our room would not be ready until two o'clock. We had no place else to go, so we decided to find another hotel. Holiday Inn express was right around the corner, and even though it was noon, there were plenty of rooms to be had. We got a decent price and a nice clean room. There were plenty of soaps, and shampoo, and nice clean towels, and the coffee maker was well stocked. Breakfast was excellent, and that was good, because we had to leave at 7 am to go back to Buffalo, NY We're planning on coming back to Hillsborough again this year, and we'll stay at the same place. It was a nice experience. The only thing I would suggest is a mattress overhaul in each room, because it was pretty soft and squeaky.

Hotel is in need of refurbishing! Carpeting in corridor was wrinkled and loose. Bathroom ceiling over tub was chipped and had a hole in it. Room smelled strongly of smoke although we were told it was a non-smoking room. There was even an ashtray on the dresser! Used bandaid on floor. Room furnishings reminded me of something I would expect to see at Hotel 6. Mattress had a huge sag in middle and frame creaked when you sat on bed ( I only weigh 130 pounds)No shampoo or complimentary toiletries of any kind and only 1 small bar of soap in bathroom. Not even a Do Not Disturb sign which may have stopped housekeeping from coming into the room without knocking at least 4 times between 8 am and checkout time of noon! Very rough tp. For $89.00/night and a 3 star rating I expected more. Except for the bandaid, the room was pretty clean-the only positive thing I can say about this hotel. I will never stay here again.