Corydon's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dissect like a particularly tasty frog the experience that is . And I'm not just gonna hit you with the bullet points; no, no, no. We're diving HEADFIRST. Prepare for a review that's less… sterile and more… real life. Get ready for opinions, tangents, and the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me my inner travel blogger.
Overall Vibe: The Promise of Paradise (with a few potential gremlins)
First impressions? Okay, fine, it looks pretty impressive online. The photos… they're stunning. The shimmering pools, the smiling faces, the promise of… well, a life less stressed. But let's be real, those photos ALSO probably have a filter or two. So, let's see if the reality actually delivers.
Let's get the basics out of the way (Accessibility, because, duh):
- Accessibility: They say it's wheelchair accessible. The devil, as always, is in the details. I'm talking about actual accessible rooms and making sure all facilities are truly accessible! So, is the pool ramp actually functional? Are the bathrooms designed right or just "accessible" on paper? We need more details, and a real audit. If you or someone you’re with requires wheelchair access…call beforehand. Check EVERYTHING. Don’t assume, ask!
- On-site accessible restaurants/lounges: Again, crucial. If the main restaurant is up a flight of stairs, we've got a problem, haven't we? Gotta see this firsthand.
- Everything else: Hopefully, they have elevators. Check. Check!
The Internet: Your Digital Lifeline (or Disaster)
- Free Wi-Fi in ALL rooms! Glory hallelujah! This is a MUST these days. Thank GOD.
- Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas: Okay, so we got Wi-Fi in the rooms, and hopefully good coverage everywhere else. Let's be honest, it’s 2024. No one wants buffering. If it's spotty… well, that’s a huge downside. I've got work to do, people!
Things to Do (and Ways to… Unwind):
- Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: Okay, now we’re talking! This is where it starts to sound actually luxurious. If there's a GOOD massage therapist, I’m SOLD. But I've also had some… questionable massages in my life. My expectations rise and fall at the same time.
- Pool with view, Sauna, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]: The vibe is important here. Is it crowded? Is it full of screaming kids? Or is it a peaceful oasis of serenity? A pool with a view is always a win in my book. Seriously, though, pool crowding is a HUGE mood killer.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: If you plan on actually exercising… make sure the gym is stocked with more than three ancient treadmills and a sad set of weights.
Cleanliness and Safety (Because, Ewww):
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: Wow. Sounds like they’re taking this seriously. This is GOOD. I feel more comfortable that they're actually doing something to combat illness.
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour]: Okay, safety is a must. I like knowing someone is looking out for you.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The Fuel of My Soul):
- Restaurants, A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: Okay, this is a massive list. Too massive, maybe? Is the variety good… or is it just over-promise, under-deliver? Buffet? Always a gamble. Does the Asian breakfast actually taste good? I'm extremely skeptical.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant This is non-negotiable. It's the backbone of any hotel staying experience.
- Room service [24-hour]: Essential. Especially after a long day of… well, doing absolutely nothing.
- Poolside bar: This is exactly what I want. Frozen margaritas? Yes, please.
Services and Conveniences (Making Life Easier):
- Air conditioning in public area: Yes, please. We're not barbarians.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: This seems like a LOT of stuff! Contactless check-in/out? A win! Luggage storage? Lifesaver. A doorman to open the door? Now we're talking luxury.
- Concierge: A good concierge can make or break a trip. Knowledgeable about the area? Helpful with reservations? Or more interested in selling you overpriced tours?
- Daily housekeeping: I need my room cleaned every day. That's just who I am. I will become a gremlin in a week.
For the Kids (If You Have Them… Which I Don't, Thankfully):
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Okay, this is for the parentals. Good to know they cater to the tiny humans, I suppose. However, I just want to make sure the kids aren't running around in the pool at 6 AM. Kids zones are important. And that is what I will say about that.
Access (Getting Around):
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Airport transfer is a HUGE plus. (Are they reliable?). Free parking is always a win. Power charging? The future!
Available in All Rooms (The Essentials):
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: Everything you'd expect, and more. And the ALL IMPORTANT blackout curtains? Yes, please.
- Bathrobes, Slippers: You're lying if you say this doesn't make you feel fancy!
- Coffee/tea maker: Vital.
- The most comfortable bed you've ever slept in: A good bed is a deal breaker, people.
Now, Let's TALK "Offer" and Why You Should Book:
Okay, so they've got all these amenities. That’s all fine and dandy. But why should YOU spend your hard-earned cash on this specific hotel? Here's the REAL pitch:
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY: Escape the Ordinary, Indulge Your Senses, and Breathe Easy at [Hotel Name]
Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Dreaming of a place where you can actually relax? [Hotel Name] is offering a special package designed to melt away your worries and leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the world (or at least, a new week).
Here’s what's in it for YOU:
- Unwind and Recharge: Start your day with a freshly brewed
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you’re about to get real. We're talking a Corydon, Indiana adventure, a real slice of American pie, topped with a hefty dollop of… well, let's see what it's topped with, shall we? This is NOT a perfectly-manicured travel blog. This is me, stumbling through a Holiday Inn Express, armed with caffeine and the unwavering belief that a good story (and maybe a decent biscuit) is just around the corner.
The Corydon Catastrophe (and the Holiday Inn's Surprising Sweetness)
Day 1: Arrival and Mild Panic
1:00 PM: Land in Louisville, Kentucky. Okay, "land" is a generous term. More like, "held on for dear life while the little metal bird slammed into the runway." My stomach, still on permanent vacation from the friendly confines of my body, did a triple backflip. Airport chaos. So much luggage. So many screaming toddlers. My sanity, already waving a white flag.
1:30 PM: Car rental… the saga begins. Turns out, "compact SUV" translates to "slightly larger than a roller skate" and "available in every color except the one I wanted, which, naturally, was the only one I actually, secretly, needed to feel vaguely in control." Settled for "subdued beige." At least it has air conditioning, which is a must in the Indiana summer.
2:30 PM: Drive to Corydon. The GPS, bless its digital heart, decided to take me on a scenic tour of… well, let's just say it involved more gravel roads than I’d budgeted for. My "subdued beige" SUV is now "slightly dusty." And me? I'm contemplating a career change. Maybe I'll become a hermit. The thought is oddly appealing.
4:00 PM: Finally, finally, pull into the hallowed parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express Corydon. Relief washes over me. A wave of gentle waves and the promise of an air conditioned haven. Check-in is smooth, surprisingly. Shout out to Brenda at the front desk – she’s an absolute angel. Smiling, patient, and she didn't even bat an eye when I asked if they had a "stress-relief room." (They didn't. But the thought was there, right?)
4:30 PM: Discovering the room. Is it luxurious? Nope. Is it clean? Mostly! The bed? Glorious. The sheets are crisp! The air conditioning is working! I'm suddenly, irrationally, joyful. This is my temporary kingdom, my safe harbor. I immediately collapse onto said bed like a sack of potatoes.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Contemplating the meaning of life. Contemplating the questionable "art" hanging on the wall. Decide to embrace the slightly faded charm and make a plan for getting out there.
7:30 PM: Dinner at a local joint. (We'll get to the fine details later) The fried food is truly the embodiment of Indiana.
Day 2: History, Hollows, and Hidden Gems (Maybe?)
- 8:00 AM: The free breakfast. The promised land of mini-cinnamon rolls and questionable scrambled eggs. The coffee, thankfully, is strong enough to raise the dead. Scrambled eggs - not so much. But I don't care. I am getting a cinnamon roll, even if it costs me my sanity.
- 9:00 AM: Tour of the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site. Okay, history time! Surprisingly fascinating. The old statehouse is kind of amazing, and it's a reminder of how much dedication had to go into creating a new state. I have a moment of feeling vaguely patriotic, which is quickly replaced by the realization I need to pee… desperately.
- 10:30 AM: Proclaim the history is complete. It's time to head to the local candy shop. This is a must! Candy is the best source of dopamine and that is where I will thrive.
- 11:00 AM: I get lost. The GPS is confused. I am, too. Take a deep breath and head back to the hotel to avoid another road-trip meltdown.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a small town diner. Chicken fried steak. Pure, unadulterated, glorious carbs. I felt like a local. The waitress poured me a refill before I even finished my water.
- 1:30 PM: Exploring the Squire Boone Caverns. The air is cool. The formations are really amazing. It actually smelled like damp earth and mystery in there. I get a little freaked out by the dark depths, and I imagine a monster lurking in the shadows. Decide it's all in my head, and I should just enjoy the pretty minerals… but I still get a fright.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the room. A serious need for a nap. My eyelids are heavy, like weighted blankets. Collapse on the bed.
- 6:00 PM: Trying to find something to eat. Decided to "treat myself". But where?!
Day 3: The Corydon Farewell (and the Flight Home)
- 8:00 AM: Repeat of breakfast. The cinnamon rolls feel less like a mistake and more like a reward.
- 9:00 AM: One last stroll. I'm going to miss this place. Even the slightly odd charm, the fried food, the feeling of being miles away from the everyday.
- 10:00 AM: Check out. Brenda gives me a knowing smile as I leave - I think she gets me.
- 11:00 AM: Driving back to Louisville.
- 1:00 PM: Drop off the "subdued beige" roller skate.
- 2:00 PM: Airport. Security. The entire experience, still utterly perplexing.
- 4:00 PM: Airborne. Looking down at the tiny little patchwork fields of Indiana and I decide I had a good trip.
Final Thoughts:
Corydon. It's not perfect. It's a little rough around the edges. But that, my friends, is part of the charm. It's honest, it's real, and it makes you confront both the beautiful and the slightly messy parts of yourself. And the Holiday Inn Express? A surprisingly comfortable and welcoming oasis. Would I go back? Absolutely. In fact, I think I need a another cinnamon roll… and maybe a stress-relief room, this time.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a serious hankering for a nap. Godspeed, fellow travelers. And remember: embrace the mess. It's where the best stories are born.
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So, what *exactly* is this thing? I'm, like, totally clueless.
Ugh, where to even *begin*? It’s… complicated. Okay, think of it like this: imagine a thing that’s meant to… well, let's just say it's a system, a process, a… a *journey*. Look, I know, vague. But that's because every time I try to define it, I get this overwhelming urge to run screaming into the nearest field. Seriously. It's like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall. You chase it, you poke it, you think you’ve almost *got* it, and then… plop. Nothing.
The core thing is probably this: it's about *doing* something and that *something* could involve a lot of different things. So, there you go, I've described it... or haven't.
Okay, okay. But WHY should *I* care? What's in it for me? I'm very selfish to put this lightly.
Oh, you’re selfish? Honey, join the club. Look, the "why care" question? It's a tough one. My therapist keeps asking me that. I think, at first, I was basically dragged into all of this. But, here’s the thing, there's a possibility of a major reward.
It could totally change the way you look at things! Think of it as a personal upgrade!
What are the *common* misconceptions about this, and how do you feel about it?
Oh, the misconceptions. Sweet baby Jesus, where do I start? The biggest one? That it's EASY. It's not. Don't believe the hype. You'll get your hopes up, build a whole fantasy land in your head, and then… BAM. Reality hits you like a rogue wave.
Another one is that it's a guaranteed path to… well, insert your wildest dream here. It's not! It's more like a bumpy road, a rollercoaster, a blindfolded walk through a minefield.
How do *I* feel about it? Honestly? Sometimes I love it. Sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I just want to eat a whole tub of ice cream and pretend it doesn't exist. It's a complicated, messy relationship, like… well, like my relationship with my ex, actually. Too much information? Probably.
I hear it's hard. Tell me something absolutely TERRIFYING about this journey.
Okay, here’s a story. Buckle up.
I remember the first time I saw it. I thought it was just gonna take a few hours... a weekend at most. No. NO. A little more than a month later, I was locked in the office. The walls were closing in, I hadn’t showered in days and I was pretty sure I'd lost all sense of who I even *was*. I was eating instant ramen straight from the packet and talking to my pet cat, who, by the way, looked as baffled as I felt.
That feeling... the sheer, unadulterated panic of realizing you've stumbled into something way bigger than you bargained for? That's the terrifying part. That moment when you go, "Oh. My. God. What have I *done*?" It’s the abyss, staring back at you. And, let me tell you, it is not a pretty sight. Especially when you realize you can't turn back.
What if I mess up? What’s the worst that can happen?
Messing up is not only inevitable, it's practically a requirement. The journey is a series of joyous victories.
The worst? Well, it depends on your definition of "worst." You could lose your patience, your cool, your sanity. You might end up questioning everything you thought you knew.
But honestly? That's kind of the point. You learn from the mistakes. You grow. You become… something more.
What's a quick tip for a beginner to avoid a disaster?
I know it seems simple, but a good start is to **breathe**. Seriously. Inhale, exhale. Before you do anything else, remind yourself: it's going to be a marathon, not a sprint. And you're going to mess up. Get comfortable with that idea.
And if I *can* ask a question... Should I?
Yes. Absolutely. Ask *all* the questions. Even the dumb ones. Especially the dumb ones. Dumb questions often lead to the most interesting insights.
Are there any unexpected joys involved in this whole… thing?
Oh, you bet your sweet bippy there are! The best part of the whole process is often the unexpected. The "aha!" moments that hit you like a bolt of lightning. The feeling of finally cracking the code. The… well, the sheer, unadulterated *joy* of getting something right, after spending days, weeks, or even months, convinced you were utterly, spectacularly failing.
It’s when you finally feel like you understand. It's like some part of you, deep down, has been waiting for this the whole time. It's like finding a secret door to a whole new world.
What are the downsides of this, though? Don't sugarcoat it for me!
Okay, okay, fine. Let's get real. The downsides? They're numerous, and they vary depending on who you are. It can be emotionally draining. You'll experience frustration, doubt, and moments of wanting to chuck the entire thing out the window (trust me, I've been there). It requires a lot of time. Did I mention the time commitment? Because, oh boy, it's a big one.
There's also the constant feeling of *never quite being good enough*. The imposter syndrome will rear its ugly head. But, look. This might be theWorld Wide Inns
