Escape to Montrose: Luxurious Stay at Holiday Inn Express & Suites!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into a review of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Montrose, and trust me, it's gonna be a ride. Forget those sterile, corporate-sounding reviews – we're going real. This is about living at the Holiday Inn Express, not just staying there.
First Impressions: Montrose, Baby! (And the Accessibility Stuff)
Okay, so Montrose itself? Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Mountains, fresh air, that whole Colorado deal. Now, the Holiday Inn Express is perfectly situated for hitting up all the outdoor stuff. Right, so, the accessibility. HUGE. I'm talking about the stuff that should be standard, but let's be honest, isn't always. They've got elevators, ramps, and I'm pretty sure the front desk folks were super helpful. Didn't need the full wheelchair experience, but I did see folks using the provided aids. This is a good thing, people. Plus, there was a designated disabled parking area. Score!
Internet, Internet, Everywhere! (And the Occasional Glitch)
Free Wi-Fi in the rooms? YES! Praise be! Okay, so I'm a bit of a digital nomad, so reliable internet is, like, crucial. I ran into a minor hiccup one morning – the connection was slower than molasses in January. Annoying, sure, but I just rebooted everything and it was good. They also had the LAN option, which I didn't even use but thought, "Cool, options!"
The Room: My Little Montrose Fortress
- Available in all rooms: Whoa, hold up…air conditioning! Yes, praise the cool air gods!
- Air conditioning: Oh man, I cranked that thing up. Sweating in Montrose is NO fun.
- Alarm clock: Standard, mostly ignored.
- Bathrobes: (gasp) I love a good plush, soft bathrobe!
- Bathroom phone: Okay, maybe a little extra, but fun!
- Bathtub: Soaking in a tub after a long day of hiking? Dreamy.
- Blackout curtains: Life-savers. They actually work.
- Closet: Perfect for hiding my snacks.
- Coffee/tea maker: Crucial. Mandatory. Needs immediate caffeine replenishment
- Complimentary tea: A very nice touch! Good for sipping.
- Daily housekeeping: I have no issue with that,
- Desk: Great for working or just pretending to be productive.
- Extra long bed: Because I need room to flail.
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key in the mountains! Needed it!
- Hair dryer: Thank you! Very helpful
- High floor: Gave me a great view of… well, the mountains. Gorgeous.
- In-room safe box: I think I used it for spare change.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Perfect for families (or super secretive spy operations).
- Internet access – LAN: Didn't use, but hey, it's there!
- Internet access – wireless: YES! Again!
- Ironing facilities: Needed to press my fanciest travel shirt.
- Laptop workspace: Perfect for… well, the laptop.
- Linens: Clean. Soft. Appreciated.
- Mini bar: I think I used it as a second fridge for snacks
- Mirror: Checking myself out. (guilty)
- Non-smoking: Hooray! Fresh air is a luxury.
- On-demand movies: Never actually watched one, but hey, the option's there!
- Private bathroom: Privacy is appreciated.
- Reading light: Nice for those bedtime novels.
- Refrigerator: Perfect for the leftover pizza.
- Safety/security feature: Peace of mind.
- Satellite/cable channels: Enough distractions.
- Scale: (Gulp) Yeah, avoided that.
- Seating area: A comfy corner to chill out.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury.
- Shower: Clean. Hot. Bliss.
- Slippers: Nice.
- Smoke detector: Safety first!
- Socket near the bed: Genius.
- Sofa: Extra relaxing spot.
- Soundproofing: Worked like a charm.
- Telephone: I use my cell.
- Toiletries: Good quality!
- Towels: Fluffy and fresh!
- Umbrella: Didn't need it, thankfully.
- Visual alarm: I'm not sure how that works
- Wake-up service: Missed it.
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax): The Amenities Breakdown!
Okay, so, you're staying here, right? Now, what do you do? Okay, the Fitness Center was actually pretty decent. I'm not a major gym rat, but it had the essentials. And the Pool with a view was amazing. Seriously, swimming with the mountains in the background? Unbeatable. No room for things like Body scrubs or wraps, which may be missed.
- Pool with view Oh, the pool! The pool was my happy place. I spent a solid afternoon just soaking up the sun and admiring the mountains. Pure bliss.
Food, Glorious Food! (And the Breakfast Buffet)
Alright, the breakfast. This is where the hotel really shines AND where it might fall flat for a few picky eaters. Breakfast [buffet] was a game-changer. The usual suspects were present and accounted for; eggs, bacon, waffles. They even had some fruit! And coffee? Endless.
- Breakfast service: I'm a breakfast person. The buffet was a godsend.
- Buffet in restaurant: Okay.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Worry-Free Zone
This is crucial for me. They were on it. Saw staff constantly disinfecting common areas, and the rooms felt spotlessly clean. Hand sanitizer everywhere, which is also a giant plus. * Anti-viral cleaning products: That's the kind of stuff I like to hear! * Cashless payment service: Super convenient. * Daily disinfection in common areas: Excellent! * First aid kit: They even had one! Because accidents. * Hand sanitizer: EVERYWHERE. Love it. * Hot water linen and laundry washing: Yep. * Hygiene certification: Always a good sign! * Individually-wrapped food options: Smart and safe. * Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Makes you feel safe. * Professional-grade sanitizing services: Nice! * Rooms sanitized between stays: Makes you feel secure. * Safe dining setup: Very good. * Staff trained in safety protocol: Comforting. * Sterilizing equipment: Good to know.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Fuel Factor
A few things to note:
- Bar: didn't see one.
- Coffee shop: No but coffee in the breakfast room was fine
- Restaurants: No real restaurant in-house, but lots nearby.
- Snack bar: Didn't see one.
Services and Stuff: The Extra Touches
- Business facilities: I saw the business center.
- Concierge: There wasn't really a concierge desk.
- Contactless check-in/out: Easy peasy.
- Convenience store: A little shop for snacks.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly? Absolutely!
Seems like a great place to bring the kiddos. Family friendly all the way!
- Kids facilities: Not exactly a playground, but the pool is a kid-magnet.
- Kids meal: Not on the menu, I think.
Getting Around: The Logistics!
- Car park [free of charge]: Yup! Free parking. Always a win.
- Car park [on-site]: Easy access.
The Verdict and the Big Pitch!
Okay, so, this place definitely exceeded my expectations. It's clean, comfortable, well-located, and the staff are genuinely friendly. The breakfast is a winner, the pool is epic, and the accessibility features are top-notch. It's not perfect (what is?!), but it's a solid choice for exploring Montrose.
🔥 The Deal: Your Montrose Adventure Awaits! 🔥
Feeling the call of the mountains? Ready for an escape? Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Montrose now and get ready for an experience! We can help you with the best options and deals! Don't wait! This isn't your average hotel stay. It's a Montrose adventure, waiting to happen!
Malta's Barrister Hotel: Uncover the Island's Best-Kept Secret!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. We're talking a trip to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Montrose, Colorado, and I'm gonna lay it all bare. This is less a perfectly sculpted travelogue and more… well, a hot mess. But a real hot mess, with all the good, the bad, and the slightly-too-much-coffee in the morning.
Pre-Trip Anxiety (Because, let's be honest, who doesn't get it?):
- Weeks Before: Okay, so Montrose. Never been. Colorado? Been, loved it. Montrose…sounds like a fancy type of rose? Probably not. Panic slowly starts to creep in. Is it going to be cold? Will the altitude kick my butt? (Spoiler alert: Yes to both). Booking the hotel – the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Seems safe. Solid reviews. Crisis averted… for now.
- Days Before: The packing spiral hits. Mountains? Definitely bring the hiking boots, even though I might do an actual hike. Layers! Layers! Layers! And…wait, what about that fancy dinner? Should I pack something… nice? Nah. Probably won't happen. Comfortable jeans it is.
- Departure Morning: Ugh. Why did I leave packing until the last minute? The car is a disaster, snacks are missing, and I'm pretty sure I forgot something vital. Deep breaths. Coffee. Let’s go!
Day 1: Arrival and Altitude Adjustment (and a slight motel room freak out):
- Afternoon (The Drive In - Or as I call it, "The Highway to Heaven… Except with Bad Truckers"): Flight’s landed. The drive from [insert airport here – I’m making this up, you fill in the blank] is gorgeous. Rolling hills, vast skies, the whole shebang. Then, the monotony of a long drive kicks in. My patience is tested by semi-trucks hogging the slow lane. I can't help but imagine their lives… driving for miles, the constant hum of the engine, the lonely road. Wait, am I getting philosophical? Snap out of it!
- Mid-Afternoon: Check-In. The Holiday Inn is, well, a Holiday Inn. Clean enough. Looks like a Holiday Inn. Front desk person is friendly, which is always a good start. "Welcome to Montrose!" she chirps. I get the feeling they say that a lot.
- Late Afternoon: The Room. And the Panic. Okay, so the room is… fine. Standard. Not the "suite" I envisioned, but hey, I’m traveling smart, not bougee. Then I notice it. The air. Thinner than I'm used to. Suddenly, I’m panting just from unpacking. I frantically check the oxygen level. Maybe I should've trained for this. This is not looking good.
- Evening: Mild Food and Mild Rest. I drag myself to a local restaurant. Pasta? Nope. Too heavy. A simple salad! (Because, you know, healthy). Dinner? Meh. I head back to the hotel and crawl into bed. I realize my mistake with the coffee. Even with the windows open, I was struggling to breathe. Damn those mile-high altitude folks!
Day 2: The Adventure (and the near-death experience… just kidding… mostly):
- Morning: Breakfast Barrage. I hit the free breakfast at the hotel, which is what you would expect. It had that instant feeling of a pre-packaged breakfast but it did the job, I guess. The coffee, thank God, is strong. And necessary. Need the energy for… something.
- Mid-Morning: Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Ah, the main event! Driving to the park, the scenery starts to get stunning. The sheer scale of the canyon is awe-inspiring. It’s like someone took a giant knife and just… whacked the earth. I’m terrified of heights. I love heights. My internal conflict rages.
- Lunchtime: Picnicky with a View. I packed a picnic lunch, which is good. I forgot to bring utensils, which is less good. I'm eating my sandwich with my fingers. This is my life now.
- Afternoon: Hiking Mishap. Okay, so I decided to be brave. They had a fairly simple hike. I started down this seemingly easy trail to the rim. The trail got steeper and I’m scrambling over rocks. I’m pretty sure I could fall. I get to a vista point. The incredible view makes it all worthwhile. I start to head back. The trail is worse going up. I'm breathing hard, legs burning…I'm seriously out of shape. I consider sitting down and waiting for assistance. But I'm not giving up. And I made it, eventually.
- Early Evening: Reward. Back at the Holiday Inn, I am so tired I fall asleep. This makes me extremely sad to miss dinner, but I suppose my body is telling me to take it easy.
Day 3: Departure and Reflection (and the inevitable airport blues):
- Morning: Breakfast Re-Cap: The breakfast has improved. Or, I’m acclimating. Either way, things are looking up.
- Mid-Morning: Quick Montrose Exploration. I take a quick drive around Montrose. Cute little town. I can’t help but feel like I’ve missed a lot. I promise myself: next time, I'll stay longer.
- Afternoon: Goodbye Colorado. The drive back to the airport gives me one last chance to soak up the landscape. This time…I’m not even slightly sad. I had a great time! At least that's what I will tell everyone.
- Post-Trip: In hindsight…" I realize I came here unprepared, unconditioned, and slightly unprepared to even think about what I wanted to do. However, I enjoyed the challenge. I will certainly return to Colorado… maybe I'll do the fancy dinner next time!
- Post-Post-Trip: The "I Need a Vacation From My Vacation" Phase: I crash. Travel is exhausting. I'm sore. I'm tired. I miss the mountains. I'm already planning the next trip.
So there you have it. My journey. A mess, maybe. But my mess. And isn't that what travel is all about? The imperfections, the surprises, the moments where you just… survive. And yes, the Holiday Inn was perfectly acceptable. Just…next time, maybe I’ll get the suite. And I’m bringing my own oxygen.
Taman Melati's Chicest Escape: Minimalist Studio Apt (Travelio)
Okay, first things first - what *actually* is Escape to Montrose? Is it some kind of secret society?
Haha! Sadly, no secret society. Though if they *did* have a secret handshake, I'd be all over it. Escape to Montrose is essentially a getaway package deal offered by the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in, you guessed it, Montrose, Colorado. Think of it as a curated experience. You get a room (a comfy one, mind you!), and they often throw in some perks like vouchers for local attractions, or maybe a fancy breakfast. They change it up. Honestly, sometimes I’m not 100% sure *what* it includes from one stay to the next… which keeps it exciting, right? Maybe? Okay, admittedly, sometimes it's just confusing. Like, last time, there was a coupon for a *massage* but I didn’t have time and then I sat there and fumed for a while and *then* a completely different coupon came in the mail a few days later. Life is hard!
So, the rooms... are they, like, clean and functional? That's my bare minimum.
Are they clean and functional? YES! Absolutely. Seriously. I’m a bit of a germaphobe, bordering on obsessive-compulsive, and I've *never* had any major issues. Look, I’ve been in some hotels where I could swear the last guest's ghost was still watching TV… But this Holiday Inn Express is generally well-kept. You know, clean sheets, fresh towels, the whole shebang. The bathrooms are… well, they’re bathrooms. Functional. They have hot water (a *must* for me, as I take approximately 20 minute showers. I know, I *know*!) Bonus points for good water pressure, which is the true sign of a good hotel (or at least, a hotel I can tolerate). And sometimes, you get a view of the mountains! Which is pretty spectacular, especially if you're lucky enough to see a sunrise. I mean, *seriously,* sometimes I just stand there in my PJs, sipping lukewarm coffee from the tiny coffee maker (which, by the way, is also functional) and feeling like I'm in a cheesy travel commercial. But hey, I'll take it.
Breakfast, huh? Are we talking dry cereal and stale muffins? Because I live for a good breakfast.
Okay, so, the breakfast situation at the Holiday Inn Express… it’s… *serviceable*. Look, I'm not going to lie: it's not a Michelin-star experience. You’ve got your usual suspects: scrambled eggs (sometimes rubbery, sometimes not!), sausage, maybe some hash browns (the best part, in my opinion), a waffle station (which is ALWAYS popular, so be prepared to queue... but it's worth it!), and then the aforementioned cereal and muffins. They have fruit, too, but its like.. always a bruised banana. The coffee is… well, it’s coffee. It gets the job done. But, and this is a *big* but: it’s FREE. And honestly, after a night of… let’s just say "adventures" (we’ll get to that later…), a free breakfast is a godsend. But to be clear, I wouldn’t be writing home about it. However, one time, I actually snagged the last sausage patty, and felt an overwhelming sense of victory! It's the little things, people. The *little* things.
What's the vibe? Is it quiet and serene, or more… lively?
The vibe? Ah, the vibe! It depends. Sometimes it's quiet and serene, like a library, and you can actually *hear* the blissful sounds of silence and your own inner peace (if you work at it). Other times, it's… well, it's a hotel. Kids running down the hallways, doors slamming, the general hum of people doing… people things. It really just depends on the day. I was once there during a convention, and the lobby was pure chaos. Pure. Chaos. But the good thing is, the rooms *generally* do a good job of blocking out the noise. Unless you get a room next to the ice machine. Which, trust me, is the 7th Circle of Hotel Hell. I once made the mistake of asking a front desk person (when it happened again, I might add!) to get the hell away I was so irked. The guy just shrugged and said, "Well, it's a hotel." Sigh. But even with the potential for chaos, it's still a generally pleasant atmosphere. The staff are usually friendly, so give them a smile. We're all just trying to get by!
Okay, spill the tea. What's the best part about Escape to Montrose?
Oh, okay, the best part… (takes a deep breath). Alright, here's the dirt! Aside from the general "escape from reality" aspect, which is always a plus? It’s got to be the *potential*. Let me explain. Montrose is a launching pad for exploring the glorious, breath-taking, *unbelievable* scenery of the western slope of Colorado. The Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is right there! Hiking trails, stunning vistas, and the sheer *awesomeness* of nature just waiting to be explored. You will probably fall in love with rocks the way I did. I went during the fall and it was absolutely *magical*. The leaves were changing color, the air was crisp, and I swear I could hear the mountains whispering secrets. Okay, maybe I was just a little overwhelmed, but I felt like I was in a movie! And that feeling of escape, that feeling of being completely away from the grind… that's the *real* best part. One time, and this is a perfect illustration of what I'm talking about, I got horribly lost on a hiking trail. (Don't laugh! I had a map!) Ended up stumbling into some random guy’s *massive* backyard and ended up chatting with him for like, an hour. He offered me a beer and gave me directions back, and then, as I was headed out, asked, "So, what's your story?" And as I looked at the mountains and the amazing colors, I just had the most cathartic feeling of being *truly* away. I mean, where else do random things like that happen? Okay, technically, the answer is *everywhere*, but this particular trip… it was special. And that's what Escape to Montrose can *be*: a launching pad for those little, unplanned moments that make life worth living.
Any downsides I should be aware of? Because I am all about realistic expectations.
Okay, *downsides*. Let's be honest: it's not perfect. The toiletries are the generic hotel-branded stuff. Don't expect anything luxurious. And, as I said, sometimes the breakfast is a bit "meh". The walls *might* be a little thin, so if you get a noisy neighbor, be prepared for a less-than-peaceful night. Once, I swear I heard someone snoring through the wall so LOUDLY it sounded like a chainsaw. I literally contemplated5 Star Stay Find
