Norfolk's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review SHOCK!
Norfolk's BEST Hotel? Hold on to Your Hats…Holiday Inn Express Review SHOCK! (Prepare for Rambling Truths!)
Okay, okay, deep breaths. I've just spent a week wrestling with fluffy pillows and the existential dread that comes with a "review assignment". This isn't just any review, it's about the… supposedly the best hotel in Norfolk, The Holiday Inn Express. Let's be honest, the name alone sounds like a promise of… well, not excitement, but maybe a clean bed and a complimentary continental breakfast? Buckle up, buttercups, because this is going to be… messy. And hopefully, helpful!
First Impressions (and a Little Panic Attack): Accessibility & Safety… Really?
Look, I'm not a wheelchair user, but I'm always looking for accessibility. It's the moral minimum, right? And here's where things got off to a surprisingly smooth start. Wheelchair accessible? CHECK. The lobby was spacious, the elevators were well-marked, and navigating the public areas felt genuinely easy. I'm happy to report that the hotel appeared to take accessibility seriously.
Now, safety. That's a big one, especially nowadays. CCTV in common areas? Yep. CCTV outside property? Double-yep. I’m not sure whose watching! Fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and even a weird little "Safety/security feature" box in the room? Ding, ding, ding! The hotel felt… safe. (Though I'm secretly still terrified of fire alarms in hotels. Always have been.)
Cleanliness & Hygiene: The Anti-Viral Gauntlet
Okay, let's get real. We all want to know if a place is CLEAN, especially after… well, everything. Professional-grade sanitizing services? They claim so. Anti-viral cleaning products? Supposedly! They also boast about Daily disinfection in common areas and Rooms sanitized between stays. Look, I'm not going to go around licking the walls (tempting as it is, after a long drive), but the hotel felt clean. The air felt fresher than I expected, and the general vibe was… not gross. That’s a win in my book. I did spot a stray hair in my shower – Room sanitization opt-out available? Nope. – but hey, nothing’s perfect.
Rooms: Comfort, Convenience, and the Eternal Quest for the Perfect Pillow
Okay, let's dive into the room itself because where else am I going to spend a week eating hotel food while watching too much TV? My particular room was a standard affair, but it had all the basics. Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? Double check, essential for this light-sensitive soul! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? HALLELUJAH! (Seriously, I’m not sure I could function without internet access – you have no idea how many silly videos I watch to calm my nerves).
Internet: The Lifeline
Speaking of the internet…it was actually good. Internet access – LAN was listed, but honestly, who uses LAN anymore? The Wi-Fi [free] was reliable, and that's all that matters to me. No buffering while I caught up on the latest cat memes. Big points.
Other Room Perks:
- Coffee/tea maker? Yes! Huge for those early morning calls.
- Refrigerator? YES! Hello, late-night snacks and chilled beverages!
- In-room safe box? Sure! I didn't really use this but it's a nice option.
But…
- Bathrobes? Nope. (Sad face.)
- Slippers? No. This really highlights the distance between the holiday inn and the Ritz.
- Extra long bed? Nope.
Stuff I Didn’t Love (and Why It Matters): The bed was…fine. Not amazing, not terrible, just… there. The pillows, however, were the kind that seem to actively resist being comfortable. I spent three nights wrestling with them, eventually folding a towel into a makeshift support system. Sigh. I have since added them to my personal “pillow hall of shame”.
Dining & Sigh Drinking: The Complimentary Breakfast Debacle
Breakfast [buffet]? Yes. Breakfast service? Yes. Breakfast takeaway service: Yes. Okay, I'll be honest, this is where things got a little… meh. The “Asian breakfast” options seemed a bit of a stretch, but the usual suspects were present: scrambled eggs (a little overcooked, I'm afraid), sausages (probably from a factory), some pastries (slightly stale) and cereal. Breakfast [buffet] was the only thing I remember but I swear I walked away hungry.
The Poolside Bar Wasn't:
There wasn't one. Okay, so there was no "poolside bar" as the pool was inside.
The (Nonexistent) Spa:
Spa/sauna, Spa. Sorry to say that there was no spa. There was a gym. I didn't even attempt to use the gym. It probably involved sweat, and frankly, I'm more of a "sit on the couch" kind of person.
Services and Conveniences: The Swiss Army Knife of Hotel Life
Concierge? Nope. Doorman? Double nope. But… they did have:
- Cash withdrawal? Yes.
- ATM? Yes.
- Daily housekeeping? Yes, and they were friendly.
- Laundry service? Yes. (And a very welcome one after I spilled coffee on my favorite shirt)
Meetings, Seminars, and the Business Traveler's Dream?
Meeting/banquet facilities? Yes. Audio-visual equipment for special events? Yes. Business facilities? Yes. For all you business-y types, they seem to have it covered. I saw some groups coming and going and I'm fairly certain they were not on holiday.
For the Kids (and the Kid in All of Us):
Family/child friendly? Yes. I saw a few families and they seemed happy. No screaming children in the hallways at 3 am. Bonus! They also had Babysitting service? (I didn’t need it, thanks!)
Getting Around: The Urban Adventurer's Toolkit
Airport transfer? Yes. Car park [free of charge]? Yes. Taxi service? Yes. Getting around was easy. I left my car parked and took a taxi all week to avoid the traffic.
My Overall Verdict: The Holiday Inn Express… Is… Fine?
Here’s the truth bomb: The Holiday Inn Express isn’t going to blow your mind. It's not a luxurious getaway; it's a solid, dependable basecamp. It's the comfortable sweater in your closet, not the dazzling evening gown. Is it Norfolk’s BEST hotel? Maybe. It's certainly a good option.
So, should you book?
YES, if you want:
- A clean, safe environment.
- Reliable Wi-Fi.
- A decent breakfast to start your day (even if you have to fight with the pillows).
- A convenient location.
NO, if you:
- Are expecting five-star pampering.
- Crave a gourmet breakfast.
- Require spa services.
The Offer (Because You Deserve a Good Deal):
Here's the deal: Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Norfolk NOW and get 15% off your stay! Plus, use the code NORFOLKFUN at checkout and get a complimentary upgrade to a room with a better view (fingers crossed for a better pillow situation!). But wait, there's more! The first 20 bookings get a free bottle of water and a chance to win a voucher for a free breakfast! That's a shockingly good deal for a kinda awesome hotel. Book now and start your adventure!
(Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the Holiday Inn Express. I'm just a weary traveler who's seen a lot of hotel rooms. And frankly, this one was… good enough. Go forth and book!)
Levelland's BEST Kept Secret? This Hotel Will SHOCK You!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, 'cause we're diving headfirst into my absolutely bonkers (and hopefully not disastrous) trip based at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Norfolk, Virginia. This ain't your pristine, bullet-pointed travelogue. This is a messy, real-life adventure with all the hiccups, triumphs, and questionable life choices included.
Day 1: Arrival & Mild Disappointment (with a Spicy Side of Pizza)
- 14:00 - Arrival at Norfolk International Airport (ORF): Okay, so the flight. Let's just say the "free" peanuts were the highlight. I swear, my seat neighbor spent the entire flight aggressively clipping their nails. The suspense nearly killed me. Anyway, taxi ride to the hotel – the usual awkward small talk with the driver who clearly has heard it all.
- 14:30 - Check-in at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Norfolk: Check-in went smoothly, thankfully. The lobby smelled vaguely of chlorine and stale coffee, which, strangely, is a scent I associate with "adventure." My room? Let’s just say I've seen bigger closets. But hey, it’s clean-ish and has a window. Success! Though it slightly overlooks a rather unsightly dumpster. Ah well, the world isn't all roses, is it?
- 15:00 - Room Revelation and the Great Snack Hunt: First order of business? Unpack the carry-on. Then comes the hunt. The quest for nourishment. I usually pack emergency snacks, like rice cakes and dried fruit which is the most exciting snack ever and, of course, they're at the very bottom of my bag.
- 16:00 - Wandering (and the Search for Dinner): Time to venture out! I wandered around the immediate vicinity, trying to get my bearings. I saw a strip mall. Mostly chain restaurants. (Sigh). I'm a sucker for local flavor, yet I always seem to wind up where the familiar is.
- 18:00 - Dinner at that Pizza Place, which I can't remember the name of: Okay, so the promise of a local Norfolk pizzeria turned out to be a pretty standard, average pizza. BUT the garlic knots were to die for! Soft, buttery, garlicky heaven. I ate way too many. And then felt slightly guilty.
- 19:30 - Back at the hotel: I flipped through channels, and nothing grabbed my attention. I got sucked down the rabbit hole watching reality TV. I felt a pang of sadness for my actual life. I finally gave in and crashed. Exhausted and slightly pizza-bloated.
Day 2: History, Humidity, and a Failed Attempt at Sophistication
- 07:00 - Wake-up Call (or the Lack Thereof): I set my alarm, of course didn't hear it because I was still in the pizza coma. I woke up late, and already felt behind schedule. Great start.
- 08:00 - Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express: Standard continental breakfast. The lukewarm scrambled eggs gave me flashbacks to high school cafeterias. The coffee was okay, though. Essential.
- 09:00 - Historic Ghent and the Chrysler Museum: The whole Ghent thing, the museum… Wow. The Chrysler Museum's art and the whole building itself were superb! I spent a good two hours wandering through the collections.
- 12:00 - Lunch and a Sudden Downpour: The skies opened up like a biblical flood, but I didn't even care. I found a cute little cafe that served the most delicious sandwiches with fresh side salads. The cafe was a very good experience, they let me stay while the rain did its thing.
- 14:00 - Lost in the Naval History: The Naval History Museum. Honestly? It was a bit overwhelming. So many ships, so much history. I’m pretty sure I only skimmed the surface. I got lost wandering around the museum, mostly looking at the shiny things.
- 17:00 - The Art of the Brewery and a Case of the Giggles: Found a local brewery. I'm not a beer expert, but I do appreciate a good IPA. I tried something that the bartender recommended and ended up laughing hysterically.
- 19:00 - Dinner Dilemma and Late-Night Regret: I wanted to find a nice restaurant for dinner. However, when I returned to the hotel, I thought of what I had to do the next day. I just had a sandwich and a cup of tea.
Day 3: Beach Blunders, Oyster Adventures (and a Near-Miss with a Seagull)
- 07:00 - Wake up…and face the day: Today's the day - the day I make a splash!
- 09:00 - The Beach & the Great Sunscreen Disaster: The beach. I was so excited. I drove to the beach – but then realized I forgot my sunscreen. Now, I’m fairly pale. So, I ended up buying a huge container of SPF 50 on the way. But I'm telling you, it was like trying to swim in a vat of oil.
- 11:00 - Oyster Obsession: I'm obsessed with oysters. I went to an oyster bar. The oysters? Phenomenal. Fresh, briny, and the perfect thing. I may have ordered three dozen. (Don't judge).
- 13:00 - Seagulls and Siren Sounds: While I was eating my delicious oysters, a seagull, with a hunger in its eyes, descended upon me. The screech was a siren song. Luckily, I ducked just in time, and the seagull only got a chunk of my potato chips.
- 14:00 - A Rest and Reflection: Back at the hotel. I needed a nap (and maybe a mental health check).
- 17:00 - The Search for an Evening Adventure - Again Dinner. I really wanted something special. I ended up eating a grilled cheese. Maybe tomorrow!
Day 4: Departure & Mixed Feelings
- 07:00 - Final Breakfast at the Hotel: More lukewarm eggs. More questionable coffee. But this time, I savored them. Knowing it’s my last morning.
- 08:00 - Packing Panic and a Last-Minute Scramble: Packing is always a source of stress. I thought I had it all together. But then I realized I couldn't find my phone charger. This is me, for sure. It was in the very bottom of my bag.
- 09:00 - Check-Out and Farewells: Check-out was smooth. I left a generous tip for the cleaning staff – they deserved it for dealing with my mess.
- 10:00 - Heading to Airport: The taxi ride back to the airport was much more pleasant.
- 12:00 - Flight home: Goodbye, Norfolk. You were weird, wonderful, and occasionally baffling. I'm definitely going home with a tan and a newfound appreciation for garlic knots. And maybe I'll invest in a better alarm clock, and a less aggressive nail-clipping seat neighbor.
Okay, so maybe it wasn't the most polished vacation. But it was mine. And that, my friends, is the beauty of it. Norfolk, you were a blast. I’d come back (probably). If only for the oysters.
Riverdale Hall: UK's Hidden Gem? Luxury Getaway Awaits!
Okay, spill it: Is this truly Norfolk's "BEST" hotel? Or is this just clickbait?!
The dreaded "Breakfast Included" question: Was it edible? (and did you hog all the waffles?)
The Room: Cozy or Claustrophobic? And what about the cleanliness?
Location, Location, Location! Was it handy for exploring Norfolk?
Let's talk Service. Were the staff angels, or did someone need a thesaurus for "customer service?"
The Pool! (Because, Vacation!) Was it a refreshing oasis, or more of a glorified puddle?
The Price! Did the hotel break the bank? Was it worth the money?
The *One* Thing That *Really* Stuck With You (good or bad)?
So, Would You Stay There Again? (And would you recommend it to your WORST enemy?!).
