Lafayette's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review & Hidden Perks!
Lafayette's Best Kept Secret? My Holiday Inn Express Adventure! (Honest Review & Hidden Perks!)
Okay, folks, buckle up, because I'm about to lay it all out there. Lafayette, Louisiana - the heart of Cajun country - is a place that gets under your skin, and finding the right hotel can make or break a trip. So, after much deliberation, a few too many gumbo spills, and a whole lot of good ol' Louisiana hospitality, I'm here to give you the REAL lowdown on Lafayette's Holiday Inn Express. Is it the "best?" Well, let's just say it might be your best, and here's why:
First Impressions & Accessibility: Let's Get Real, People.
Finding the place was a breeze, centrally located. And yes, accessibility is a big deal for me (and should be for everyone), and I was truly impressed. The elevator? Smooth sailing. The hallways? Wide enough for a parade (or at least a wheelchair). The front desk staff? Bless their hearts, they were genuinely welcoming. This isn't always a given, and I appreciate it. They had easy-access ramp, a wheelchair access in the front door, they have an accessible room just next to the entrance, so it was perfect!
Hidden Perk Alert #1: The Free Breakfast – Don't Knock It Till You Try It!
I'm usually a "skip breakfast at the hotel" kinda person. Hotel breakfasts are often a sad, sad affair. But the Holiday Inn Express? They surprised me. I mean, it's not Michelin-star dining, but it's solid. They had the usual: scrambled eggs (not rubbery!), sausage, waffles, and…wait for it… grits! This is Louisiana, people! And they were surprisingly good. There was a vegetarian option (some sort of veggie sausage), but like, I was in the mood for the real deal, so I went for the classic sausage, egg, and waffle combo. They also had an Asian breakfast option which was nice to see, and the coffee? Surprisingly decent, too. (And yes, I'm a coffee snob.) They kept the food stocked, and the staff kept the area clean. Bonus points! The breakfast area had all the basics, from juice selection to fresh fruit. The included breakfast is a BIG win.
Living the Suite Life (or a Pretty Good Room):
My room was clean, I mean, really clean. This has got to be one of the most important things for a hotel. The bed was supremely comfortable, the pillows…well, they were okay. I'm a pillow snob. You'll always notice a pillow when it's not perfect, more than you'll notice a perfect pillow. The blackout curtains actually worked (important for those late-night Bourbon Street adventures, which…ahem…I may or may not have had). The bathroom was pristine (important!), with a great shower, and I loved the included toiletries - smelled fresh as a daisy. Air conditioning? Ice-cold, which is ESSENTIAL in Louisiana's humidity. I loved having a coffee maker. My room included an extra-long bed, a desk, and a seating area.
Internet & Tech – It's 2024, People!
Free Wi-Fi? Check. And I could actually access the internet! I mean, some hotels still haven't figured this out. I had to get some work done, and the connection was strong enough to handle video calls and large file uploads (score!). I actually went to the lobby, it was so comfortable! They also had laptop workspace, and the reception has a Xerox/fax in business center.
Wellness & Relaxation - Is This a Spa or a Hotel?
Okay, okay, let's be honest: a Holiday Inn Express isn't exactly a luxury spa retreat. There are no body scrubs or steamrooms. But they have a pool! A nice, outdoor swimming pool, which is perfect for cooling off after a hot day exploring Lafayette (and trust me, you'll need it). I loved it. It's not a "pool with a view," but it's clean, well-maintained, and perfect for a refreshing dip. And if you're feeling energetic, there's a fitness center. I may or may not have used it. (Shut up, I did!)
Food & Drink – More Than Just Grits:
There's no on-site restaurant or fancy bar situation, but…they had a great snack bar! (I'm sensing a theme here: surprises). And, crucially, room service (24-hour!). So, after a long day of exploring, I could crash in my comfy bed, order a pizza, and watch some mindless TV. Bliss. They also had coffee/tea in the restaurant.
Cleanliness, Safety & Covid-19 Protocols – Peace of Mind (Important Stuff):
This is the big one, especially these days. The hotel took safety seriously. They're clearly on top of it all. They offered professional-grade sanitizing services. Hand sanitizer everywhere. They had a staff trained in safety protocols, and hygiene certification. I felt safe and comfortable knowing that they were taking precautions. They even had individually-wrapped food options for breakfast (which I appreciated). They had physical distancing of at least 1 meter, and rooms got sanitized between stays.
Services & Conveniences – Little Touches That Matter:
They truly thought of everything. Daily housekeeping was efficient. The elevator? Fantastic! The staff were friendly and helpful. They had a convenience store, which is a lifesaver if you're craving a late-night snack or forgot something. I felt like they were truly invested in making my stay as pleasant as possible. They have daily disinfection in common areas!
Getting Around & The Little Extras:
Free on-site parking? Yes, please! They also offered airport transfer (which is super convenient), and they had a car park (free of charge). Valet parking was also available. There’s a car power charging station.
What Could Be Better (Because I'm REAL):
Okay, I'm not going to lie. There's no on-site spa, which is a bummer if you're looking for a true pampering experience. And the pool, while lovely, isn't exactly a resort-style oasis. But, honestly, for the price point and the overall experience, these are minor quibbles. They didn’t have a kids' club.
The Verdict: Why YOU Should Book This Place (And Why I'll Be Back):
Look, the Holiday Inn Express in Lafayette isn’t a five-star luxury resort. But what it is is a comfortable, clean, and well-maintained hotel that offers great value, excellent accessibility, and a surprisingly enjoyable experience. The staff are genuinely friendly, the breakfast is a solid way to start your day, and the location is perfect for exploring Lafayette and the surrounding areas.
Here's the deal: This is NOT a generic hotel. This is a place where you'll feel welcome, safe, and well taken care of. It's a place where you can relax, recharge, and enjoy all that Lafayette has to offer. You're guaranteed:
- Complimentary breakfast featuring grits and other local favorites.
- Comfortable, clean, and well-equipped rooms with free high-speed Wi-Fi.
- Friendly and helpful staff dedicated to making your stay memorable.
- Convenient access to Lafayette's attractions and experiences.
- Peace of mind with enhanced cleaning and safety protocols.
Ready to experience the best of Lafayette? Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express today!
Oyado Hachibei: Japan's Hidden Gem You NEED to See!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is a raw, unfiltered, and probably slightly chaotic account of a "stay" at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Lafayette, Louisiana. Consider this less a schedule and more… a rambling confession, punctuated by caffeine and existential dread.
The Almost Official Lafayette Adventure (With a Heavy Dose of Reality)
Day 1: Arrival, Anxiety, and the Quest for Decent Coffee
14:00 - Arrival at the Lafayette IHG: Oh joy, the promised land! Except… where’s the dang valet? Apparently, that's not a thing in Lafayette. Fine, I’ll lug my monster suitcase (filled with "essentials" like three different emergency socks) from the parking lot myself. Already sweating. Humidity in Louisiana is a living, breathing thing. I swear it’s judging me.
14:15 - Check-in… or the Art of Pretending I Know What I'm Doing: The front desk clerk, bless her heart, has the face of someone who’s seen things. She's probably had to deal with more than one disgruntled guest demanding free waffles at 3 AM. After what felt like an interrogation, I have my room key. It feels oddly heavy, like a tiny promise of mediocrity.
14:30 - The Room: A Study in… Functional Blandness: Okay, not bad. Clean enough. The bed looks comfy. The decor screams "corporate hotel" (beige, beige, and more beige). BUT, and this is a huge but… the coffee machine. I can see its sad, plastic soul from across the room. I'm already mourning the lack of good espresso. This could be a dealbreaker.
15:00 - The Coffee Crisis: The hotel's "complimentary" coffee: Weak. Lukewarm. Essentially tinted water. This is a tragedy of epic proportions. I wander the hallways, eyes peeled, searching for a beacon of hope. [Rambling Aside: Remember that time I tried to brew coffee in a hotel room with the iron? Yeah, we don’t talk about that. Let's just say the fire alarm was NOT impressed with my caffeine cravings.]
16:00 - Exploring (or, more accurately, Surviving) the Hotel: Okay, let's be honest, the "explore" is limited. There's a sad little gym (I peeked; it looked judgmental), a pool (too hot to be appealing right now), and a breakfast area that smells vaguely of sadness. I opted to stay inside the room and plan the next day.
18:00 - Dinner Debacle (or, "Why I Shouldn't Order Online Drunk and Hungry"): Found a local, highly-rated Cajun place online. Ordered. Waited. Realized it had been an hour… and a restaurant on the other side of town. The food finally came, cold, and tasted like… disappointment in a styrofoam box. (My emotional collapse was on display! I was hungry, tired, and the crawfish etouffee was a crime against Cajun cuisine.)
20:00 - Self-Pity and Netflix: This is the part where I curl up in bed, emotionally exhausted, and binge-watch something trashy on Netflix. Probably a reality show about rich people being terrible to each other. It's therapeutic, I swear.
Day 2: Food, Festivals, and the Battle Against the Burnout
07:00 - Breakfast (or, the Waffle Wars): Determined to make the best of the free breakfast situation. It's a buffet, so I'm playing this smart! I'm getting the waffle maker set up, and I'm getting all the toppings. I feel like a warrior preparing for battle. (Yes, sadly, the waffle battle was a real thing - the machine was too slow, and the syrup was… questionable.)
08:00 - Pre-Festival Prep and the (False) Hope of Energy: Coffee from the local cafe! The local coffee was a major step up. I feel human again! I'm ready to deal with the rest of the day: exploring a festival, walking around downtown, and taking a Cajun cooking class. This time, I'm going to survive. I'm going to thrive!
10:00 - Acadian Cultural Center: The history and culture of Louisiana is fascinating. I wandered those halls for a while. Maybe it was the air conditioning. It was something.
(12:00-16:30) - Cajun Cooking Class at Home Cooking Acadiana: This class was a serious win. There were other people, and we were all a mess. And we were all crying - from laughing! The food was delicious, the jokes were plentiful, and I learned how to make jambalaya. (It came out incredibly, might I add!) (The class ended late, but the feeling of excitement remained, well into the night.)
19:00 - Dinner… Again: The food was great, after the cooking class, I feel refreshed. I walked to a nearby hole-in-the-wall place with charm. 5 stars!
21:00 - Bedtime: Exhausted. Full. Happy. (And secretly, already plotting my return to that cooking class.)
Day 3: Departure and Existential Reflections
06:00 - The Wake-Up Call of Reality: Back to the crappy coffee, although its not as awful as it was two days ago. A sense of melancholy.
07:00 - Check-Out (the bittersweet goodbye): The front desk lady is even more dead-eyed than before. I hand over the heavy room key and attempt a smile. She barely acknowledges me. Fair enough.
07:30 - Driving Away… or, the Aftermath of Adventure: I'm leaving. I'm tired. I'm a little bit sad, but also… strangely grateful. Lafayette wasn't perfect. The hotel wasn't amazing. But the cooking class? The food? Those moments of connection… that's what I'll actually remember.
[Rambling Aside (AGAIN): I probably should have done more "historical" things. Museum visits. Bayou tours. But sometimes, the best experiences aren't on a list. They're the ones you stumble upon, the ones that sneak up on you when you least expect it. And that, my friends, is the real magic of travel. Even the messy, imperfect, and slightly horrifying parts.]**
(Post-Travel, a Week Later) - The Aftermath: I'm still craving Jambalaya. And I'm already mentally planning my next adventure. Maybe I'll skip the hotel this time. Maybe I'll just embrace the chaos and see where it takes me. Until next time, Lafayette… you beautiful, confusing, caffeine-deprived beast.
Lafayette's "BEST" Hotel? (Holiday Inn Express Review & Hidden Perks!) - My Ramblings & Rants
So, is the Holiday Inn Express in Lafayette REALLY the best hotel? (Spoiler: Probably not.)
Okay, okay, settle down. "Best" is a loaded word, right? Like, "best pizza" depends on what you're craving. Thin crust? Deep dish? Same applies to hotels. So, no, *objectively* speaking, the Holiday Inn Express probably isn't the absolute, top-tier, luxury experience. But, hear me out, because for *ME* in Lafayette, Indiana, at *certain* times...it comes pretty darn close, and that's the real test, isn't it?
It’s more like… a reliably *good* hotel. Like that friend who’s always there, never *amazing*, but always solid. And that reliability counts for a LOT when you're bleary-eyed after a long drive.
Plus, and here's a secret: it smells vaguely of chlorine, which, weirdly, I find comforting. Like a slightly over-sanitized hug. Don't judge me.
What are the *actual* perks? Besides the chlorine smell of doom?
Alright, alright, let's get practical here. The "Hidden Perks" are subjective, obviously, and depend on your priorities. For me? Number one: Free Breakfast. I know, I know, it's a cliché. But their breakfast is...decent. The scrambled eggs look suspect, I won't lie, but the sausage links are usually edible, and the instant oatmeal with the little packets of brown sugar...it's a morning ritual, dammit!
The Pool: Okay, this is where things get interesting. It's not Olympic-sized. It's a rectangle. But it's usually clear, and for my kids? It's heaven. We've had some truly EPIC pool afternoons there – complete with splash fights, questionable cannonballs, and the constant threat of someone peeing. (Hope it’s not me!) That, and the *really* hot jacuzzi, that you can jump in after a long day of walking around the Purdue campus (It's better after a long day!).
Location, Location, Location: The location. It’s close to everything! Restaurants? Check. Purdue University? Check. Gas stations? Check. It’s like a home base from which you can strike out and explore. Or, you know, collapse after a Chipotle run in your sweaty gym clothes. Again, don’t judge.
Can we talk about the *imperfections*? Because nothing's perfect, right?
Oh, absolutely. Let’s be real for a second. The Holiday Inn Express in Lafayette is not a palace. The decor is...well, it's Holiday Inn Express decor. Think beige, slightly faded carpets, and artwork that looks like it was purchased at a clearance sale. It's functional, not fashionable.
The WiFi: Hit or miss. Sometimes lightning fast, sometimes slower than molasses in January. This is the thing that will make you rage. If you're relying on it for serious work, prepare to tether to your phone. And pray for a strong signal.
The Noise: Depending on your room location? You might hear some noise. Kids shouting, the ice machine grinding, the occasional door slam. Earplugs are your friend. Also, I always feel like the walls are a bit… thin. Let’s just say, I've heard things I'd rather not have heard.
Okay, so this breakfast... what's the REAL tea?
The breakfast is, as I said, *decent*. There's a rotating cast of characters, it's true. Sometimes you get the fluffy scrambled eggs of the gods, and sometimes…well, let’s just say they seem to have been manufactured in a lab somewhere. You'll probably find a waffle station, and let me tell you, people take their waffle game SERIOUSLY.
The coffee? It's...coffee. Again, nothing to write home about, but gets the job done. I usually load it up with creamer just to make it palatable. Then, there's the fruit bar. Or, the "fruit bar". It varies. Apples, bananas, sometimes a sad-looking orange or two. Don't get *too* excited.
But. Hear me out. There's something… nostalgic about it. Maybe it's the shared experience of everyone shuffling around in their pajamas, grabbing for a continental breakfast before a day of whatever. Or the slight chaos of the toaster jamming. Or, the feeling that you might be able to score a to-go cup to take back up to your room on your way out the door. It's the little things, you know?
You mentioned the pool… elaborate on THAT experience, will you?
Okay. The pool. This deserves its own novella. One time...oh, man. We were there for the annual Purdue football game. The entire hotel was a chaotic symphony of excited fans. My kids, bless their hearts, were determined to swim, no matter what.
The pool area was *packed*. Loud, echoing with the sounds of excited children, the aroma of chlorine-infused air mixing with the scent of cheap pizza (a staple of the Holiday Inn Express experience, it seems). We squeezed ourselves into a corner, near the bubbling hot tub. And then, the *cannonballs* began. They started small, but gradually escalated to some truly impressive plunges, creating a tidal wave that threatened to swallow small children.
At one point, a kid, maybe seven or eight, did a running jump from the edge, missed, and face-planted into the water. He resurfaced, sputtering, looking like a drowned rat. My kids, naturally, thought this was HILARIOUS. Meanwhile, I was just praying no one was truly injured. The whole scene was a glorious, slightly terrifying microcosm of life, all within the confines of a perfectly unremarkable hotel pool. It was chaotic. It was loud. It was… quintessential Holiday Inn Express, Lafayette. And, yeah, I loved it.
So… Verdict? Would you recommend it?
Look, it's complicated. If you're looking for pure, unadulterated luxury and perfection? Look elsewhere. Go find a Ritz Carlton, or whatever fancy place makes your heart sing. You won't find that here.
But... If you're looking for a reliable, comfortable, and *convenient* place to stay in Lafayette, with decent amenities and a certain level of…charm (and an amazing hot jacuzzi)? And you're okay with a little bit of chaos and a questionable breakfast? Then, yeah. I recommend it. I'd recommend it to my own family. IBudget Travel Destination
