Yankton's BEST Hotel? (Holiday Inn Express Suites Review SHOCK!)
Yankton's BEST Hotel? (Holiday Inn Express Suites Review SHOCK!) – The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly Soggy Waffle.
Alright, folks, buckle up. Because I've just emerged from the battlefield that is Yankton, South Dakota, and I'm here to tell you about the allegedly best hotel in town: the Holiday Inn Express Suites. "Shock" in the title? Well, let's just say my expectations were…adjusted. Come with me on this wild ride, a review that's less polished brochure and more "honest travel companion."
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Bless Their Hearts
Let's start with the practicalities. Accessibility is, thankfully, a big deal for the Holiday Inn Express. They've got features for guests with disabilities, which is a huge plus. Wheelchair accessibility is advertised, which is fantastic. I’m not wheelchair bound, but if you are, it’s worth clarifying specifics about room layout, etc., by calling the front desk. There’s an elevator, which is essential in a multi-story building. Now, getting around the lobby and common areas seemed pretty straightforward.
Internet: Bless the Wi-Fi Gods
Here's where things get a little brighter. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? Yes, please! And it actually worked! This is a HUGE win. Streaming my shows without buffering felt like a small victory after a long drive. They also offer Internet access [LAN] if you're into that old-school wired life. Internet services are available, though specifics weren't super clear.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Breakfast Odyssey
Okay, here’s where the "shock" comes in. The breakfast. The legendary Holiday Inn Express breakfast. Now, I'm not a food critic, but the breakfast buffet definitely has its moments. It boasted the standard issue of scrambled eggs (potentially pre-fab, I'm not judging) and bacon, which was crispy most days. The juice machine? A bit… temperamental. One day, the orange juice was mysteriously green. I politely steered clear.
They offer a breakfast takeaway service, which is handy. Think grabbing a yogurt and a banana to go. There is a buffet in restaurant, and a coffee shop, I did not use at all. There are also alternative meal arrangement options, but I didn't test those either.
The biggest letdown? No real "Asian" options for breakfast. This isn’t a huge issue since it is Yankton. If you were looking for it though, it is worth noting.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Leisurely Land of… Well, Options
Now, for the fun stuff. The hotel boasts a swimming pool [outdoor]. I took a quick peek and it looked… inviting. In the Yankton heat, it could likely be the best place to be. They also had a fitness center, which I, regrettably, did not use. My idea of a workout is walking to the coffee machine.
Cleanliness and Safety: A COVID-Era Assessment
This is where the Holiday Inn Express shines. They seem to take cleanliness seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products are likely, and the staff are absolutely trained in safety protocol. Rooms are sanitized between stays. They also have daily disinfection in common areas. I felt relatively safe, which is paramount these days. Hand sanitizer stations are everywhere.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
They offer a ton of services. The daily housekeeping was efficient and I love that. The front desk is staffed 24-hour which is quite handy. They have a business centre and facilities for disabled guests.
For the Kids: Family-Friendly Factor
This hotel is family-friendly. They have kid facilities, and a Babysitting service, which wasn’t relevant to my trip.
Available in All Rooms: The In-Room Rundown
Alright, let's get granular. The rooms were generally well-equipped. Air conditioning? Check. Blackout curtains? THANK YOU. Free Wi-Fi [free]? Again, a winner. They have everything you'd expect: a desk, coffee maker, fridge. The best part? Extra long bed. In a world of cramped hotel rooms, it's a lovely touch.
My Yankton Holiday Inn Express Experience: The Good, The Bad, The Slightly Soggy Waffle
My biggest takeaway? It's a solid, reliable hotel. It's not luxury, but it's comfortable and clean. The Wi-Fi is a godsend, the staff are friendly, and it has everything you need for a short stay.
Let's talk about the Waffle. Okay, the waffle maker. This became a personal challenge during my stay. This is where the messy honesty comes in. It's 6:30 AM, I'm bleary-eyed, and I face the waffle iron. The instructions are clear, but the reality… is not. I burned my first waffle. Then my second. My third resulted in a barely-there, pale monstrosity. Finally, after a solid fifteen minutes of waffle-related struggle, I achieved a perfectly… edible waffle. A small victory in the Yankton wilderness.
The Verdict
In conclusion, book this hotel if:
- You want reliable Wi-Fi.
- Cleanliness is your priority.
- A free breakfast (even with a slightly soggy waffle) sounds appealing.
- You appreciate friendly staff.
- You need a home base for exploring Yankton.
Skip it if:
- You're a food snob (especially about breakfast).
- You're expecting a spa-like experience.
- You need cutting-edge design/flash.
FINAL THOUGHTS: This is more than a hotel; it's an experience. This is a hotel you will remember.
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This review is designed to be helpful, informative, and maybe even a little bit entertaining. I hope it helps you decide if the Holiday Inn Express Suites in Yankton is the right choice for your trip! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm suddenly craving a waffle…
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Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is my Yankton, South Dakota, Holiday Inn Express Suites saga, and it's gonna be a glorious, slightly disastrous, probably hilarious mess.
The Yankton Yawns: A Holiday Inn Express Expedition (aka My Attempt at Chill)
Day 1: Arrival of Uncertain Destiny (and a Really Loud AC Unit)
- 1:00 PM: Touchdown in Yankton. Okay, let's be honest, "touchdown" is a bit grand. More like, "carefully maneuvered minivan into Holiday Inn Express parking lot." Already feeling the vastness of South Dakota. So much sky. And… corn. Lots and lots of corn.
- 1:30 PM: Check-in. The front desk lady, Brenda (pretty sure that's what she said, I was distracted by the complimentary cookies), was super friendly. Almost unnervingly so. Like, is this a test? Are they all secretly expecting me to perform some kind of… corn husking competition? Anyway, keys in hand, room located on the… "scenic" side of the hotel. Which, as far as I can tell, means "facing the parking lot." Whatever.
- 2:00 PM: Room assessment. Okay, the suite is… spacious. Like, really spacious. Probably could host a small square dance in here. The bed looks comfy. But the AC unit? Dear Sweet Mother of All That Is Holy, this thing sounds like a jet engine taking off. I swear, it's a conspiracy to keep you awake. I've turned it off, then turned it back on, then contemplated sleeping in the car. I think I'll go with earplugs and acceptance.
- 2:30 PM: Nap attempt. Fails miserably due to aforementioned jet engine / AC unit and general unfamiliarity with the concept of "relaxation". Start to ponder the meaning of life while staring at the slightly-stained ceiling tiles. "What is the meaning that you have been planning for this day, for the next?"
- 3:30 PM: Snack procurement mission. Raided the vending machine. Pretzels. Diet Coke. Regret already setting in as I realize I am fully embodying the "traveling stereotype". Embrace the shame, embrace the snack.
- 4:00 PM: Attempt to get my bearings. Walk around the hotel. The lobby is… what one expects from a Holiday Inn Express. Slightly generic, clean-ish, and smelling vaguely of chlorine. Spot a swimming pool. Consider briefly jumping in, then remember I forgot my swimsuit. (Classic.)
- 4:30 PM: Research. Turns out Yankton has a river. (Who knew?!) and museums. (Also who knew?!). I think I might skip the museum of weird things.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner. I'm thinking something local, perhaps greasy-spoon authentic. I will report back.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. The local restaurants… is… a lot of food is fried. Decided to go back in. (regrets).
- 7:00 PM: The end.
Day 2: River Rats and Retail Regrets
- 8:00 AM: Free breakfast! This is the moment of truth. Will it be the usual sad, soggy eggs and questionable sausages? Or will the breakfast gods shower me with fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon? (Spoiler alert: it was… somewhere in the middle.) The coffee was decent. Small victories, people, small victories.
- 9:00 AM: Exploring the Missouri River. The walk was lovely. The air was cleaner (and colder) than I expected. Spotted some ducks. Tried to take a decent photo. Failed miserably. My photography skills are inversely proportional to the beauty of the scenery.
- 11:00 AM: Retail therapy. (Aka, looking for souvenirs.) Found a very cute, slightly overpriced, "I Heart Yankton" t-shirt. Bought it. Already regretting it. My impulse control is as reliable as the hotel's internet (which is to say, not very). I also came to the conclusion that I am not a small person. The shirts were not the size that I thought that I was..
- 12:30 PM: Lunch. Picked a random diner. Classic diner food. Fries are definitely a highlight..
- 2:00 PM: Museums. Visited the Yankton. Okay, this was the thing! A lot of history and art. I wouldn't call myself a history buff. But, the museum was a genuinely interesting and worthwhile experience.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel. The AC unit is surprisingly silent, or maybe I've just become deaf.
- 5:00 PM: Dinner: Decide to order room service. I am very tired.
- 6:00 PM: I am now experiencing a moment of profound peace. Everything is calm and everything works.
- 7:00 PM: I am now in deep sleep.
Day 3: Departure and Existential Dread (Mostly Kidding)
- 8:00 AM: Another free breakfast round. Feeling like a true Holiday Inn Express connoisseur at this point.
- 9:00 AM: Check-out. Brenda smiles. I smile back. We share a brief moment of unspoken understanding. Maybe I’ll bring those cookies next time.
- 9:30 AM: Head out. I am ready to be back home. This trip was long. And I might have gotten a sunburn, who knows.
- 10:00 AM: Good bye Yankton, I am happy to leave.
- 10:00 AM: The end.
Post-Trip Reflections:
Okay, so maybe Yankton isn't exactly the most glamorous destination in the world. But it was… something. It was quiet. It was quirky. It was a chance to unplug (or at least try to), eat some questionable food, and contemplate the vast emptiness of the Midwest while listening to a jet engine disguised as an air conditioner. Would I go back? Maybe. But next time, I'm definitely bringing a swimsuit and earplugs. And maybe a really good book. And possibly Brenda's cookies.
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Yankton's Best Hotel? ... The Holiday Inn Express Suites Review (Oh Boy!)
Is this *really* "The BEST" in Yankton? My Expectations Were HIGH. Like, Mount Rushmore High.
Listen, the marketing folks at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Yankton? They *WORKED* on the name, didn't they? "Best." It's a bold claim, and my family, fresh off a grueling road trip, were practically SALIVATING for a little luxury. I'd read the reviews – mostly glowing. Supposedly, it was a beacon of cleanliness, a haven of complimentary breakfast goodness, a… well, a place where I could finally just RELAX. Instead, it was the start of a story I'll be telling for years. Let's just say my Mount Rushmore metaphor was accurate; I spent a lot of time *looking* at what I was expecting, while *experiencing*... something else entirely.
Okay, spill it. The Breakfast. That's Important. My Hunger Is Legendary. Was the Breakfast a Disaster?
Breakfast. The make-or-break moment of any budget hotel (and let's be honest, the Holiday Inn Express IS budget, even if it's *trying* to be bougie). The reviews had promised a veritable feast. I envisioned fluffy pancakes, sizzling sausage, mountains of fresh fruit... What I got? Well... okay, here's the truth. They *did* have pancakes. And they were... edible. Maybe even *slightly* warm. BUT! The sausage? Uh... Let's just say it had the texture of a hockey puck that had seen better days. And the fruit... oh, the fruit. A lonely orange, looking incredibly sad, and a few bruised bananas. The yogurt was suspiciously... runny. My son, bless his demanding heart, took one look and declared, "Dad, this is not breakfast." I wanted to argue, I really did - I was hungry! But, he wasn't wrong. The breakfast wasn't terrible, but it definitely wasn't the "Best," or even remotely close to it. It was... adequate. Which, in the world of hotel breakfasts, is often a fate worse than terrible.
The Room! The Actual Room! Was it Clean, at Least? Because, you know... hygiene and stuff.
This is where things get... complicated. On the surface? Yes. Initially, it *looked* clean. Everything was in its place. The beds *seemed* made. But then... you start to *look*. The carpet. Oh, the carpet! I swear I saw a stray Cheerio clinging for dear life in the corner. And a mysterious stain. What WAS that? I shudder to think. The bathroom? The tiles appeared clean, but the grout was... well, let's just say it had seen its fair share of… things. I'm not obsessive, I swear! But when you're trying to relax, the whole "is that mold?" internal debate really throws a wrench into your chill vibes. And bonus: the "suite" part? More like a cleverly designed box. The "separate living area" was basically a cramped space where you could bump your knees on the coffee table if you weren't careful. So, clean-ish? Yeah. Sparkling? Absolutely NOT. More like "had a wipe down an hour ago."
Did they have a Pool? Because Swimming Pools Are LIFE. (Especially for Kids).
YES! They had a pool! And… well, at least the kids loved the pool. That's something, right? The water was... water-colored, the temperature was... lukewarm. The chlorine smell? STRONG. I wouldn't describe the pool as pristine, but it served its purpose: tired kids, slightly less tired kids. I tried to join them. I lasted around five minutes before retreating to the safety of a slightly-stained pool chair. I did notice some questionable floaties left behind and a distinct lack of towels. So the pool? Mixed bag. Survival is the name of the game and the kids survived. I probably need to add pool-cleaning to my bucket list.
What about the Staff? Were they friendly at least? Or was the whole experience soulless?
The staff? Okay, here's the bright spot. The staff was... lovely. Mostly. The check-in lady was cheerful and efficient. The breakfast attendant, bless her heart, kept refilling the hockey puck sausage. They were polite, helpful, and genuinely seemed to care about the guests. Yes, there was a slight "we're all in this together" undertone of exhaustion, but overall, I'd give the staff a solid B+. They were the glue holding the whole operation together, and they deserved a medal!
The Price... Was it Worth the Cost? Because Value Is Important.
The price? It was… reasonable? It wasn't extortionate, but it wasn't *cheap* either. Given the state of the breakfast, the questionable carpet, and the lukewarm pool, I'd say the value proposition was... questionable. I wouldn't say I felt ripped off, but I certainly wasn't doing cartwheels in the lobby thinking, "What a steal!" It was a place to sleep, I guess and a place to eat (kinda). I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't have preferred paying a little more for a genuinely "best" experience, especially with the promise of a long drive. A little more for a better stay is worth it.
So... Would You Recommend It? The Ultimate Question. The Verdict!
Okay, here's the brutal, honest, messy truth. Would I recommend the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Yankton? It depends. If you're desperate for a place to crash for ONE night, and you're not overly picky about breakfast or carpet cleanliness, then... maybe. If you have really high expectations and you actually want the *BEST* in Yankton? Keep looking. I'm hoping there is a "best." I'm not. I'm not saying the Holiday Inn Express is the WORST hotel ever, but it's certainly not the best. I've had worse. I've also had MUCH better. I'd give it a solid... 5.5 out of 10 stars. Probably won't be going back. Mostly because of the hockey puck sausage. That was *traumatic*.
Any specific memorable moments? Spill the tea!
Oh, there was one! I was trying to check out, right? My kids are running wild, the luggage is a mess, and I'm juggling a lukewarm coffee. The check-out lady, who was lovely by the way, smiles and says, "Did you enjoy your stay?" I take a deepWallet Friendly Stay
