Rochester's BEST Hotel? IHG's Holiday Inn Express Secret Revealed!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving DEEP into the supposed "Secret Revealed" of Rochester's BEST Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (IHG), and I'm not holding back. Forget the corporate gloss, you're getting my raw, unfiltered thoughts. And frankly, after a week of battling Rochester's winter chill, I'm ready to vent.
The "Secret" Unveiled: Is this REALLY the best?
Let's get this out of the way: "Best" is subjective. But after wading through the frankly bleak landscape of Rochester hotel options, this Holiday Inn Express… well, it's decent. Let’s unpack it, shall we?
Accessibility: A Sigh of Relief (Mostly)
Okay, good news for my wheelchair-bound friends (and anyone with mobility issues): Wheelchair accessible is actually a thing here. The elevator works (a HUGE win), and I spotted a decent amount of facilities for disabled guests. Not perfect, but better than a lot of places I've seen. The air conditioning in public areas is a MUST, especially when you've been stuck in Rochester’s humidity.
Connectivity & Convenience - Because We All Need It
Internet access – wireless? Check. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? Praise the Wi-Fi Gods! This is a basic requirement in 2024, people, but it's still worth noting. Internet itself was… well, it’s the same story everywhere, the Wi-Fi went in and out. I’m streaming, right? I’m not expecting a stable Wi-Fi connection. But… Internet [LAN]? Never touched it. Let's be real, who’s plugging in anymore? It's a relic of the dial-up days. Business facilities exist, for what it’s worth.
Cleanliness & Safety: The COVID-19 Era Check-In
Let's be honest, we all look at the cleanliness game differently now. Anti-viral cleaning products? Good. Daily disinfection in common areas? Excellent. The room sanitization opt-out available? Love it, it's nice to see. Rooms sanitized between stays? Naturally. Staff trained in safety protocol? Hopefully. This is more than just a list; it's reassurance.
I walked in, and there was hand sanitizer everywhere. Seriously, everywhere. It felt a little overkill, but hey, I wasn't complaining. And the safe dining setup gave me a small sense of relief.
Dining, Drinking & Snacking: A Restaurant Rundown (and My Stomach's Opinion)
Alright, let's get to the juicy stuff. A bar? Nope. Poolside bar? Even more nope. A coffee shop? Nada. Restaurants? Technically, yes, but it's the standard Holiday Inn Express breakfast situation.
Ah, the breakfast. Breakfast [buffet]. This, my friends, is where the "secret" begins to truly crumble.
I’m not gonna lie, it's the most depressing. You have the usual suspects: Breakfast [buffet] with your Asian breakfast and your Western breakfast options. Omelets? Pre-made rubbery eggs. Pastries? Mostly dry. The usual lukewarm coffee. I'm not expecting Michelin stars, but a little effort would be nice. Coffee/tea in restaurant? Standard, blah. Desserts in restaurant? Nope. Soup in restaurant? Nah. I did spot some essentials condiments like salt, pepper and ketchup.
My Breakfast Nightmare (Okay, Not Really, But Close)
One day, I dared to go rogue. I grabbed a plastic container of yogurt, poured some overly-sweet granola on top. And tried to cut a banana with a butter knife. I thought to myself, "What is this?" And right then, I just wanted some bottle of water but they don’t come at breakfast. This is what I'm paying for? To be fair, there was breakfast takeaway service and alternative meal arrangement, but I was tired and I was not in the mood for options.
The bright side: The Staff?
The staff, however, were genuinely lovely. Not the forced pleasantness you sometimes get. They were super polite and genuinely wanted to help. They even offered to bring up a bottle of water to my room.
Services & Conveniences: The Bits & Bobs
Concierge? Nope. Contactless check-in/out? Yes! Currency exchange? No, but that wasn't a total dealbreaker. Daily housekeeping? Absolutely. Elevator? Praise be! Ironing service? Yes. Again, these are hotel staples.
For the Kids: Not Exactly a Wonderland
Babysitting service? Doubtful. Family/child friendly? Sure, but don’t expect a water park. Kids meal? Highly unlikely. It’s not a family destination.
Rooms: The Sanctuary (Hopefully)
Yes, the Air conditioning works! (Phew!) Blackout curtains? Yes, which is critical to sleeping in Rochester, because the sun is always shining. Bathrobes, no, there were no bathrobes. Coffee/tea maker? Check. Desk? Check. Hair dryer? Yep. In-room safe box? Probably. Internet access – wireless? Duh. Ironing facilities? Yes. Mini bar? Nope. Refrigerator? Probably. Soundproofing? Sometimes. TV? Yes. Wi-Fi [free]? Yes. Window that opens? I didn't bother.
Getting Around: The Logistics
Airport transfer? Yes. Car park [free of charge]? Yep, but honestly, I have seen better parking. Taxi service? Yes. Valet parking? Nope!
Things to Do (Or Not Do): Relaxation &… Well, Relaxation
Fitness center? Yes. Gym/fitness? Yes. Okay, but I have seen better gyms. Pool with view? Ha! No. Swimming pool [outdoor]? Nope. Spa? Not in this lifetime. Sauna? Nah. Massage? No chance. This isn’t a spa retreat. This is Rochester.
The Verdict: Is it REALLY the BEST?
Look, "best" in Rochester is… relative. The Holiday Inn Express in my mind isn't the best, but it offers enough positives that it's certainly a contender. It's clean, relatively safe, and has all the essential amenities. The staff seemed to care.
The Imperfections: The Bitterness
The breakfast, the lack of spa, no fancy amenities… it's not perfect. It's not luxurious. It's a Holiday Inn Express. But it's fine.
Emotional Reaction
Okay, so I haven't had time to take advantage of any of the so-called "relaxing" elements, but the feeling of relative safety and cleanliness is incredibly important. I'd book again.
Here's my unfiltered offer for Rochester's BEST Hotel? IHG's Holiday Inn Express Secret Revealed!
Tired of the Rochester Grind? Escape the Ordinary (Without Breaking the Bank!)
Looking for a clean, comfortable, and conveniently located hotel in Rochester? The Holiday Inn Express might be the "secret" you've been searching for.
Here’s what you GET:
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- Clean & Safe Rooms: Feel secure with our commitment to cleanliness and safety protocols.
- Complimentary Breakfast: Start your day with a mediocre breakfast. I'm just being honest!
- Convenient Location: Close to everything (well, relatively).
- Friendly Staff: We go out of our way to care.
Book today and receive:
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Don’t expect a resort. But expect a decent stay. Get your room today. The best hotel in Rochester? Maybe not. But it's the best of what we've got!
Vietnam's HOTTEST House Bunk Beds: You NEED to See This!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your sanitized, robot-written itinerary. This is… my itinerary. And it’s probably going to be a glorious, chaotic mess, just like me. We’re talking Rochester, Minnesota, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, and me navigating it all. LET’S DO THIS.
Day 1: Arrival and the Illusion of Control (and a Really Bad Coffee Experience)
- 10:00 AM - Arrive at Rochester Airport (RST): Okay, first hurdle. Flights. They always terrify me. Did I pack enough snacks? Did I remember to switch my phone to airplane mode? Did I actually remember where I parked my car at the other end? Breathe, breathe. Smooth landing. "Woo hoo!" (Slightly too loud exclamation, drawing stares, immediately regretting it). Grab the luggage, feeling a surge of optimism – maybe this trip will be chill.
- 10:30 AM - Lyft to Holiday Inn Express & Suites: Always trust the rideshare. Except when the driver is blasting polka music and seems to think I'm his long-lost cousin. (Ugh, the chit-chat! I just wanted to be left alone with my anxiety).
- 11:00 AM - Check-in, Get Room, and Breathe (and a REALLY bad coffee experience): Okay, the check-in lady was super friendly, I'll give her that. My room? Standard IHG. Perfectly fine. But, the coffee machine in the lobby. Oh, the coffee machine. Should have just went and bought a cuppa from a local coffee shop instead of that godawful hotel machine. It was the color of dishwater and tasted like burnt rubber. My first emotional reaction of the trip: Mild rage. Why is hotel coffee always so offensive?
- 11:30 AM - Settle in, unpack (or not): Okay, truth bomb: I'm not a great unpacker. I'm one of those people who lives out of a suitcase for the first few days and then eventually just dumps everything in a corner. Today, it's a corner. My plan? "I'll do it later." (Spoiler alert: "later" never comes until the morning of the departure.)
- 12:00 PM - Quick Lunch at a nearby restaurant, maybe?" Hunger pangs hit. I'd love to find a place with good food. Maybe poke around on Yelp. Or, more realistically, just grab a burger and fries, since it’s easy.
- 1:00 PM - Mayo Clinic Orientation (Attempt): Here's the "serious" part of the trip. I'm here supporting a loved one. This is where the emotional stuff kicks in, the reality of health and uncertainty. This is where I will probably have to pull myself together and be strong. (Which I'm not always the best at.)
- 4:00 PM - Explore Downtown Rochester (or not): Depends. Does the orientation and my emotional state allow for it? I'm not going to force sightseeing if it's not in me today. Maybe a quick walk around the block, maybe a glance at the Zumbro River, or maybe just collapsing on the bed and watching terrible cable TV.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner: Restaurant Recommendation? (I’m taking suggestions here, people!). Otherwise…probably a burger again. Or greasy pizza from a chain place.
- 7:30 PM - Relax, Read or Watch a Movie (or Stare at the Ceiling): My downtime. Trying to find a good book that's going to engage and distract me, or put on a movie and hope it's good. Or maybe just… stare at the ceiling and process the day. I don't know.
- 9:00 PM - Early-ish bedtime: Exhaustion always hits me hard on these trips. I need to sleep. I NEED to sleep. I will get the sleep I need.
Day 2: More Mayo Clinic, Seeking Comfort, and the Unexpected Gift of a Really Nice Hotel Pool
- 7:00 AM - Wake Up (or Not!): Alarm. Snooze. Alarm. Snooze. Repeat. Eventually dragged myself out of bed.
- 7:30 AM - Free Breakfast at the Hotel: Hey! The free breakfast! (Praying the coffee is somehow improved.) Eggs. Cereal. Fruit. Maybe I get adventurous and try the waffle maker. (Highly doubtful…)
- 8:30 AM - Another Mayo Clinic Thing: This is the center of it all, the whole point of the trip. Trying to be present, supportive, strong… and, yeah, probably internally panicking a bit.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch break: Fast and casual, somewhere close to the clinic. A good spot for a quick bite.
- 1:00 PM - Mayo Clinic, Part three: It's a lot. It's exhausting.
- 4:00 PM - Hotel Pool Therapy (if the mood is right!): Did I mention the hotel has a pool? I'm not a huge pool person, but maybe. Maybe some quiet floating will help. It could be a surprising dose of tranquility. Who knows?
- 5:00 PM - Dinner Outing, or Delivery? Do I have the energy to go out, or will I simply order in something to get the ease of use. I'm leaning towards the latter.
- 7:00 PM - Book/Movie/Couch: Another evening. Another attempt at relaxation. (Wish me luck.)
- 9:00 PM - Sleep, Please!
Day 3: Departure and the Aftermath Feels
- 7:00 AM - Last Breakfast, Last Attempt at Decent Coffee: Sigh. Let's be optimistic.
- 8:00 AM - Checkout: Did I leave anything important? Passport? Keys? Sanity?
- 8:30 AM - Travel to the Airport: One last ride. Maybe a different driver this time, maybe no polka music. Please.
- 9:00 AM - Security, Flight, Coming Home:
- The Aftermath: The next few days (weeks?) usually involve a mix of reflection, a slightly messy suitcase that never got fully unpacked, and the lingering emotional weight of what really happened. But mostly, I'm going to be grateful. Grateful for the good days. Grateful for the helpful staff at the Holiday Inn. Grateful for the random acts of kindness that always seem to appear when I need them most. And maybe, just maybe, I'll figure out why hotel coffee is so consistently terrible.
This is it. A ridiculously messy, imperfect, honest, probably slightly oversharing itinerary. Welcome to my travel life.
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Rochester's BEST Hotel? Hold On, Let's Talk Holiday Inn Express (and My Chaotic Brain)
Okay, is this *really* the "BEST" hotel in Rochester? Like, are we talking Ritz-Carlton level amazing?
Whoa, hold your horses! "BEST" is a strong word, and my brain operates on a constant stream of hyperbole, so don't take that headline too literally. Let's be real, we're talking Rochester. It's not exactly a glamorous travel destination unless you're REALLY into medical marvels. Honestly, the Holiday Inn Express in Rochester often *feels* like the best *practical* option. It's clean, it's usually well-maintained, the breakfast is... well, it’s there. And that's the thing about Rochester, the "best" often comes down to "least bad". So, no Ritz-Carlton. Think more... reliable friend who always bails you out of a jam.
What's the breakfast situation? Because hotel breakfast is *critical* to my mood.
The breakfast... ah, the breakfast. It's a whole *thing*, isn't it? Okay, here's the deal: expect the usual suspects. Cereal that’s somehow both soggy and rock-hard, those awful pre-made scrambled eggs that have a disconcerting rubbery texture (don't even get me started on the questionable yellowish hue), and a waffle maker that’s the hotel’s secret weapon for world peace (sometimes). Fruit that can be either suspiciously perfect looking, or the last of a crate. And, of course, the breakfast sausage that I always *intend* to try, but never actually do.
But listen, here's a confession: I *love* the Holiday Inn Express breakfast waffle maker. It's a simple joy. The whole process – pouring the batter, waiting the excruciating two minutes (feels like an eternity, especially hungover), and then finally peeling off that golden, slightly crispy, slightly sad waffle... it's pure, unadulterated, low-stakes happiness. And besides, free food, right?
Is it *actually* clean? Because cleanliness is next to godliness, and I'm not feeling particularly holy after a long drive.
Alright, buckle up because I'm gonna get real with you (and maybe TMI, consider yourself warned). Generally, yes! The Holiday Inn Express in Rochester, in my experience, strives for clean. Does that mean absolutely pristine and immaculate? No. I've experienced some dodgy spots at some hotels. But! This does tend to be one of the cleaner places. I haven't found any scary surprises in the corners (so far!)
I *once* stayed at a hotel in a small town and found something... *unmentionable* in the drain of the shower. I tell you, that experience completely ruined my entire day, and I now inspect every shower before I even unpack. So, the Holiday Inn Express passes the "don't-make-me-scream-in-horror" test.
What about the staff? Are they nice, or are they burnt out and jaded like in every other hotel?
Okay, the staff is a gamble. It really depends. Sometimes, you get that exceptionally friendly person who greets you with genuine warmth at 6am as though they've been up all night, doing their best to make sure you have a great experience. They're almost superhuman. Those people... they are the reason I keep going back. They make a difference. I love them.
Other times? You get the person who’s seen a thousand tired faces and heard a thousand travel complaints, and who just... wants to get through their shift. Completely understandable.
But overall, my experience has been positive. They're usually efficient, helpful (if you ask), and at least pretending to be happy, which, in the service industry, is half the battle, right?
Is there a pool? Because I *need* a pool. I have a primal need to just… float.
Yes! *Sometimes.* This is where things get a little dicey. Some Holiday Inn Express locations *do* have pools. Some locations do *not*. And, to be honest, I can never remember whether *this particular* one has a pool or not until, you know, I'm there. It's a gamble.
So, *check ahead*. Seriously. Don't rely on my memory. You can check the IHG app, or give the hotel a quick call. Because imagine showing up, eager for that blissful float, and… disappointment.
And if there *is* a pool, plan accordingly. Hotel pools often mean screaming children, chlorine fumes, and the lingering scent of wet towels. Not ideal, but sometimes, you gotta embrace the chaos for the sake of some much-needed watery relaxation.
What about the location? Is it convenient to... well, everything?
Location, location, location! That's the classic hotel mantra, isn't it? Well, It depends on your "everything." It *usually* places the Holiday Inn Express in Rochester within a reasonable range of Mayo Clinic areas (because let's be honest, that's a main driver of the Rochester hotel scene). Restaurants are usually ok (some are better than others), and there's usually a big chain store or something nearby.
But, again, Rochester is not exactly a walking city. You're probably going to need a car. So. Basically, check the map. And, if you're relying on public transportation… good luck. Really.
Any tips for maximizing my Holiday Inn Express experience?
Okay, here's a secret weapon for any HIE experience: the "make your own waffle" strategy.
* **Arrive early for breakfast.** Avoid the morning rush. (Or, embrace the chaos. Either way.)
* **Survey the breakfast landscape.** Assess the situation. Is the fruit looking sad? Skip it. Are the eggs looking... questionable? Proceed with caution.
* **Waffles. Always waffles.** Experiment with toppings. (I'm basic. I go for syrup. Don't judge.)
* **Coffee. Strong coffee is essential for hotel survival.**
* **Pack earplugs**. Not just for the kids, but for the random snoring or late-night hallway conversations.
So, the bottom line: Should I stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Rochester?
Honestly? Probably. If you want a decent, reliable, and relatively inexpensive hotel, it's a good bet. It's not going to blow your mind with luxury. But it'll get you through the night, andSearch Hotel Guide
