Petersburg's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Fort Lee Review!
Okay, Petersburg, Get Ready to Say "Wow!" - My Honest-to-Goodness Review of the Holiday Inn Express Fort Lee
Alright, folks, let's talk hotels. And specifically, let’s talk about the Holiday Inn Express in Fort Lee. You know, the one that’s supposed to be the best in Petersburg? (Let's be real, Petersburg isn't exactly dripping in luxury options, but hey, we're here for a good time, not a long time, yeah?) I've stayed there. I've survived there. And now, I'm here to spill the tea – the whole, slightly-stale tea.
Let's start with the basics, because, frankly, those are important.
Accessibility (Because Let's Be Inclusive, People!)
Okay, good news! They actually seem to get accessibility. The elevator? Functional. The rooms? Designed with… well, you know, allowing wheelchair users to actually move around. That's a huge win in my book. I saw some ramps. They get a solid "thumbs up" for the effort. More detailed info, like exact specifications like ramp incline would be great, but the fact of their existence is great.
Cleanliness and Safety: Did I Survive? (Spoiler Alert: Yes!)
This is HUGE in the post-COVID world, and I was pleasantly surprised. They seem to take hygiene seriously. Lots of little hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere. Things I noticed:
- Anti-viral Cleaning Products: Not sure if it's true, but I felt safer. That's all that matters, right?
- Daily Disinfection: The common areas looked spiffed up.
- Staff Trained in Safety Protocols: Yep, they mostly stayed behind the masks.
- Rooms Sanitized Between Stays: I can’t prove it, but the room looked… well, clean. You could almost breathe the air without worrying.
Rooms, Glorious Rooms! (And Their Quirks)
Okay, here's the lowdown on the rooms. Standard, but functional. The good:
- Free Wi-Fi! Seriously, a godsend. I could actually work without my phone tethering like a dying animal.
- Air Conditioning: Because Petersburg summers are… something else.
- Blackout Curtains: Awesome. I slept in until noon when I should have been up. Score!
- Coffee/Tea Maker: Essential. Essential.
- Complimentary Water: A nice touch. Hydration is key.
- Desk and Laptop Workspace: Got those meetings done, boss.
- Separate Shower/Bathtub: Okay, it's not the Ritz, but the water pressure was decent!
- Soundproofing: Ah, that sweet, sweet silence, the only sound was the AC.
- Wake-up service: I didn't need it. But it's there.
The Not-So-Good (Because Nothing's Perfect)
- The Carpeting: It looked clean. Let's leave it at that.
- The View: Well, it's Fort Lee. Don't expect sweeping vistas.
- The Pillows: Okay, these were… meh. Bring your own if you're sensitive.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking. Oh My Stomach!
Breakfast (The Make-or-Break!)
Okay, this is where some Holiday Inn Expresses fall down. But honestly, they mostly pulled it off.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: Standard stuff, eggs, cereal, bagels, a waffle maker. It’s not Michelin-star quality, but you won't starve.
- Breakfast takeaway service: If you are running late you can do it.
- Asian breakfast: It looked interesting, I should have tried it.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Important.
The Missing Pieces:
- Restaurants: The hotel might not have a lot to offer, so be prepared.
- Poolside bar: Missing (sad).
- Poolside bar: Missing (sad).
The Amenities (The "Things to Do" & "Ways to Relax" Rundown!)
- Fitness Center: Yep, it's there. I thought about it. Then I ate another waffle. We all make choices.
- Swimming Pool [Outdoor]: Actually, I enjoyed it. And the view of the area was pleasant
- Spa/sauna: I didn't see this.
- Sauna: I didn't see this.
- The Weird Stuff I Don't Care About: Things like 'body wraps' or 'foot baths' are listed, but not really something for me personally.
Services & Conveniences (The Stuff That Makes Life a Little Easier)
- Free Car Park: HUGE WIN! Parking in Petersburg can be a nightmare.
- 24-Hour Front Desk: Always a good thing.
- Elevator: Essential.
- Laundry Service: Useful for those longer stays.
- Cashless Payment Service: Yay for not carrying cash!
- Concierge: Nice if you need it.
- Dry Cleaning: If you want to look fancy.
For the Kids…and the Grown-Up Kids!
- Family/child friendly: This is key.
- Babysitting service: If you need it.
- Kids meal: If you are travelling with kids this is key.
Getting Around (Easy Peasy?)
- Free Car Park [on-site]: Another win!
The Verdict: Is the Holiday Inn Express Fort Lee the Best in Petersburg?
Look, it’s not a luxury resort. But for a clean, comfortable, and generally hassle-free stay in Petersburg, it does the job. The accessibility is a huge plus. The free Wi-Fi is golden. The breakfast is passable (and that waffle maker? It's a lifesaver). It's a solid, reliable choice.
My Final Grade: Solid B+. Could it be more glamorous? Sure. Does it matter? Not really. You'll get a good night's sleep. You'll be able to work. You won't need to worry about your luggage. Win-win-win!
A Compelling Offer (Because I Want YOU to Book!)
Tired of hotel horror stories? Ready for a genuinely decent stay? Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Fort Lee today!
Here's Why You Should:
- Cleanliness You Can Actually Breathe: We’re talking seriously clean rooms, and safety protocols that actually work!
- Free Wi-Fi: Stay connected (or disconnected, your choice!) with lightning-fast Wi-Fi in every room.
- Breakfast That (Mostly) Satisfies: Fuel your day with a free breakfast buffet – waffle maker included!
- Accessibility for Everyone: Ramps, elevators, and rooms designed for ease of use – everyone deserves a comfortable stay!
- Convenience, Convenience, Convenience: Free parking, a 24-hour front desk, and everything you need to make your stay stress-free.
Special Offer:
Book your stay within the next WEEK and receive a complimentary late check-out (subject to availability) AND a discount on your next stay!
Don't wait! Click here to book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Fort Lee – your comfortable Petersburg adventure awaits!
Medford's BEST Kept Secret: Comfort Inn South Review!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because here's my attempt at a "real" itinerary for a stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Petersburg - Fort Lee By IHG. It's gonna be… intense. And probably involve a lot of coffee. Prepare for word vomit, folks.
Title: Petersburg or Bust (And My Sanity? Also, Potentially Bust) Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Petersburg - Fort Lee By IHG, United States
Day 1: Arrival, Existential Dread, and Hotel Room Shenanigans
- 1:00 PM - Arrival and the Check-In Tango: Okay, so the drive was… eventful. Let's just say Google Maps and I had a heated disagreement about "optimal routes." Finally, after a scenic tour of literally every single side road in Virginia, I stumble (and nearly fall) through the automatic doors of the glorious Holiday Inn. The front desk person, bless her soul, looked like she’d seen a thousand weary travelers just like me, and she greeted me with a smile. Checking in went smoothly, although I swear I saw a flash of judgment when I requested a room away from the elevator. (Elevators…they're the bane of a light sleeper's existence. I'm convinced they have a secret vibrating function.)
- 1:30 PM - Settling In and the Question of "Air Conditioning, Please!": Room 317. A decent view of… a parking lot. (Progress!) My immediate priorities: Locate the AC, and ascertain whether the sheets are actually clean. (Important questions, people!). The AC blasted to life with a satisfying roar. Crisis averted! The sheets seemed fine. (But are they REALLY? One never knows…I'm starting to think maybe I should have brought my own. The paranoia is real!)
- 2:00 PM - The Room Inspection and the Deep Dive into the "Free" Coffee": Okay, let's be real, my inner germaphobe took over. I did the whole wipe-down-everything ritual. You know, the one where you pretend you’re a space explorer preparing for a mission to Mars? Anyway, I headed down to the free breakfast area to load up on caffeine and carbohydrates. The coffee! (Pray for me) It was… well let's just say it had a "distinct personality." I opted for a second (and a third) cup!
- 3:00 PM - Unplanned Nap and the Hotel Room's "Charm": After a grueling morning, I decided to take a nap. A truly necessary nap. I was out in seconds. The room was mostly quiet, the AC was humming, I was lulled into a sense of temporary peace. But the bed…oh, the bed. I swear it developed a slight tilt during the nap. Or maybe I just woke up at a slightly skewed angle. The hotel's decor did present a unique style, a combination of "generic hotel art" and "slightly faded elegance."
- 6:00 PM - Dinner Deliberations and the Temptation of Delivery: The thought of venturing out after my ordeal was exhausting. The sheer effort of choosing a restaurant! The possibilities! (and the ensuing paralysis). Delivery started to look more and more appealing. I pondered the merits of pizza versus tacos for a solid twenty minutes. (The internal debate was REAL. I probably made several faces.) Pizza won. Comfort food for the win!
- 7.00 PM - Dinner and The Hotel Couch's Comfy Embrace: Pizza arrived. It was… adequate. But the experience of getting that delivered right to the room made it something so convenient and wonderful. The hotel couch and the pizza and me created a bond. A bond that would last for a few hours before I had to start panicking again.
- 9.00 PM - The Evening's Entertainment Struggle: This is when I realized I hadn’t brought any good books. Or a laptop with any good streaming services. I was pretty much left to rely on the hotel’s TV. The selection? A glorious, chaotic mess of channels. After a frustrating half-hour of channel surfing, I settled on a documentary about… the history of toast. (Oh, the irony!)
Day 2: Exploring Petersburg (and My Exhaustion)
- 7:00 AM - The Breakfast Battle and the Waffle Maker's Redemption: The "free" breakfast was calling! You know, the kind that's supposed to be a highlight but mostly consists of pre-made pastries and questionable eggs? I was determined, however, to make the most of it. The waffle maker, though, was a game changer. Those warm, crispy circles of deliciousness? Pure, unadulterated joy! I ate way too many and went back to my room feeling content.
- 8:30 AM - An Unexpected Emergency and the Day's Agenda Overhaul: My phone battery died, and with it, my sense of direction and reality. I needed to find a charger, NOW. I stumbled out of my room, disoriented, searching for a store or something. After much wandering, I discovered a small, dusty, and somewhat chaotic general store two blocks away that saved me.
- 10:30 AM - Petersburg Battlefield National Park and Historical Perspective: (Finally!) I made it to a battlefield. (My phone was charged, and I was ready to take on the world!) The history… was fascinating and heavy. I had moments of solemn reflection. More moments of "wow, those guys were tough." And a few moments of, um, staring at the distant trees. (Sometimes I just need that.)
- 1:00 PM - Lunch & the Question of Naptime: I was famished. I ended up finding a local deli with a surprisingly good sandwich. (Rejoice!) Then I had a serious discussion with myself about the merits of another nap. The nap won. (Again.)
- 4:00 PM - The Petersburg Museum & the Struggle with "Art Appreciation": I forced myself to go see some arts. Walking around was very pleasant, but my true artistic leanings were revealed in the gift shop, where I bought a postcard of a cat.
- 7:00 PM - Goodbye Petersburg (and a little sadness): I am leaving. I feel a little sad that this trip has come to an end, but mostly, I feel like I'm ready to do something else.
Day 3: The Journey Home and The Longing for Simple Things
7:00 AM - The Coffee Revisited and the Final Breakfast Plea: One last go at the free breakfast. The coffee has a renewed boldness, and I drank it with all the force of the morning sun, before loading up on a final, albeit slightly stale, pastry.
7:30 AM - Check-Out And the Final Assessment: Checked out. Fast and easy. (Thank goodness!). The hotel staff were unfailingly polite. I departed with a fleeting promise to return. (Maybe…)
8:00 AM - The Road I tried to get back home. The trip was surprisingly uneventful, and I just wanted to get home.
Ending Thoughts: So, there you have it. My messy, honest, and hopefully a little bit funny account of my stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. It wasn't perfect, it wasn't particularly glamorous, but it was mine. And despite the slight tilting bed and the questionably named coffee, I'd say it was a worthwhile adventure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need a nap. And a really good cup of coffee.
Holiday Inn Express Fort Lee - My Unfiltered Take! (Let's be Real)
Okay, Spill the Tea: Is This Place *Really* the Best in Petersburg?
Best? Whew, that's a loaded question, honey. Best compared to *what*? I mean, Petersburg hotel options aren't exactly, like, the Four Seasons, okay? I'm talking about the Holiday Inn Express in Fort Lee here, right? Honestly? For a budget-friendly, reasonably clean, and generally *functional* stay? Yeah, it's definitely up there. My friend Brenda and I stayed there last month for a craft fair (don't judge!), and we were pleasantly surprised. Brenda's a real stickler for cleanliness (she probably wipes down the air with a Clorox wipe), and even she only gave it a "thumbs up but a side-eye for the carpet near the elevator" rating. We'll get to that carpet later.
Let's Talk Breakfast. Was it the Usual Hotel Flop?
Breakfast, the bane of every traveler's existence. Look, I'm not expecting Michelin-star cuisine at a Holiday Inn Express. However! They actually had a decent selection. The waffle maker was the hero of the hour, let me tell you. I practically inhaled two waffles, covered in… let's just say a generous amount of syrup. There were also the usual suspects: scrambled eggs (questionable origin, but hey, protein!), sausage (sort of resembled tiny hockey pucks), some sad-looking fruit (mostly melon, can't go wrong there), and the glorious coffee machine. And the coffee? Surprisingly drinkable. I mean, it didn't revolutionize the coffee industry, but it got the job done, which is all I ask before you even think about my first cup of coffee for the day! Brenda, on the other hand, went for the cereal she could see, and ended up going back for some more!
The Rooms: Cozy or Cramped? Did You Actually Sleep?
The rooms were... fine. Not palatial, but perfectly adequate. We got a room with two double beds, which was perfect for Brenda and me and our mountain of craft supplies (seriously, the beads alone probably weighed more than my dog). The beds were comfy enough, although I woke up one morning with a crick in my neck. But, you know, could have been the stress of the craft fair. I’m not sure if there's a single hotel bed that *doesn’t* give me a funky neck by the end of the stay! The bathroom was clean, the shower had decent water pressure (a MUST), and the air conditioning worked like a charm. And that matters BIG TIME.
Okay, Spill the Biggest Downside: Anything REALLY Annoying?
Oh, honey, you *knew* there was a catch, didn't you? The carpet. The carpet near the elevators – it's a crime against humanity. It looked like it had seen a lifetime of spills, stains, and probably a few rogue socks. It was that kind of carpet that makes you want to avoid touching the ground *at all costs*. It's a minor thing in the grand scheme of things, but it really does leave an impression. Plus, they had one of those ridiculously loud ice machines, you know the ones that sound like a dentist's drill? I swear I heard that thing chugging all night long. And... my room key stopped working twice. Small potatoes, I know, but a bit annoying!
What About the Staff? Were They Helpful or Humdrum?
The staff were pretty darn good, actually. Friendly, efficient, and they even let us check in a little early. I mean, after a long drive, an early check in is EVERYTHING. There was a young guy at the front desk who was especially helpful; he gave us some decent directions to the local shops and recommended a fantastic diner for lunch. (Thank you, whoever you are!) Brenda had a minor issue with the remote control, and the maintenance guy fixed it in a flash. So no complaints there! And the cleaning staff left the room immaculate, save for a few stray glitter flakes that somehow got everywhere. Must be those craft fairies...
Location, Location, Location – How Was It?
The location was pretty convenient, I have to admit. It's close to the highway, so getting in and out of Petersburg was a breeze. Plus, there were a few restaurants and shops nearby, so you weren't stranded in the middle of nowhere. Very important when you are trying to get through the day, and want a place that you can be somewhat independent from. We had no problem finding everything we needed (although good luck finding a decent cup of coffee *outside* the hotel... just saying).
Would you go Back? (Be Honest!)
Honestly? Yeah, I probably would. For the price, the location, and the generally pleasant experience, it's a solid choice. The carpet situation and the ice machine can be overlooked – because, let's be real, you're not going to spend your entire time staring at the floor or listening to an ice maker. It's not a luxury resort, but it's a clean, comfortable, and functional place to lay your head. And hey, the waffles were worth it. Bottom line: It’s a good option near the city!
Tell Us About Something No One Else Talks About: Like, What's The Weirdest Thing You Saw?
Okay. This is a little weird. The second day there, I saw a guy in the breakfast area wearing a full business suit… with *flip-flops*. Flip-flops! It's a casual breakfast area, and he was dressed like he was about to close a million-dollar deal in a courtroom… and then there were the flip-flops. It threw me off! It made me wonder, what kind of day was he having? Was he on vacation? Had he lost his shoes? It was a total head-scratcher! Brenda said he was probably a consultant of some kind. Me? I just couldn't stop giggling.
Final Verdict: Is this hotel worth your time OR your money?
Look, it depends what you're looking for. If you're expecting a five-star experience, you're in the wrong place, darling. But if you're after a comfortable, convenient hotel in Petersburg that won't break the bank? Yes, absolutely. It's not perfect, but it's a solid choice. Just… maybe pack some strong air freshener for the elevator. And a spare pair of shoes, in case the flip-flop guy gives you feet envy.
