Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Columbia City - Columbia City, Indiana

TechTraveler

At the recommendation of a colleague, I reserved a two night stay at this hotel. Had I not checked in at almost midnight, I would not have stayed even the one night I did stay!

First, the parking lot was a disaster. The parking lot probably had at least 1/2 inch of ice throughout. It was not salted at all. Not even an attempt made to salt it.

Second, and not to be insensitive, but the desk staff speak very little English. This hotel desk is staffed by far-east Indian personnel. One of the staffers spoke so low and with broken English that I (who is already hearing impaired) and my colleague (who has normal hearing) could not understand a word.

Walking through the hotel gave me "yuck" vibes. It just gave off a not clean feel. It appears this is/was a very old hotel updated (or lack thereof) with a bad attempt at a facelift. There is 1 elevator and even then it looks and feels VERY old.

Getting to the actual room weirded me out. While the doors are for key-card entry, they had the old key-type locks with what appeared to have been the key locks removed.

Once I got into the room is where I really felt the YUCK! The phone on the end stand looked like it had been there since 1980. In the bathroom -- long black hair all over the floor and toilet. Housekeeping had not swept or mopped the floor. Let's not even discuss the shower (which I refused to use).

The shower...Oh-my-god. It had one of those "bought at Wal-Mart" bath mats that contained mold and mildew on its underside. The caulking around the tub/shower was also very dirty with mold and mildew.

Because it was after midnight, I bundled up into pajama pants, socks, a t-shirt, and a hoodie (yes, the hood was pulled over my head) and I went to bed. The bed was not that comfy.

I checked out the next morning for a MUCH MUCH better hotel in Warsaw, IN. NEVER again staying at this hotel!!! It is, honestly, a disgrace to the Holiday Inn Express name.

Current IHG Silver Elite Member

Connie61

Our room was very clean and spacious. Nice big TV. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom was spacious and well equipped. The breakfast had a great selection, the food was very good and the attendant was polite and helpful. Our room was located near a state route, so had traffic noise. Probably could have asked to be on the other side, but didn't feel like moving.

Blair K.

Positive: Rooms were clean. Everything looked up to date. Staff was friendly. Breakfast included. Room prices were reasonable.

Negative: Pool was closed. According to staff its been closed for SIX MONTHS. We booked two rooms. In one room the TV didn't work. In the other room, some of the lights didn't work. It was difficult to get a hot shower. Room phones did not work.

Not the worst experience, but I don't think we'd stay there again.

Matt

The staff upon arrival was short and rude to my wife. We didn't have a lot of options over Thanksgiving so we opted for this place. I understand why they receive so many negative reviews now. They said there was a pool. Failed to mention it was "out of order." Which, by the other reviews, has been out of order for over 6 months. It's not out of order - the staff is just too lazy to maintain it. We stayed for close to a week and never had our room made up. I had to repeatedly go downstairs for basic items such as coffee, garbage bags, towels, etc. We took bags from walmart at one point because it was easier than dealing with the staff. The rooms were quiet and comfy, the breakfast was well stocked and OK, and the place was nice, but the service was terrible. It was as if they had zero experience running a hotel at all.

Matt P.

Rooms were clean and quiet. Breakfast was adequate and well-stocked. The staff was unhelpful and lazy the entire stay. We stayed for a week and nobody made the room up. The pool is not out of order, the staff is simply just too lazy and incompetent to maintain it. Guests have complained about the pool being out of order for close to a year. Management seem to have no idea how to run a hotel. Had to go downstairs several times to request towels, sheets, toilet paper, garbage bags, etc. the place seemed understaffed and uninvolved. They even had signage it was clearly supposed to only be seen by the staff placed all over the lobby for guests to see. Probably would not stay there again.

RESPONSE TO BELOW:

These folks aren't sorry at all. They even told us they had a pool while taking reservation. The website also boasts the clean pool. They are incompetent and lazy. Not sorry. Our stay was the norm, not the exception. There is reason this place has poorer reviews than the Super8 down the road. They completely ignored our requests while staying there. It really was as if they had no experience running a hotel.

Michael M.

Probably the most bare-bones holiday inn express I've ever stayed in. The shower didn't have the normal deluxe shower head. I stayed two nights and the bed was never made, room was never cleaned after the 1st night. With a previous career, I stayed approximately 5 months out of the year in holiday inn expresses around the country...and this one is as basic as it comes. I probably wouldn't stay again.

J A. K.

We came here to see our grandkids for Christmas and spend a day swimming in the indoor pool. Upon our arrival we were told the pool is out of service. Had their website stated this, had we been told, we would have stayed elsewhere.

The highway noise was horrible! My wife and I hardly slept all night. Also, the snacks and drink selections in the lobby were slim pickings .

Thinkagain

I have stayed at this hotel a year ago and thought it was just OK. Shame on me for thinking it would be better.
Rooms were not clean to Holiday Inn Express standards. Cleaning supplies were requested at the desk.
TV's did not work in both rooms. Anna the desk clerk was helpful, but shouldn't have had to go back down again after getting the cleaning supplies. Rooms were dingy and there was not even a chair to sit in. Desk work area was useless without one. Hair in tub and there was actually a hair extension found stuck to the shower curtain. No water pressure, warm but not hot water available. No coffee and slim "what was left" choices left prior to 10AM. Very disappointed and embarrassed since I was the one who made the reservations for a group.