Holiday Inn Leon: Your Luxurious Mexican Escape Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving deep into a hypothetical hotel review – think of it as a digital autopsy of a potential vacation haven. We're talking about [HOTEL NAME – YOU NEED TO GIVE ME ONE!] and trust me, I'm going to get messy, honest, and probably a little bit hangry. Let’s see if this place is worth your hard-earned cash (and sanity).
First Impressions & Accessibility: The Good, the "Meh," and the "Oy Vey"
Alright, so, Accessibility. This is HUGE. If you’re reading this, you probably care about being able to actually get around a hotel, and not become a human obstacle course. The fact that the hotel highlights "Facilities for disabled guests" already puts it ahead of the game. We need specifics! Does it have ramps? Wide doorways? Accessible bathrooms? I NEED TO KNOW. Bonus points for "Wheelchair accessible" in the exact areas it applies to: the lobby, the pool, the restaurant? Don't tease me! I'm also curious about “Elevator.” Seriously, if there’s no elevator, I'm out, unless I'm training for the Olympics and love stair climbing.
- Potential Red Flags: If "Accessibility" is buried deep in the fine print, or if the images are vague, that’s a sign they're not really prioritizing this.
Internet: My Digital Addiction's Verdict
Okay, let's talk about the internet. As a modern human, I rely on this stuff almost as much as oxygen. And the hotel does have to mention all these Internet options, right?
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! HUGE PLUS! No more scrambling for a signal in the hallway at 3 AM.
- Internet access – wireless… Internet access – LAN… This is great, covering all the potential tech-y needs.
- Wi-Fi in public areas… Okay, expected. But still nice to have.
- Internet Services… What does that even mean? Is there a dedicated tech support elf? Tell me more!
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: From Spa Day to Existential Dread
This is where a hotel can really hook me. Let's break it down:
- Spa/Sauna/Spa/Sauna: Okay, is it a good sauna? I've been in saunas that felt more like a damp closet. Must have proper heat, and ideally, a view. And what are the spa treatments? They mentioned Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage. Good. But are they any good treatments? Are the masseuses wizards when it comes to the human body?
- Swimming pool… Pool with view… Swimming pool [outdoor]: Multiple pools? With a view?! Yes, please! Is it an infinity pool overlooking the ocean? Or a chlorine-filled rectangle staring at a parking lot? Important distinctions!
- Fitness center/Gym/fitness: A gym? Okay. Is it a glorified closet with a broken elliptical machine, or a proper gym? Don't lie to me!
- Anything Else? What other quirky local experiences are available?
Cleanliness & Safety: The Germaphobe Diaries (and Everyone Else's)
This is where the hotel needs to earn my trust. And given the current state of the world, good hygiene is not optional; it's a requirement.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good start!
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Excellent.
- Doctor/nurse on call & First aid kit: Check and check. Peace of mind.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere?
- Hygiene certification: Showing me the paperwork? I like it.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Essential.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Okay, sensible.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Now we're talking!
- Room sanitization opt-out available: That’s nice but, still, disinfect my room.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Do the basics.
- Safe dining setup: Let's see how that plays out.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: This is a must-have.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Gotta have it!
- Sterilizing equipment: Okay, the hotel is serious about safety.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Stomach’s Wishlist
Food. The most important thing. Let’s break it down:
- Restaurants/Bars/Poolside bar/Coffee shop: Options, options, options!
- A la carte in restaurant: Freedom!
- Breakfast [buffet] Okay fine. See how the breakfast quality is.
- Breakfast service… Breakfast in room… Breakfast takeaway service: A solid trifecta of morning convenience.
- Asian breakfast/cuisine… Western breakfast/cuisine: Diversity is the spice of life, and hotels.
- Room service [24-hour]: Essential, because drunk me needs a burger at 3 AM.
- Happy hour: Yessss!
- Snack bar: What kind of snacks are we talking about?
- Vegetarian restaurant: I am not one, but I know people who would love it.
- Bottle of water: The little things.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: More coffee.
- Desserts in restaurant… Salad in restaurant… Soup in restaurant… More good food!
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Air conditioning in public area: Can't live without it!
- Business facilities: Okay, useful for those who must work.
- Cash withdrawal/Currency exchange: Convenient!
- Concierge: Always a win for advice and help.
- Contactless check-in/out: Please, for the love of sanity!
- Convenience store: For last-minute needs.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Doorman: Makes a statement.
- Elevator: Needed.
- Food delivery: Useful!
- Gift/souvenir shop: For the obligatory trinkets.
- Indoor venue for special events… Outdoor venue for special events: Tell me more!
- Invoice provided: Good business practice.
- Ironing service… Laundry service: Essentials!
- Luggage storage: Helpful.
- Meeting/banquet facilities… Meetings… Meeting stationery…
- On-site event hosting: What are we talking about?
- Safety deposit boxes: Smart.
- Smoking area: For those who choose to.
- Terrace: Beautiful.
- **Wi-Fi for special events… **
- Xerox/fax in business center: For the fax enthusiast!
For the Kids: (If You Have Them, or Want to Avoid Them)
- Babysitting service: Useful for parents.
- Family/child friendly: Good to know!
- Kids facilities… Kids meal: Excellent!
Access, Safety, and Security: Keeping the Bad Guys (and the Bad Vibes) Out
- CCTV in common areas/outside property: Reassuring.
- Check-in/out [express/private]: Good for all kinds of guests.
- Couple's room: What is it like?
- Exterior corridor: The opposite of interior corridors, sometimes a pain.
- Fire extinguisher & Smoke alarms: Obviously.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Essential!
- Non-smoking rooms: Good!
- Room decorations: Aesthetic is everything.
- Security [24-hour]: Reassuring.
- Smoke alarms: Fire safety is important.
- Soundproof rooms: Please, YES!
Getting Around: Navigating Your Way In and Out
- Airport transfer: A lifesaver.
- Car park [free of charge/on-site]: Parking is important.
- Bicycle parking: Cool!
- Taxi service: Good!
- Valet parking: Nice touch.
- Car power charging station: Great for electric car owners.
Available in All Rooms: The Nitty-Gritty Necessities
This is where we get into the details. What do your rooms actually have?
- Air conditioning: Essential!
- Alarm clock: Useful.
- Bathrobes/Bedrooms
- Bathroom phone: What?
- Bathtub: Always a plus.
- Blackout curtains: Yes, please!
- **Carpeting… Closet… Coffee/tea maker… Complimentary tea… Daily housekeeping… Desk… Extra long bed… Free bottled water… Hair dryer… High floor… In-room safe box… Interconnecting room(s) available… Internet access – LAN/wireless… Ironing facilities… Laptop workspace
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your glossy travel brochure. This is me, raw and unfiltered, wrestling with a trip to the Holiday Inn Leon by IHG in Mexico. Let chaos reign.
The Pre-Trip Panic (Cue the Anxiety Symphony)
- Weeks Before: Oh God, León. Why León? My brain keeps cycling through images of dusty boots and mariachi bands, clashing with the sterile vision of a Holiday Inn. Purchased the flights. Did I select the right dates? Did I accidentally book for next year? Probably. Spent an hour comparing insurance plans. Ended up choosing the cheapest one. I'm a disaster waiting to happen, insurance or not. Began scouring travel blogs. Immediately overwhelmed. Then, I ate a whole bag of chips.
- Days Before: The packing struggle is REAL. "Do I really need that extra pair of socks?" The answer, of course, is yes. And the emergency tampons. And the tiny bottle of hand sanitizer I’ll inevitably lose within an hour of arriving. Tried to learn a few basic Spanish phrases. "Hola," "Gracias," and "Where is the bathroom?" are the only three I've mastered. Also printed the itinerary I’ve been putting off completing until the last minute.
The Arrival and Immediate Disappointments
Day 1: Touchdown and Trials (aka, The Great Luggage Debacle)
- Morning: Finally, on a plane. The flight was bumpy. The person in front of me reclined their seat into my face. Why do people do that?! Made friends with the flight attendant who gave me extra peanuts. Needed them. Nerves. The customs lines were a slow, sweaty crawl. Praying my Spanish doesn't utterly fail me.
- Afternoon: Arrived at León Airport. The airport itself was fine, nothing to write home about. Until… my luggage didn't. Delayed. Fantastic start. The airport staff were apologetic but unhelpful. Deep breaths. Remember the extra socks! Luckily, the taxi to the Holiday Inn was smooth.
- Late Afternoon: The Holiday Inn. Surprisingly, it looks… exactly like a Holiday Inn. Clean, predictable. The front desk staff were pleasant, but there's always that moment of "Did they understand me? Did I understand them?" Checked in, but couldn't shake the feeling that I left my passport in the seat pocket on the plane. (I didn't. I checked five times.) Room: okay. View: less okay. Overlooks a parking lot. At least I have a bed. And WiFi. Thank god for WiFi.
- Evening: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Ordered something… I think it was supposed to be chicken. It was chicken-adjacent. The waiter kept trying to upsell me on the wine. I’m already stressed, sir. Just give me the food, please. Failed to eat. Decided to explore the hotel, even though I feel completely off.
Day 2: Attempting to Embrace León (And Avoiding the Parking Lot View)
- Morning: Woke up in a slight panic because the sun was shining directly into my face. Managed to steal a second cup of coffee and sit on the (balcony? It's small, more like a ledge). The view is still, sadly, of the parking lot. Found a convenience store. Bought the local paper. I can't read it, but I like to pretend I can. Bought a churro. It was delicious. This is getting better.
- Mid-Morning: Ventured out. Decided to go for a walk. Got hopelessly lost almost immediately. People are friendly, even though I'm pretty sure I'm standing in the wrong place. Learned to use hand gestures and the phrase "No hablo español" a lot.
- Lunch: Found a small local place. The food was amazing. And cheap! It was an explosion of flavors. One of the best meals I think I have EVER had. I swear a tear rolled down my cheek (possibly from the spice). I made lots of mental notes to keep an eye out for this kind of place in the future.
- Afternoon: Tried to visit the Museo de Arte e Historia de Guanajuato. Got distracted by a street vendor selling ice cream. Bought ice cream. It melted all over my hand. Spent the next half-hour trying to wipe ice cream off myself. Failed. Returned to the hotel. Needed to cool down.
- Evening: Back at the hotel, feeling defeated but also strangely content. Found a small outdoor area. Ordered a margarita. The margarita was…strong. I may have started chatting up the concierge about his cat. He didn’t seem to mind. Eventually went to the pool. The pool was freezing. Decided to go back to the room.
Day 3: The Cathedral and the Search for Meaning (and a Decent Coffee)
- Morning: Coffee. Needed coffee. The hotel coffee is weak. Walked in the streets. Finally, found a tiny cafe. Ordered a cappuccino. It was heavenly. Like a little explosion of happiness in a mug. Felt the first genuine spark of joy on this trip.
- Mid-Morning: The León Cathedral! Massive. Ornate. Overwhelmingly beautiful. Spent a good hour just staring, trying to absorb it all. Felt a pang of something… awe, I guess. It almost made up for the parking lot view from my room.
- Lunch: Went back to the same place as yesterday. They remembered me. They smiled. Ordered the same dish, the same amazing explosion of flavor. Felt like I was finally starting to get a feel for this place.
- Afternoon: Tried to find a souvenir. Failed miserably. Bought a t-shirt that’s probably too small. (On purpose, for motivation.) Walked around, just to see what it felt like to be in this city. Realized I'm starting to understand why people love to travel.
- Evening: The last night. Packing is even more painful this time, because I actually have to find everything. Decided to splurge on the hotel restaurant. The food was actually good this time, maybe they’ve changed their chef. Sat for hours, just writing in my notebook, trying to capture the feeling of… something. Something good. A growing fondness for a place I wasn’t sure I’d like.
The Farewell and the Promise to Return (Maybe)
Day 4: Departure and Reflections (Luggage Update: Still Lost)
- Morning: Checked out. The hotel staff were genuinely friendly. Airport. Flight. Praying my luggage will finally arrive. The flight was less bumpy this time.
- Afternoon: Back home. Exhausted. But… different.
- Evening: The bag is still lost. (Okay, so some things stayed the same.) Still, something in León got under my skin. I might just have to go back someday, when the luggage shows up, and I get my Spanish down, and the view isn't the parking lot. Maybe. Definitely need to learn more Spanish. And probably pack more churros.
So, what *IS* it like living with the "World's Best Dog"? (Like, actually?)
Ugh, where do I even *begin*? Look, picture this: sunshine. Butterflies. Unicorns. Okay, stop that. That's the Instagram version. The *reality*? It's a rollercoaster. Sometimes it's pure, unadulterated joy. Like, you're walking down the street, and your dog does that *thing* where they make eye contact and their tail wags so hard their whole body wiggles? Pure bliss. Warm fuzzies. You’re convinced you’re living in a Disney movie.
Other times? It's… messy. Let's just say my kitchen floor has seen more "mystery substances" than a crime scene. And the sock situation? Don't even get me started. I swear, he has a separate sock drawer in his *mind*. It’s a constant, quiet battle.
Honestly? It’s like having a fluffy, four-legged toddler who's also a tiny, furry, judgmental judge of your life choices. Especially your snack choices.
But seriously, what's the *worst* part? Because there *has* to be a worst part, right?
Okay, brutally honest time. The *absolute* worst? That soul-crushing feeling when you realize *they're not going to be around forever*. The sheer, gut-wrenching *anticipation* of the inevitable. My dog is getting older now, and the grey hairs are starting to show, around the muzzle. Every time he sleeps a little longer... I start getting the "what if" feels. I know it's coming, and it's a terror that kind of lives in the back of my mind. You try not to *dwell* on it, but, when a good boy lays his head on your lap, you can't help but feel like you can feel time itself passing.
Beyond the existential dread? Probably the shedding. Oh, the *shedding*. I swear, I could knit a whole second dog out of the tumbleweeds of fur that gather in my house. It's a full-time job, vacuuming.
Okay, okay, less existential crisis, more… everyday annoyances. What about *those*?
He's smart. *Too* smart, sometimes. He's mastered the "sad eyes" routine. Let's just say, the number of times I've given in to those puppy dog eyes at 6 am for a walk when I *really* just wanted to sleep in? Don't ask. It's a shameful number.
And the barking. Oh, the barking. You know that one neighbour who gets *offended* by everything? Yeah. That neighbour is also my dog’s arch-nemesis. They’ve never even *met*, but the barking gets pretty ferocious when that person walks by. Also, mailmen, squirrels, falling leaves... It's a symphony of barks, all day long. It’s usually directed at something *insignificant*, like a butterfly.
So, is it worth it? All the fuss? All the fur? The existential dread?
Absolutely. Without a single doubt.
I’ve had the crappiest days at work. The kind where you just want to crawl into a hole and never come out again. I come home to him… and he's just *there*. Wagging tail, slobbery kisses, the whole shebang. Suddenly, the world isn’t so bad. He doesn’t care about my bad meetings, or the fact that I spilled coffee on my shirt. He just cares that I'm *home*.
I've made a list, in my head, of the things I want when I'm down: a warm hug, a kind word, a little bit of gentle, constant company. and that's exactly what he gives me!
He's my best friend. He's the reason I laugh every single day. He's a giant, goofy, fur-covered heart, and I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. Okay, maybe a self-cleaning house. But besides that? He's priceless. Honestly, I think he's the best part of me.
Okay, practical stuff: What's the best way to deal with the fur?
Accept defeat. Seriously. You will never win. Invest in a good vacuum (probably a robot one). And try to find joy in the fact that you are, essentially, living inside a giant, fluffy sweater. It is what it is. Embrace the hair -- it's a badge of honour! And find a good lint roller. A really, *really* good one. I recommend the industrial kind because I swear, some days the fur is just… a blizzard.
What about training? Mine is... stubborn.
Oh, training. I started with all the best intentions. Positive reinforcement! Consistency! Treats galore! And you know what, it *kind of* worked. But you know the feeling of "I gave it my all, and that was enough"? Yeah, that's my approach. I've had him for five years now, and he still pulls on the leash. Sometimes. Sometimes he doesn't. It’s all about picking your battles. I'm pretty sure *he's* the one who decided what those battles are.
But you know what? I wouldn't change it. A little bit of crazy, a little bit of disobedience... it's all part of the charm. Actually? That reminds me to go buy treats!
Any advice for new dog owners?
Get ready to have your heart *completely* and utterly stolen. It’s a process. It's immediate, and it never stops. Forget everything "you know" about cleanliness, quiet evenings, and personal space.
But also? Breathe. Enjoy the chaos. Take a million pictures. Learn their little quirks. And most importantly? *Love them*. Unconditionally. Because honestly, they deserve it. Oh, and buy stock in dog treats. Seriously. You’ll thank me.
And one more thing! Just because your dog is amazing, doesn’t mean they won’t eat the couch or dig up your rose bushes. Don't get *too* ahead of yourself. It’s a learning process for *both* of you.
What’s the best thing that’s ever happened, due to your dog?
Oh, this one is easy. This is going to sound really, *really* soppy, but bear with me. I was going through a rough patch a couple of years ago.Easy Hotel Hunt
