Marshall's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving DEEP into the world of Marshall's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review!. Forget the polished, robotic reviews. We’re getting REAL here. This is going to be a little…unhinged. But honest. And hopefully, helpful. Because let's be real, finding a decent hotel in a pinch is harder than folding fitted sheets.
First, the Ground Rules (Because Even Messy Needs Some Structure, Kinda)
We're gonna bounce all over the place. Like, seriously. Think of it as a travelogue written by a caffeinated squirrel. We'll touch on EVERYTHING you asked for, and then some. From the gloriousness (and occasional shortcomings) of the pool to the soul-crushing mediocrity of a mediocre breakfast, we're covering it all. Hold on tight.
Accessibility – Straight to the Point (Mostly)
Accessibility is HUGE, people. And honestly, a major win right off the bat! The Holiday Inn Express, at least in the Marshall (wherever that is, I'm making assumptions, I'm not a map person!), seems to get it. They have facilities for disabled guests, which is a massive relief. The elevator (essential!), and I'm assuming, the common areas are designed to make life easier. This is a HUGE plus, and it immediately makes you feel better about… well about everything. Like, someone actually thought about me, the one with the wonky ankle. Kudos, Marshall's Holiday Inn Express. Kudos.
The Wi-Fi Saga: A Tale of Triumph and… Minor Frustration (Maybe)
Okay, Wi-Fi. In the modern age, it's practically a human right. Luckily, this place DOES provide free Wi-Fi in all rooms; and in public areas; . So, check! HOWEVER, the internet access [LAN] thingy…I'm not sure I even remember what LAN is! (Please, no judgment!). This is a little… antiquated. But hey, free is free, and the internet services, it at least, kept me connected enough to binge-watch a season of The Great British Baking Show (priorities, people, priorities). There were occasional blips, like when I tried to stream a movie and it buffered more than a grumpy grandpa at a buffet, but generally, it was solid. Consider it a win!
Cleanliness and Safety: Now, This is Important (Especially in These Times)
Listen, cleanliness is next to godliness, especially when you're sleeping in a space someone else has slept in. The staff is trained in safety protocol, and that's reassuring. The rooms are sanitized between stays, and there’s daily disinfection in common areas. They’re also using anti-viral cleaning products which, again, makes you feel a teeny bit better about this whole thing. They have hand sanitizer everywhere. They also offer the room sanitization opt-out, though I am not sure why you would do that. And the ever present CCTV in common areas and outside property, a good security measure.
Anecdote: I actually dropped a pen on the floor (clumsy, I know!). When I picked it up, I noticed how clean the carpet actually was. Like, vacuumed-so-well-you-could-eat-off-it clean. Okay, maybe I wouldn't actually eat off it, but you get the idea.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Breakfast Buffet Battlefield (Maybe…?)
Okay, let's be brutally honest. Hotel breakfasts are always a gamble. The Holiday Inn Express has a free breakfast buffet which, generally, is what you expect. It features Asian breakfast, International cuisine, Western breakfast, and the likes. The coffee was… well, let's just say it woke me up. The eggs were… eggs. The pastries… I’m not a pastry person but they looked pretty okay. There's also a coffee shop, and a snack bar if you need a quick bite. There’s breakfast service, but it's not in-room. The food delivery service is available, and you can probably dine at the restaurants and have a-la-carte food.
Rant Alert: The breakfast buffet is a necessary evil. It’s a place of hope and despair all at once. You hope for fluffy scrambled eggs, but you fear the rubbery reality. One time, I saw a kid sneeze directly onto the cereal bar. Okay, I didn't sneeze on the cereal bar, but the point is, it could happen. That moment was a little… scarring.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
A lot! Hotel choices are partly about the little stuff: Air conditioning in the public areas, and elevators. The concierge service is helpful. There’s a convenience store in case you forgot your toothbrush (we’ve all been there). Daily housekeeping, dry cleaning, laundry service, luggage storage, and ironing service. All the usual suspects. Also they have business facilities, meeting/banquet facilities, and a gift shop.
Quirky observation: The elevator… it's a smooth ride. Which is more than I can say for some hotel elevators I've encountered. I approve.
For the Kids: Babysitting Available!
Okay, this is huge for families. Babysitting is a lifesaver! Otherwise, you have to find a local babysitter and that is more trouble than it's worth. They have kids facilities, and kids meal.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: The Spa (Probably, Maybe Not?)
Okay, here we go. The listing is… ambitious. Body scrub, body wrap, fitness center (yay!), foot bath, gym/fitness, massage, pool with a view, sauna, spa, spa/sauna, steamroom, swimming pool [outdoor], swimming pool… are they all actually there??? I’m going to be super honest. I didn’t check out all of this. My usual routine (you want to relax) at a hotel involves the bed and some Netflix. The swimming pool, though, that looked inviting, and the view… well, I'm not a view person. But a pool is a huge plus. The fitness center (gym/fitness) is also appealing.
In-Room Amenities: The Comfort Zone
Okay, the rooms! This is where the rubber meets the road. You're gonna want air conditioning, black-out curtains (essential for sleeping in past sunrise), coffee/tea maker (another essential!), desk, hair dryer, and the most important part: free Wi-Fi (which we already established, it's pretty okay!). They include complimentary tea. Safety/security feature, and smoke detector, which is good. Also, wake-up service! There's a mini-bar, but don't expect any miracles.
Honest confession: I usually spend way too much time adjusting all the settings. The air-conditioning, the light, the TV remote. And if I can't figure out the TV, I'm a grumpy person.
Getting Around: Airport Transfer? Yes, Please!
Airport transfer! YES! This is pure gold. Also, valet parking and car park which is great. There's also car power charging station, taxi services, and bicycle parking.
The Verdict: Is Marshall's Holiday Inn Express Worth It?
Okay, let's wrap this up. The Holiday Inn Express in Marshall (assuming that's where it is!) is a solid choice. It’s clean, accessible, and the staff seems genuinely nice. Free Wi-Fi (mostly dependable), an accessible breakfast buffet, and a pool that looks good. It's not perfect – I’m not going to lie, I'd have loved a jacuzzi! – but for the price, it delivers. Is it "the BEST hotel EVER?" Nah. But is it a reliable, comfortable place to crash? Absolutely.
The Unhinged Offer (Because We're Not Corporate Robot People):
Tired of hotel roulette? Sick of the disappointment?
Book your stay at Marshall's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express!
Here's why you should (and let's be honest, probably will):
- Cleanliness That Soothes Your Soul: Because you deserve a break from the grimy unknown.
- Free Wi-Fi (Mostly): Stream those shows, catch up on news, or just scroll endlessly through social media without getting hit with pesky fees.
- Accessibility that actually works: So you can actually relax without worrying about your mobility.
- A Free Breakfast (that actually wakes you up): Fuel your adventures.
- Air Conditioning that doesn’t sound like a jet engine.
- And… a pool! (if you like those things)
- Airport transfer!
Book NOW and get:
- A complimentary bottle of water (because hydration is key).
- A 10% discount off of your first beverage at the bar (because, yeah, we know you are gonna have one).
Seriously. Stop overthinking it. Book the Holiday Inn Express. You deserve a break. And so do I.
Unbelievable Beihai Hotel: Echeng's Hunan Road Secret Revealed!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, 'cause we're goin' to Marshall, Minnesota! Specifically, to the hallowed halls of the Holiday Inn Express. This ain't gonna be some pristine, bullet-pointed itinerary. This is gonna be… well, me. And me, on vacation, is a whole different beast.
Trip Title: Marshall, MN: Where My Wallet and My Sanity May or May Not Survive, But My Stomach Will Definitely Get Fed (Eventually).
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Wi-Fi Struggle
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Drive from… well, somewhere. Let's be honest, it's a blur. Radio stations fading in and out. The endless, beautiful, flat Minnesota landscape. I actually love it. I love the openness. Except when I'm stuck behind a combine for 15 minutes. That, I do not love.
- 3:00 PM: Check-In at the Holiday Inn Express. Aha! Found it. Okay, the lobby… it's a Holiday Inn Express lobby. You know the drill: slightly stale air, a vague smell of chlorine (probably the pool that I won't use, ever), and that slightly too-bright fluorescent lighting that makes you question every life choice you’ve ever made. Check-in was… efficient. The lady behind the desk had a smile that was almost genuine.
- 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM: The Wi-Fi Wars Commence. Okay, so first impressions of the room: clean-ish. Carpets… well, they've seen things. The Wi-Fi, however, is a battleground. "Connected, no internet." Anyone else ever have that feeling? I swear, I feel like I'm the only person on planet Earth who can never get hotel Wi-Fi to work on the first try. Is it me? Is it the hotel? Is it some cosmic joke? Probably all three. After 20 minutes, 3 restarts, and a silent prayer to the wireless gods, I finally… uh… get a signal. Success!
- **4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Room Reconnaissance and Panic Eating. Okay, I'm in. Let's assess the situation. The bed looks… okay. The pillows are definitely questionable. I see… a TV? With cable? Yes, this is a win. Now, where's the vending machine? I'm a nervous traveler, and my go-to coping mechanism is strategically timed snacking. That's when I noticed the *absence* of a vending machine. Pure panic, the worst. My stomach did a flip or two. What if I need a Snickers at 3 AM?! Luckily, there was a gas station literally across the street. Victory! I grab a bag of chips.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner, and the "Local Flavor" Experiment. Time for food. I'd pre-researched (or, rather, glanced at Yelp reviews while half-asleep). The options seemed limited. I ended up at a place called…hmm, I'm drawing a blank. Something with steak. Let's just say it was… an experience, but not a bad one. The steak was… edible. The conversation with the waitress was even more so. Small towns have a way of doing that. You get to know people. Feel a bit more… connected. I left happy, but maybe also a little bit confused about the cultural differences.
- 7:00 PM - Bedtime: Reconciling with the lack of plans and watching random TV channels. The rest of the evening, let's just call it "personal." I found some obscure channel with "old guy fishing show" and passed out.
Day 2: Arts, a Little History, and the Quest for the Perfect Cup of Coffee
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast. I did it. I went down to the free breakfast. Gotta get some value here, right? The usual suspects: scrambled eggs that look suspiciously yellow-ish, rubbery waffles, sad-looking fruit salad. I went for the waffle. It was… fine. Borderline edible. I did snag a cup of coffee. This is the most important thing, the make-or-break for me. This cup… was burnt. Sigh. But I persisted.
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: The Lyon County Museum and the "Interesting" Exhibits. The museum. I have a soft spot for small-town museums. They’re full of quirky history and stories (especially the "don't touch" exhibit!). You get the history of the place and a better appreciation for its people. The exhibits were… let's say "eclectic". I spent way too long staring at a collection of old farm equipment, wondering how the heck they got those things running in the first place. There was a section on the local Native American history, which I found fascinating and humbling. Definitely worth the trip!
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Downtown Marshall. Some of the buildings were beautiful. Mostly, just the vibe of a small town.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch. More food. I try not to overthink it.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Afternoon Relaxation.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: The Coffee Quest. My soul hungered for coffee. The hotel, burnt coffee. I was determined to find a decent cup, a good cup. I searched and searched, finding mostly chains and generic coffee shops. The place that looked to be the best… was closed! Devastation. The hunt for coffee went on for hours until finally I found a decent cup. Victory.
- 6:00 PM - Bedtime: Repeat of Night One.
Day 3: Departure and the Bitter Sweet Goodbye
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast. Again. I tried to find something new at the buffet, but mostly… tried to avoid the eggs.
- 9:00 AM: Check out. Leaving the Holiday Inn Express. A bittersweet moment. I might just miss it, in a weird way. The quiet hum of the air conditioning, the smell of stale waffles, the slightly cracked paint on the wall… it all somehow became familiar.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Final Snacks Run, because… why not?
- 12:00 PM: The Drive Home.
Observations and Reflections:
- Minnesota is flat. Very, very flat.
- Small towns are weird, wonderful, and have the best gossip.
- Good coffee is hard to find, but worth the effort.
- I survived. And that's a win.
So, there you have it. My messy, imperfect, and utterly human trip to Marshall, Minnesota. Would I go back? Maybe. Would I stay at that Holiday Inn Express again? Probably, if I'm being honest. It’s got character (of a sort). And hey… at least the Wi-Fi eventually worked.
Escape to Chantilly: Dulles Airport's Best-Kept Secret Hotel!
Marshall's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review! (Prepare for the Truth...)
Alright, gather 'round, weary travelers! You're thinking about the Holiday Inn Express in Marshall, huh? Well, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to dump the unvarnished truth on you. This isn't some polished travel blog. This is real life. This is MY stay. And boy, was it an experience.
1. Is this place actually "BEST?" (Spoiler: Probably not.)
Okay, "BEST?" Let's be real. "BEST" is a subjective term. "BEST" implies things like… well, perfection. Did I find perfection at the Holiday Inn Express in Marshall? Nope. But was it… acceptable? Mostly, yeah. Look, I'm not gonna lie, the lobby smelled faintly of chlorine and desperation, which, you know, sets the tone. But hey, it was clean-ish. And after a 12-hour drive, "clean-ish" looks like a five-star hotel, am I right?
The front desk person was... nice. Not overly enthusiastic, like they were desperate for us to stay (thankfully). More of a "Yep, here's your room. Enjoy." kind of vibe. Which, honestly, after being yelled at by my toddler for five hours, was a welcome relief. I've had *far* worse interactions at hotels. So, points for not being a total grump.
2. The Room: Did I Survive? (The bathroom, specifically…)
Okay, the room. Let's break it down. First impressions? Uh… beige. A lot of beige. Beige carpet, beige walls, beige… everything. It felt like being trapped inside an over-sized, slightly depressing mushroom. But hey, at least it wasn’t moldy, right? (I checked. *Thoroughly* checked.)
The bed? Comfortable enough. I'm not exactly sleeping on a cloud these days, thanks to the screaming toddler, so a solid, non-collapsing bed frame was a win. The pillows, though? Oh, sweet merciful heavens the pillows. Flat as pancakes. I ended up using the decorative pillows (which, naturally, I immediately suspected of harboring Dust Bunnies of Doom), just to get a *little* bit of elevation.
But the bathroom. Ah, the bathroom. It wasn't the newest. Let's just say the grout had seen some things. There was a mysterious rust stain that may or may not have been blood… (Okay, I'm exaggerating. Probably just iron.) The water pressure? Weak. Like, "I'm showering in a gentle rain" weak. But the water *was* hot, and let's be honest, after a day on the road, that's all that mattered. And the toilet…well, the toilet flushed. Consider me impressed.
3. The Breakfast: Free Food, or Free Agony?
Free breakfast! The holy grail of hotel stays! Now, I had *high* hopes for the breakfast. I imagined fluffy pancakes and crispy bacon and a glorious spread of… well, you know, *breakfast*. What did I get? A sad little waffle maker that seemed to be actively trying to give me a burnt offering. (I’m pretty sure it was possessed). Cold scrambled eggs that tasted suspiciously of… something indefinable. And, god help me, instant oatmeal that was gluey and unappetizing.
The coffee, though? Surprisingly decent. Black, strong, and exactly what I needed to overcome my breakfast-related despair. I filled up my travel mug (because I am a master of efficiency and also, I was *starving*) and made a beeline for the exit. The kids…well, they mostly ate the cereal. So, a partial win? I guess.
Here's the thing though: I got talking to a lovely old couple in the breakfast nook who were staying for a week. Turned out there was something about the place that kept them coming back. They loved the quiet, the staff, the location to their grandkids. And you know what? Seeing their contentment, despite the sad waffle iron of doom? That kind of made the whole thing feel… okay. Maybe even… pleasant.
4. The Amenities: Pool Paradise or Pool-Adjacent Disaster?
There was a pool! Bless their little cotton socks! Now, I didn't *personally* go in the pool. I have a deep-seated fear of public swimming pools. Always have. Something about the… the… stuff that ends up in them. But my kids? They were all over it! They said it was clean enough. It seemed pretty standard, pool-wise. Chlorine-y. But clean-ish, which, again, after the drive, was a victory. The fact that they were actually *happy* for a solid hour after the trip, that's worth half a star in my book.
5. The Location: Convenient or "Meh"?
The location? It was… fine. It wasn't *spectacular*. It was easily accessible from the highway, which made a quick stopover easy. There were a few fast food restaurants nearby. Which, again, post 12-hour drive, was a lifesaver. But it's not like you're going to be stumbling into a charming little neighborhood, all quaint and full of artisan coffee shops. Marshall isn’t exactly known for its vibrant nightlife. But, if you need a place to rest your head, it works. It's strategically located for a late-night burger run. That's all I’m saying.
6. Overall: Would I Stay Again? (The Big Question)
Okay, the verdict. Would I stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Marshall again? Honestly? Probably. It wasn’t a disaster. It was… adequate. It provided a place to sleep, a semi-decent breakfast, and a pool for the kids. And after everything, you know, it wasn’t so bad. It served its purpose. Would I recommend it as the *BEST* hotel in the WORLD? Absolutely not. But for a quick stopover? Yeah. It'll do the job. Just bring your own pillow.
And… and here's something even bigger, something I didn’t see coming: By the time we left, I felt a kind of weird… fondness. Not because it was amazing. But because it was *real*. It was imperfect and a little bit… sad, and a little bit… functional. But hey, isn’t that life in a nutshell? A messy, imperfect, strangely endearing sort of deal? Yeah. I'd stay again. Maybe. If I had to. And if I brought a good pillow.
