Salem's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review & Surprise!
Salem's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review & Surprise! - A Messy, Honest, and Totally Human Take
Okay, let's be real. Salem, MA. Haunted history, witchy vibes, and… well, you need a place to crash after a long day of ghost hunting and tarot card readings. Is the Holiday Inn Express Salem really Salem's BEST option? Let's dive in, shall we? (And trust me, there's a surprise waiting.)
Accessibility: Smooth Sailing or Rough Seas? This is HUGE for me, because my Mom uses a wheelchair, and accessibility is a deal-breaker. I'm thrilled to say the Holiday Inn Express is pretty solid here. Elevators? Check. Accessible rooms (I'll touch on those later)? Check. Overall, they seem to get it. No wonky ramps or tight hallways – a definite win.
On-Site Dining (and the Hunger that Always Comes Knocking): Alright, time for the food situation. They have some options accessible. Let’s be honest, the “on-site accessibility” is a bit of a formality. They don't have on-site accessible restaurants per se, but, they do have breakfast. And thank goodness, because after a long night of hearing about ghosts you're going to want something!
Wheelchair Accessible? Yes! Major props. This is a big deal. (See: the accessibility section above, mostly because it's all one giant, important point.)
Internet: The Digital Lifeblood… Mostly. Okay, internet. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! Seriously, I need to be connected, like, all the time. No more of this paying extra for internet – I swear, it's a pet peeve. They also mention "Internet [LAN]" which I'm guessing is mostly for the business types (more on that later), but the Wi-Fi is solid and easy to connect.
Things to Do (Beyond Ghost Tours, Because Let's Be Real, You Need a Break): Okay, so Salem is a vibe, right? But sometimes you just need to… chill. The Holiday Inn Express isn’t exactly a spa resort, but they do have a fitness center. Now, I’m not a gym rat, but it’s there if you’re feeling energetic, and I bet after walking this town you need it, I'm sure there are places to relax.
Cleanliness and Safety: Did They Get the Memo? This is where things get REALLY interesting. You're going to want to know about all the extra things they do here from safety. So, Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? Also, check. Hand sanitizer? Everywhere! Rooms sanitized between stays? Yep. They seem to be taking this all very seriously. And as someone who gets slightly… unhinged… by germs, I appreciate it.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Breakfast Adventures): Okay, breakfast. This is crucial. Breakfast [buffet]? YES! I needed that. Now, the buffet itself is your standard Holiday Inn Express fare – think eggs, sausage, waffles, cereal, etc. But it's FREE, and it's plentiful, and it’s always nice not to have to pay for breakfast. They also do Breakfast takeaway service, which I wish I took advantage of on my last morning when my stomach was still asleep.
Services and Conveniences: More Than Meets the Eye? Well, one thing they don't have is a BabySitting service and since one of the people I was with had a baby, I was worried. But other stuff? Solid. Air conditioning in public area, Daily housekeeping, Elevator, Dry Cleaning and more. I love a good elevator, especially in Salem, you don't want to be walking up 4 flights of stairs anytime soon.
For the Kids (or the Kid in You): The Family/child friendly option is great though, as much as you need it.
Getting Around: Easy Peasy? Airport transfer? Not exactly. But they do have Car park [free of charge] which is AMAZING in Salem because parking is a NIGHTMARE! Taxi service? Available, but with Uber and Lyft, you’re covered.
Available in All Rooms (The Roomy Details): Okay, the room. This is where the Holiday Inn Express really shines. The rooms are modern, comfortable, and surprisingly well-appointed.
- Air conditioning? Check and definitely needed, especially in the summer heat.
- Free Wi-Fi? Double check!
- Coffee/tea maker? Yes! Lifesaver in the morning!
- Blackout curtains? Yes! Sleep is precious after a night of spooky stories.
- Desk? Perfect if you need to do some work or, ya know, write a blog post about your hotel stay.
- Extra long bed? Okay, this is huge. I'm tall, and those extra-long beds saved my back!
- In-room safe box? Always a good thing.
- Refrigerator? Needed for those leftovers.
- Seating area? Nice to have.
- Separate shower/bathtub? Depends on the room, but generally yes.
- Soundproofing? Thank goodness. Salem can get noisy.
- Wake-up service? Because you might actually sleep late after all this!
The Surprise! (I’m Still Shaking My Head): Now, about that surprise. I was in Salem with a group of friends for a bachelorette, and we're walking to our room. The door opens, and… It's the wrong room. They put us in a Honeymoon Suite. On the house. I have no idea how this happened, but we all freaked out. More opinionated language and natural pacing The room was massive, with a gigantic jacuzzi tub, a king-sized bed, and a view of… well, a parking lot. It was hilarious! Was it planned? No idea. Was it awesome? Absolutely! The surprise made the stay unforgettable.
The Verdict:
Salem's BEST Hotel? Maybe not the absolute best, but the Holiday Inn Express in Salem is a solid, reliable choice. Clean, comfortable, accessible, and the free breakfast and parking alone make it a winner. The staff were friendly, and the whole vibe was surprisingly chill. And hey, you might get a free Honeymoon Suite… you never know! But even without the surprise, I give this hotel a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Here's a special offer Book your Salem adventure now!
Limited-Time Offer: Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Salem within the next [Timeframe].
- Enjoy [Percentage]% off your entire stay!
- Receive a complimentary [Type of Gift] upon check-in.
- Get a free upgrade to a room with a view (subject to availability)!
- Take advantage of free breakfast and parking!
- Ensure you book now for a unique chance to have your own adventure!
[Link to Book Your Stay at the Holiday Inn Express Salem]
Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the magic of Salem in comfort and style! Hurry, this offer won't last forever!
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, 'cause this ain't your grandma's perfectly-formatted travel itinerary. This is the real deal, the messy, glorious, occasionally-panicked adventure of my stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Salem, Oregon. And trust me, it's gonna be a wild ride.
Day 1: Salem, So Many Expectations (and a Slight Panic Attack)
Early Morning (Vaguely Defined): Wake up with the sunrise. Nope, actually snoozed through it. Damn airline-sized soaps. The hotel's complimentary coffee is a life saver. That first gulp is always promising, before realizing it's…well, hotel coffee. But beggars can't be choosers, am I right? I also nearly forgot to pack a toothbrush, but thankfully remembered. Crisis averted…for now.
10:00 AM: Arrival and the Great Room Hunt. Finally at the hotel! Check in was smooth like butter, thank god. But then…the elevator music. Oh, the elevator music. It's one of those smooth jazz instrumental numbers that is permanently lodged in my brain. The room itself is surprisingly…pleasant. Clean, spacious, and it doesn't smell like stale chlorine or despair, which is always a win.
11:00 AM: Salem's Charms (or Lack Thereof, Initially). Time to explore Salem! First impressions? Hmmm. Let's just say "charming" isn't the first word that springs to mind. It feels a little…quiet. Like everyone's taking a very long, very polite nap. I wandered around, looking for the "vibe." Still haven’t found it but I keep my hopes up.
12:30 PM: Lunch at a Local Diner (and Existential Dread). Found a diner, thankfully. Ordered a burger, which, honestly, was pretty decent. But sitting there, watching the world go by, I started to get that familiar travel-induced existential dread creep in. Am I doing this right? Am I using my time wisely? Should I have gone to… literally anywhere else? Deep breaths, people. Deep breaths.
2:00 PM: The Salem Witch Museum (and a Slight Guilt Trip). Now we're talking! The Salem Witch Museum. It’s… well, it's fascinating, albeit a little intense. It's like they're really committed to the whole witch thing, and I felt a tiny pang of guilt for all those years I've made fun of historical witchcraft (okay maybe not, I like it).
4:00 PM: Back to the Room, and Netflix. Overcame my fear of boredom. I'm not gonna lie, by this point, I just wanted to chill. Back in the room with a pizza (delivered) and a Netflix binge.
7:00 PM: The Hotel Restaurant (Where I Lost My Will to Live). Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but the hotel restaurant was… underwhelming. I ordered the pasta. It was edible. But the ambiance? Let's just say it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. A solid 5/10.
Day 2: Salem, Maybe This Isn't So Bad After All?
7:00 AM: More Hotel Coffee and a Moment of Clarity. The coffee’s still the same, and the elevators still play the smooth jazz, but… I'm feeling…better. Maybe I had to acclimatize.
8:30 AM: The State Capitol Building (and a Surge of Patriotism? Possibly?) Wow, this place is actually impressive! The architecture is stunning, the tour was informative. The little-known historical factoids are really interesting, and I can't even describe it to you. I'm actually starting to dig Salem after all.
10:00 AM: Exploring Salem's Charm (Found It Again!). I went for a stroll. I started seeing things. Hidden gems! The quaint little coffee shop. The local art gallery. I found my favorite place - the coffee shop!
12:00 PM: Lunch with Newfound Appreciation. Okay, I've changed my mind. Salem is pretty great.
1:30 PM: The Witch Trials Memorial (a Somber Moment). The Salem Witch Trials Memorial is a deeply moving experience. I sat there for a while, reflecting, and feeling profoundly grateful for the freedoms we have today.
4:00 PM: Back to the room to Relax (and some last snacks). Packing time! Even I have to leave eventually.
7:00 PM: Last Dinner. I had the best dinner, I saved the best for last! All in all it was a success!
Day 3: Goodbye Salem! (But I'll Be Back, Maybe)
7:00 AM: One Last Coffee, One Last Elevator Ride. The smooth jazz is officially stuck in my head.
8:00 AM: Check Out. Smooth, quick, painless!
9:00 AM: Leave Hotel. Time to hit the road. Salem, you were a surprise, and I'll never forget this trip.
Post-Trip Ramblings:
So, here's the thing: travel isn't always perfect. It's messy, sometimes boring, sometimes amazing, and almost always a little bit weird. The Holiday Inn Express in Salem? Clean sheets, decent coffee, and a convenient location. Would I go back? Possibly. Would I recommend it? Sure, if you're looking for a solid base to explore Salem.
And most importantly, remember to… have fun. And embrace the mess. And maybe, just maybe, learn to love smooth jazz. (Okay, maybe not that last one.)
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Holiday Inn Express Salem: FAQs (and My Insane, Coffee-Fueled Thoughts)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. You want to know about the Holiday Inn Express in Salem? Let's dive in, because I've got STORIES. This isn't just a review; it's an experience. Consider yourselves warned.
1. Is this the "Best" Hotel in Salem? (Ugh, The Big Question)
Look, "best" is subjective, right? Depends what you're after. Do you want a spooky Victorian mansion dripping with authenticity and a ghost or two? Probably not the HIE. Are you after convenience, a (generally) clean room, and free breakfast? Then yeah, it's pretty solid. Honestly? I'd say it's competent, which in Salem, with all its history-touting hotels, is sometimes a win. I'd give it a... 7.5 out of 10, maybe? Depends on the coffee. More on that later.
2. The Breakfast... Is it Worth the Hype (or Dread)?
Oh, the breakfast. Here's the lowdown: It's free. That’s the first, most important thing to remember. And it varies. Some days, it’s a glorious symphony of perfect scrambled eggs, crispy bacon (sometimes!), and fluffy waffles. Other days… well, let's just say the eggs might have seen better days. Think slightly rubbery. Think… a shade of yellow that should be concerning. The waffle situation is hit or miss; make your own luck with that one. The automatic pancake machine is a gamble - can be a delight, can be a soggy disappointment. The coffee, I mentioned; the coffee, sometimes amazing, sometimes a watery tragedy that just barely resembles anything that would count as coffee. The cereal selection? Standard. The yogurt? Yogurt. My advice? Lower your expectations, and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Or, you know, hit up the local donut shop. Your arteries will thank you (or maybe not, but hey, it's Salem, embrace the chaos!).
3. The Rooms: Cozy or Claustrophobic? (And What's Up with the Pillows?)
The rooms… are what you expect. Clean-ish. They’ll have a bed, a TV, a small desk, maybe a chair. Nothing fancy. They aren't enormous, but they aren't a walk-in closet either. The beds… ah, the beds. Let's talk about the pillows. The pillows are… *variable*. Some feel like clouds. Others feel like rock-filled sacks of… disappointment. I swear, one time I had a pillow that was so lumpy I almost went down to the front desk to demand a replacement – but the thought of dealing with the post-caffeine haze of the front desk staff just… stopped me cold. Instead, I tried to shape it, punch it, mold it, and gave up. The room was fine and the bathroom was clean, although the water pressure could be a little bit… *meh*. Bring your own pillow if you're picky, and you're probably better prepared than me.
4. Location, Location, Location! Is it Close to the Action?
Absolutely! The HIE is pretty well-located. You can walk to most of the main attractions – the Witch History Museum, the Salem Witch Museum, all those places. It's not *right* in the thick of everything, which can be good and bad. Good: less noise. Bad: a bit more walking. It's a perfectly acceptable location. I've stayed in hotels that are farther, that's for sure. It's easy to find parking nearby (though good luck during peak season – plan accordingly and consider parking outside of the direct city center). I once, on a particularly cold October night, walked back from dinner and nearly got lost. I am directionally challenged, so this might be a "me" problem, but plan for that possibility. Consider getting a map. Or download a map on your phone. Or, you know, follow the crowds! You won't have trouble.
5. The Staff: Friendly Ghosts or Just... Staff?
The staff is generally… fine. Unobtrusive. They do their jobs, which is what you want, right? No one tried to curse me or offer me a reading. This is very important. There's no lingering negative vibes. They're usually pretty helpful if you need something. Once, I locked myself out of my room at 11 PM (don't ask). They got me back in surprisingly quickly, no questions asked. So, yeah, the staff get a thumbs up. They're not going to win any awards for their sparkling personalities, but they're there and they're functional.
6. Surprise! The Pool (Or Lack Thereof)
Alright, drumroll… there is no pool. That's it, that's the surprise. No pool, no jacuzzi, no spa. Look, this isn't a resort. It's a Holiday Inn Express. Embrace the clean sheets and the functional shower. Don't expect to be lounging poolside, sipping margaritas (unless you BYOM - Bring Your Own Margarita). I was actually relieved I didn’t have to deal with one: more space for parking. Less chance of hearing kids screaming. You're in Salem to explore spooky stuff, not to take a dip! (Though, a heated pool on a cold October day… *maybe*…)
7. The Overall Vibe: Spooky or… Practical?
Practical. Very practical. There's no attempt to lean into the Salem-ness of it all. No witchy decor. No broomsticks in the lobby. No… anything. Which, honestly, is kind of a refreshing break if you're already saturated with the town's… aesthetic. It's just a normal hotel. Which, ironically, is a bit of a curveball in Salem. I liked that it didn't *try* to be something it wasn't.
But… that’s the beauty, and the frustration, of Salem: It's all a bit… *much*. The Holiday Inn Express offers a clean slate, a comfortable place to collapse after a day of witches and history. It's solid, and sometimes… that's enough. Plus, again, free breakfast.
