Selma's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review (You WON'T Believe This!)
Selma's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review (You WON'T Believe This!) - A No-Holds-Barred, Honest Take
Alright, folks, buckle up. Because I just got back from Selma, Alabama, and let me tell you, I've got opinions about the Holiday Inn Express. Forget the sterile brochures and the perfectly posed travel photos – This is the real deal. I'm talking raw, unvarnished, and probably a little too honest. So, is it Selma's BEST? Let's dive in, shall we?
Accessibility: Checking the Boxes (Mostly) and a Few Hiccups
Okay, let's start with the important stuff. From what I saw, the Holiday Inn Express mostly gets it right for accessibility. They advertise wheelchair-accessible rooms (a HUGE plus!), and I saw elevators. The hallways seemed wide enough. But here's the thing, and I'm just being brutally honest here, I'm not a person who uses a wheelchair, so I can't personally vouch for how user-friendly everything is. I did notice there were ramps around the entrance and a few designated parking spots. So, good start, but maybe do your own research and call ahead if this is a critical aspect for you.
Internet & Tech Woes (Or, Why I'm Writing This Late at Night)
Look, in today's world, internet access is practically oxygen. And, thankfully, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms is a HUGE win, a real sigh of relief after a long day driving. Internet access – Wireless was pretty reliable in my room, too. No complaints there. They even had Internet [LAN], which, honestly, I haven't used in about a decade, but hey, nice to know the option is there! The hotel also boasts Internet services in other areas, like the lobby.
But…and there’s always a BUT… Sometimes the connection felt… a little laggy. Don't expect to stream 4K videos flawlessly. I had to restart the router a couple of times. Frustrating, yes. Dealbreaker? Maybe not if you are only planning on working on your computer.
Cleanliness and Safety: The New Normal (And Maybe a Lil' Extra)
This is where the Holiday Inn Express really shines, especially given the current climate. Anti-viral cleaning products are definitely being used everywhere, from the lobby to the rooms. I noticed Daily disinfection in common areas. My room felt super clean. Definitely a big plus. They even had Hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere, which, honestly, makes me feel safer. They claim to be using Professional-grade sanitizing services.
I didn't have a lot of concern, and I felt safe. Also, they offer Room sanitization opt-out available.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Breakfast Blues and the Poolside Mirage
Okay, breakfast. Let's be real, hotel breakfast is a gamble. Breakfast [buffet] was the main offering and it was…well, it was. The usual suspects: eggs (questionable consistency), sausage (slightly grey), and the surprisingly delicious little pancakes. I wouldn't call it gourmet, but it got the job done. Breakfast service was available, and the staff was working hard and trying to keep everything moving. Did I mention Coffee/tea in restaurant? Essential!
I was intrigued by the Poolside bar. Too bad it wasn't available at the time, and a real bummer.
Services and Conveniences: All the Usual Suspects
The hotel offered everything you'd expect: Air conditioning in public area, Air conditioning in my room. The staff was helpful.
Other notable things: Daily housekeeping (thank goodness!), On-site event hosting (I didn't see anything going on when I was there). They've got a Convenience store, so you can grab some snacks or a forgotten toothbrush. There's Luggage storage if you arrive early or leave late. And a Laundry service, which is always a lifesaver when you're traveling.
For the Kids (and the Kid in You)
Family/child friendly is a definite check. I saw a few families with kids.
Rooms - The Real Deal: My Room Saga
Here's where things get personal. My room was the classic hotel room: a bit generic but functional. I was happy to have Air conditioning, Free Wi-Fi. The desk was a good size for working. The bed was comfy enough, I was in Selma to see the historical sites and got tired. Blackout curtains were a godsend because I like to sleep in. They had Coffee/tea maker – essential. And, the Refrigerator was a must! They had Slippers which was a nice touch.
Getting Around: Easy Peasy (Mostly)
Car park [free of charge] is a sweet deal. Taxi service is available, but I rented a car
The Verdict: Should You Book?
Okay, so is the Holiday Inn Express the be-all and end-all of hotels? No. But for what it is – a clean, comfortable, and convenient place to stay in Selma – it's a solid choice. It's not perfect, but it's a reliable option. Here's My Honest Recommendation:
Book it if:
- You need a clean, safe, and reasonably priced hotel with free Wi-Fi.
- You prioritize convenient location.
- You appreciate a decent (though not amazing) breakfast.
Maybe skip it if:
- You're expecting luxury.
- You're looking for a hotel with a lot of amenities.
My Final Word: I'd stay there again. And that's probably the best endorsement I can give.
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my Selma, Alabama, adventure at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. Or, as I've affectionately started calling it, "The Gateway to Awkward Family Reunions." (Just kidding… mostly.)
Day 1: Arrival and Anticipation (and a Mild Panic Attack)
- 1:00 PM - Arrival at Selma, Alabama (cue the tumbleweeds… figuratively, this time). Okay, so I thought I had a good grasp on geography. Apparently, the "Alabama" part of my brain was on perpetual vacation. So the drive took… longer than expected. Lesson learned: always double-check the driving time, especially when you're fueled by nothing but lukewarm coffee and the desperate hope of a good internet connection.
- 1:30 PM - Check-in at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Selma. The front desk lady (bless her heart, she'd seen some things) had this look in her eyes like, "Oh, another one." I'm guessing Selma sees a lot of weary travelers. The lobby was… fine. Standard hotel lobby fare. Clean-ish. The complimentary cookies were the hard, vaguely-cardboard-textured kind, which, in my opinion, is a crime against humanity.
- 2:00 PM - Room Reconnaissance. My room… let's just say it had character. The carpet had seen better days, and the air conditioner sounded like a dying walrus. But hey, the bed looked comfy, and that's really what mattered. Bonus points for the surprisingly decent view of the parking lot where I could people watch and contemplate life's mysteries.
- 2:30 PM - The Great Internet Debacle. Okay, so here's where I had a mini-meltdown. The Wi-Fi was about as reliable as a politician's promise. Tried to get a little work done, but all I got were buffering screens and the urge to throw my laptop out the window. Sigh. I ended up giving up defeated, grabbed a bottle of water from the vending machine (a real triumph of engineering, that thing) and watched some truly awful daytime TV.
Day 2: History, Humidity, and a Deep-Fried Revelation
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast Buffet of Dreams… or Nightmares? The breakfast situation was… an experience. Imagine a buffet where time itself seemed to slow down. Lukewarm eggs, rubbery sausage, and the saddest-looking pastries I’ve ever encountered. But, hey, the coffee was hot. And there were, bless their fluffy hearts, some surprisingly good mini-cinnamon rolls. Silver lining!
- 9:00 AM - Selma's Past: A Walking Tour Okay, so I decided to be a good tourist. I braved the Alabama heat and headed into town. Selma, it turns out, is steeped in history. The Brown Chapel AME Church, the Edmund Pettus Bridge - it was all incredibly moving. I mean, I stood there, staring at the bridge, completely humbled. The weight of history, the courage of those who marched… Honestly, it made me tear up a little. Damn you, history!
- 12:00 PM - Lunch at a Quaint Diner (And a Culinary Awakening). I stumbled into a local diner, "City Hall Cafe." The air conditioning almost froze my insides after the heat of earlier. The food, however, was a revelation. Comfort food heaven, y'all. I got the fried catfish. Oh. My. God. It was crispy, flaky, and utterly divine! It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. I felt like I had experienced a minor religious conversion in a plate full of deep-fried, perfectly cooked catfish.
- 1:30 PM - Bridge contemplation Part 2. I walked the Edmund Pettus Bridge again, alone this time, just thinking. The bridge is a powerful reminder of the fight for voting rights. I felt a deep respect for the people who fought. And a weird urge to take a nap.
- 3:00 PM - Poolside Regrets (and a Near-Disaster). Okay, so the hotel had a pool. And I figured, "Why not?" Bad idea. The water was cloudy, there was a rogue leaf floating around like a lost canoe, and the mosquitoes were out for blood. I lasted about five minutes before I was swarmed and retreated back to the air-conditioned safety of my room, vowing to never underestimate the bite of an Alabama mosquito.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner: Search for Entertainment. I decided to explore again. This was really about to turn into an actual adventure.
- 8:00 PM - Bedtime. The TV was on, but I was more interested in my pillow.
Day 3: Departure, Reflections, and the Quest for Decent Coffee
- 7:00 AM - The Last Breakfast Hurrah. Another breakfast buffet. Another attempt at the eggs. Another shrug. This time, I brought my own actual coffee.
- 8:00 AM - Check-Out (and a Bittersweet Farewell). Said goodbye to the weary front desk lady (I felt like we'd bonded) and hit the road.
- 8:30 AM - Trying to find a decent coffee. The desperate wanderings begin. I wanted to buy a coffee, but all I could find were fast food outlets.
- 9:00 AM - The Great Escape. And I was gone.
Verdict:
Selma, Alabama, at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites? A mixed bag. The hotel was… well, it was a hotel. The Wi-Fi was a villain. The breakfast… a culinary challenge. But the history, the people, the food (especially the catfish!) made it an unforgettable experience. Would I go back? Maybe. But next time, I'm bringing a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, a bug spray, and a serious appreciation for the simple joy of perfectly fried fish. Selma, you've officially imprinted on my brain. And I'm already craving that catfish.
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