Lincoln's BEST Downtown Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. Forget those pristine, robotic hotel reviews – this is gonna be real. Think of it as a slightly unhinged travel journal, peppered with enough keywords to appease the Google gods (SEO for the win!). And yes, it's messy. That's the point.
Lincoln's BEST Downtown Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Review! (aka: Did I Survive My Nebraska Adventure?)
First things first: Accessibility. Okay, I'm not in a wheelchair, BUT I did have a friend with mobility issues stay here last year. They RAVED. Apparently, it's seriously on point, making it one of the best accessible hotels in the city. Think ramps, elevators, accessible rooms. That's a huge win, folks. They've clearly thought about it. Wheelchair accessible? Check. And that's a solid foundation for any hotel.
On-Site Accessible Restaurants / Lounges: Honestly, I didn’t personally scope this out specifically but based on other reviews, and the general layout… it looks manageable. I'd double-check for specific seating arrangements, but the whole vibe is pretty accommodating. No super-narrow doorways, from what I could see.
Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Okay, this is a crucial one, and the Holiday Inn Express almost nailed it. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? YES! THANK YOU, sweet baby Jesus. I need my internet, and I need it NOW. Was it lightning-fast? Not always, but it did the job for streaming (mostly) and sending emails. They also have Internet [LAN] which I didn't even know hotels still did, but hey, options! Wi-Fi in public areas? Yeah, it was there, but I mostly stuck to the room for that sweet, sweet Wi-Fi.
Dining, drinking, and snacking: Okay, here’s where things get… interesting. Breakfast [buffet]. The classic Holiday Inn Express breakfast. Honestly… don’t go in expecting Michelin star quality. Think: scrambled eggs (questionable provenance), sausage links (even more questionable), waffles, cereal, and the usual suspects. It's adequate. It'll fill a hole. The Coffee/tea in restaurant were actually okay. I’m a coffee snob. Judge me. I’m just saying, it wasn’t terrible. They also had some of those little yogurt parfaits, which I appreciated. Breakfast takeaway service is a lifesaver if you are running late. Snack bar? Not really a "bar" bar, more like a mini-convenience store. I think they are missing an opportunity here for a Poolside bar, but that's just me dreaming of margaritas in Nebraska. Room service [24-hour]? Nope. Sorry to my fellow late-night snackers. Restaurants & Bars: They don't have a full-blown restaurant, but there's a bunch of decent places downtown within walking distance. So it's not ideal, but it's doable. A la carte? Not really. It's buffet or nothing, but if you are in an Alternative meal arrangement you could ask them to sort you out.
Cleanliness and safety: This is the big one in these post-pandemic times. Anti-viral cleaning products? I assumed they used them. Daily disinfection in common areas? Yep, I saw the cleaning crew at work. Rooms sanitized between stays? They claimed they did. I didn't personally watch them sanitize… but I trust they are doing it now that I think about it. Hand sanitizer? Everywhere! Staff trained in safety protocol? Seemed like it. They were all wearing masks and being generally cautious. Cashless payment service? Check. Safe dining setup? They have some measures in place. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? They tried! Individually-wrapped food options? Definitely. Hygiene certification? Not sure, but they clearly made an effort. Sterilizing equipment? I hope. Look, I felt pretty safe. But if you're seriously paranoid, maybe bring your own hazmat suit. Just kidding… mostly.
Things to do/ways to relax: Fitness center? Yeah, they have one. I peeked in. It looked… like a hotel gym. Treadmills, some weights, the usual. I'm not a gym rat, so I didn't use it. Swimming pool [outdoor]? YES! And it was actually pretty nice, with a nice view. I didn't see any Pool with view, but there's a view! Sauna, Spa, Steamroom, Massage, Spa/sauna, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath? Nope. This is not that kind of place. Come for the pool, the location, and the decent breakfast. Don't come expecting a luxurious spa experience.
Services and conveniences: This is where the Holiday Inn Express really shines. Air conditioning in public area? Duh. Cash withdrawal? Yes. Contactless check-in/out? Thank goodness. Elevator? Definitely. Facilities for disabled guests? See above. Luggage storage? Yes. Daily housekeeping? Yes. They do a good job. Concierge? Not really a concierge per se, but the front desk staff were helpful. Laundry service? Yes. Dry cleaning? I believe so. Ironing service? You bet! The Front desk [24-hour] really comes in handy.
For the kids: Family/child friendly? Yes! Kids facilities? They had some. Babysitting service? Unlikely. Kids meal? No idea!
Available in all rooms: Air conditioning? Yes. Alarm clock? Check. Blackout curtains? Yes. Coffee/tea maker? Yes. Free bottled water? Yes. Hair dryer? Yes. Internet access – wireless? Again, YES. Ironing facilities? You bet. Refrigerator? Maybe. Satellite/cable channels? Yup. Shower? Of course. Smoke detector? Yes. Wake-up service? Yes. Wi-Fi [free]? YES! The small things!
Getting around: Airport transfer? Unsure. Car park [free of charge]? Yes. Taxi service? Yes.
Rooms: Non-smoking rooms? Yes. That's good. Soundproof rooms? Pretty good. Room decorations? Basic. Carpeting? Yup, all the basics. They are clean.
My Experience (The Messy, Honest Part)
Okay, so I actually stayed here because I was visiting a friend, and we wanted to explore some local sights. This hotel is a great location. Seriously, you can walk to so many things downtown – restaurants, entertainment, the whole shebang. Parking was included! Thank you. Check-in/out [express]? I appreciate this. I am not good at people.
The room itself? Clean. Comfortable bed. What more do you want? It wasn't the Ritz, but it was perfectly fine. The bathroom was clean and functional. The Shower was great. The Coffee/tea maker was a nice touch. The Desk was great, I could work from my room. The Free bottled water was a nice touch. The Non-smoking rooms were clean. I did feel a little bit alone, but that’s my problem.
The Imperfections (Because Nothing’s Perfect)
Okay, the elevator was a tad slow sometimes. And that breakfast, while edible, could use some serious jazzing up. And I really wish they had a proper bar. Seriously, where’s my margarita, Lincoln?!
Quirky Observations
- The pillows were unusually fluffy. I loved it.
- There a lot of families. That's great.
- I made a friend in the elevator once.
- I went swimming. It was great.
Overall:
Holiday Inn Express in downtown Lincoln is a solid choice. It's clean, comfortable, conveniently located, and reasonably priced. It's not a luxury experience, but it delivers on the essentials. It’s a great option for an easy trip.
My Honest Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
SEO-Optimized Call-to-Action/Enticing Offer:
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Here's what you get:
- Prime Downtown Location: Walk to everything! (Seriously, everything).
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- Clean & Safe: Reassured by their commitment to hygiene.
- Great for All: Accessible rooms available!
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Mykonos's Hidden Gem: Uncover Destino Pacha!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is… my potential, highly-unreliable-depending-on-how-much-sleep-I-get, holiday in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the Holiday Inn Express Downtown, a place I'm already picturing as being deceptively… clean. Let's go!
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Nebraska Mystery Meat Quest (or, "Why Did I Pack a Sweater?")
Time: 2:00 PM - Arrival and Hotel Recon.
- The Reality: Land in Lincoln. Hopefully, my luggage arrives too. Because let's be honest, I'm notorious for checking "essentials" (like, ahem, my passport) in the bag I don't have immediate access to. Taxi/Uber to the Holiday Inn Express. First impression is KEY. Will it live up to the promise of "free breakfast"? I'm a sucker for continental. And let’s pray the room isn't directly next to the ice machine. That is the stuff of nightmares.
- Quirky Observation: I'm already judging the lobby furniture. Why is hotel furniture always so… bland? Like, did they just raid an office supply store and go, “Yep, that'll do”?
- Emotional Reaction: Mild excitement mixed with the nagging fear that I'll need to make approximately 100 pee breaks during the first day due to my caffeine-fueled pre-trip anxieties.
Time: 3:00 PM - The Chamber of Commerce’s Curse.
- The Reality: Attempt to conquer the local Chamber of Commerce. I figure a pamphlet or two (or, better yet, a local map that I can't read) is in order. I'll have to find it, and hope it's not designed for the vision-impaired.
- Anecdote: Last time I was in a Chamber building, I asked for recommendations, and they gave a list of the "best" chain restaurants. I nearly staged a walk-out.
- Opinionated Language: Okay, the Chamber of Commerce is often either amazing or a complete waste of time. It's hit-or-miss, really. I'll give it a shot. If it's another chain recommendation, I'll start a fire (metaphorically, of course).
Time: 4:00 PM - The Lincoln Food Safari (Aka: The Mystery Meat Mission)
- The Reality: Time to eat. Goal: Uncover a truly Nebraska dining experience. Something not-chain. Something with character. I'm envisioning a diner, maybe. I'm looking for something with a menu that makes zero nutritional sense.
- Researching the local food scene before I even get there, and let's be honest, I'll probably end up at the first place that’s open and doesn’t look like a gas station.
- Anecdote: I once tried to order 'the local delicacy' in a little town and was handed a plate of something that looked suspiciously like roadkill. Never again. Never.
- Messy Thought: Oh God, what if everything is… bland? Or what if it's all about corn, and I'm suddenly channeling my inner child and screaming 'nooooo, not corn again!'?
- The Reality: Time to eat. Goal: Uncover a truly Nebraska dining experience. Something not-chain. Something with character. I'm envisioning a diner, maybe. I'm looking for something with a menu that makes zero nutritional sense.
Time: 6:00 PM - The Dusk Stroll (or, "Finding the Perfect Parking Spot")
- The Reality: A leisurely (or, given my innate sense of direction, a hilariously confused) walk around the downtown area. I'll need the map. Or Google Maps. Or maybe just ask a friendly-looking stranger. This is where things get real.
- The Nightmare: Is there even parking? And if there is, will I have to take out a loan?
- Quirky Observation: I will judge how many pickup trucks I see. This is purely scientific, I assure you.
- Emotional Reaction: A sudden urge for a really good beer. I can feel it in my bones.
- The Reality: A leisurely (or, given my innate sense of direction, a hilariously confused) walk around the downtown area. I'll need the map. Or Google Maps. Or maybe just ask a friendly-looking stranger. This is where things get real.
Time: 7:30 PM - Dinner Round Two, if I'm still alive.
- The Reality: Back in the car, hopefully with a beer (or two) on the stomach. Back to the hotel. Bed. Sleep.
Day 2: History, Hysteria, and the Almighty Breakfast Buffet
Time: 7:00 AM - The Breakfast Bonanza.
- The Reality: Continental breakfast. The moment of truth. Is it the glorious array of carbs I secretly crave? Will the coffee be strong enough to pry me from my stupor? Will the waffle machine be broken? If yes, I'm calling the front desk.
- Emotional Reaction: Pure, unadulterated joy (in the form of copious amounts of sugary cereal). Or, utter despair. It’s a risk I'm willing to take.
- Opinionated Language: The free breakfast is make or break. It can turn a mediocre hotel into a genuinely wonderful experience.
Time: 8:00 AM - Stroll Through History.
- The Reality: Find the Museum. Stroll through the artifacts… or the gift shop.
- Anecdote: Once, at a museum, I got so lost in an exhibit that I forgot to eat lunch. Turns out, the exhibit gave me the hunger.
- Messy Thought: I always imagine myself becoming a history enthusiast during museum visits, the type who gets deeply moved by old typewriters. But let's face it, I'll probably just get distracted by my phone.
Time: 10:00 AM - Back to the City.
- The Reality: Back into the car, back into the city, maybe get a coffee.
- Quirky Observation: I'm just going to watch. Observe people on the street. See what's going on.
- Emotional Reaction: I might panic, thinking: "What if I'm not seeing something I should be seeing?"
Time: 12:00 PM - Lunch and the Big Question.
- The Reality: Time to find a good diner.
- Anecdote: The worst lunch I had was at a truck stop. It looked like someone threw a bag of mystery meat on a plate, and called it a stew. I did not eat it.
- Messy Thought: What if there's nothing good?
Time: 2:00 PM - The rest of the day.
- Emotional Reaction: Do I want to go back now? Should I even push myself? Sometimes, I don't have the energy to go out.
- Opinionated language: It's my trip. It's all about me.
Day 3: Departure and Reflections (mostly about breakfast)
Time: 7:00 AM - The Final Breakfast Farewell.
- The Reality: Another chance to raid the free breakfast buffet. One last waffle, one last cup of coffee. I'll assess whether the whole stay was worth it based on the quality of the breakfast.
- Anecdote: I swear, one time, the breakfast buffet sold me on a hotel.
- Messy Thought: Will I miss the Holiday Inn Express? Probably. But in a detached, buffet-related way.
Time: 9:00 AM - Checkout and Airport Escape.
- The Reality: Pack. Check out, and (hopefully, smoothly) get to the airport. Reflect on my journey.
- Quirky Observation: I'll judge the airport bathroom's cleanliness. This is critical.
- Emotional Reaction: A sigh of relief (and maybe a pang of sadness that the buffet is now behind me.) Ready for the next adventure!
Okay, So... Holiday Inn Express Downtown Lincoln - Let's Get Real! (FAQ Edition)
Is this really the *BEST* downtown hotel? Or is that just, like, marketing BS?
Alright, look. "Best" is subjective, right? Depends what you're looking for. Luxury suites with butler service? No. But for a solid, reliable, *convenient* base of operations for exploring downtown Lincoln? Yeah, I'd say it's a strong contender. It's not perfect, and trust me, I’m gonna tell you *all* about the imperfections. But its location? Killer. Right in the heart of things. You can practically roll out of bed and stumble into a brewery.
What's the deal with the location? Seriously... is it as good as they say?
Okay, I'm going to be brutally honest with you: The location IS the main selling point. I mean, truly, *that* is going to make or break your stay. You're a hop, skip, and a drunken stumble from everything. Restaurants? Check. Bars? Triple check. Local shops with the weirdest Nebraska-themed tchotchkes imaginable? You betcha. I actually walked to a concert at the… I think it was called the Bourbon Theatre?… in like, ten minutes. Ten minutes! In heels! (Don’t ask.) It’s that good. You can ditch the car and embrace the pedestrian life.
Let's talk rooms. Are they… you know… clean? And modern?
Okay, here's the deal. Clean? Generally, yes. I'm, like, a germaphobe, and I didn't find anything truly horrifying. I mean, I've seen worse hotel rooms, *much* worse. Modern? Ehhh… "Holiday Inn Express Modern" is probably a safe way to put it. Think functional, not necessarily Instagram-worthy. The furniture is perfectly adequate, the bed is comfortable enough for a sound sleep, and the TV works. Look, you're not coming here for a design magazine cover story; you're coming for a place to crash after a night of… well, let's just say "adventures."
One time, I *did* find a stray rubber ducky under the bed. No clue where it came from. Gave me a good chuckle, actually. (Probably from the last person who stayed in the room with kids.)
What's the breakfast situation like? Is it the usual sad continental breakfast buffet?
Ah, the breakfast. This is where things get... interesting. I wouldn’t say "sad" necessarily, but don't expect a gourmet spread. Think: the standard Holiday Inn Express breakfast. Waffles, yes. Scrambled eggs that *might* be real (maybe). Cereal, fruit, and, of course, the never-ending river of coffee. Okay, the coffee *was* pretty good. I’m a caffeine fiend, and it kept me alive. But, honestly, the real value here is avoiding the cost of a sit-down brunch somewhere else. I mean, how fancy do you *really* need to get before 10 AM? Plus, I'm a sucker for those waffle makers. I make like, three waffles, even thought I only eat one. It's a compulsion.
The staff… are they friendly? Or do they treat you like a cog in a machine?
Ah, the staff. Generally, friendly. Look, they're overworked, probably underpaid, and dealing with a constant stream of tourists and… well, let's just call them “energetic individuals.” So, cut them some slack. They're usually pretty helpful, but they may not always offer the *warmest* welcome you've ever received. I once needed help with the TV (I swear, technology is beyond me), and the guy at the front desk was super patient and walked me through it. Even laughed at my ineptitude. In a nice way, of course. So, yeah, good enough. Not the Four Seasons, but certainly not the Bates Motel.
Any downsides? What are the things I should *really* watch out for?
Okay, buckle up. Here’s the real dirt. First: The elevators. They’re slow. Like, *glacial*. And sometimes, they smell… vaguely… of disinfectant and despair. If you're on a high floor, you might want to consider taking the stairs (if you can manage them after a night out). Second: The noise. Downtown Lincoln can get lively. Especially on weekends. If you're a light sleeper, request a room on a higher floor, *away* from the street. Or, you know, invest in earplugs. Third: Parking. It's not *horrible*, but it's not ideal. You'll probably have to pay for it, and depending on the time of the year, spaces might be tight. Just be prepared to walk a few blocks if you can't find a spot right away. And, finally… I once, and I do mean *once*, had a run-in with a malfunctioning vending machine. Lost a dollar and got a bag of stale chips. The horror!
Okay, so *should* I stay there? Give me the final verdict!
Alright, here's the final, brutally honest truth: Yes. You should probably stay there. If you value convenience, a decent night's sleep, and a good location above all else, the Holiday Inn Express downtown Lincoln is a solid choice. It’s not glamorous. It's not perfect. But it’s reliable. And sometimes, that's all you really need. Just don’t expect a fairytale. Expect a place to kick back, enjoy a night on the town, and then crash comfortably before breakfast. Oh, and maybe bring your own rubber ducky, just in case.
A completely random question: Is there a pool? Because, you know, sometimes you just *need* a pool.
Nope. No pool. Sorry, no pool. Don't even ask. They probably figured the breweries and bars served the same purpose.
Okay, let's rewind. That vending machine incident... tell me *everything*!
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