Holiday Inn Express & Suites Blacksburg - University Area By Ihg

“Outstanding customer service, super clean room and all the amenities that you need”

I’m currently staying at the Holiday Inn Express Blacksburg/University Area and decided to write this review because outstanding customer service deserves to be acknowledged. I checked into this hotel last night at around 10 pm after a 5 hour drive. Check in was quick. It didn’t take more than 5 mi… more

I’m currently staying at the Holiday Inn Express Blacksburg/University Area and decided to write this review because outstanding customer service deserves to be acknowledged. I checked into this hotel last night at around 10 pm after a 5 hour drive. Check in was quick. It didn’t take more than 5 minutes, which I appreciated after the long drive. I didn’t have any trouble finding the location and I was pleasantly surprised that even at 100% capacity (it’s moving weekend at the nearby university) there were plenty of parking spaces available. I sent an email at around 11 pm to the email address I found on the IHG website because a had a couple of requests, including a room change the next morning to a king bed. The next morning I went out for an errand early and when I came back passed by the reception desk to check about my room change. The man at the reception desk, Josh Rigsby the General Manager, immediately remembered my requests and asked if I was the lady who had emailed him yesterday. He said that he had responded to my email and had fixed the issues in my room. So soon? I had sent the email past 11 pm and everything was sorted out early the next morning. What great customer service! He asked if I still wanted a room change and I said yes because of bedding preference. Not too much trouble. Yes, they can accommodate my request within an hour. Again, great customer service! I am a frequent traveler and have stayed in numerous Holiday inn Express hotels because they are generally clean and comfortable, plus they have free parking and breakfast. I used to book through third parties, but I found out that when I book directly on the IHG web site I get the best prices plus member benefits. So now I only book direct. So far my experience at this hotel has been one of my best experiences at an IHG hotel. What makes the Blacksburg Holiday inn Express hotel stand out is their outstanding customer service and super cleanliness of the rooms. Josh Rigsby is running a class act hotel. Everyone here is friendly and the staff acknowledges you. The location is perfect for me because it’s only 1.5 miles from campus. The rooms are large and comfortable, and have all the amenities that I need from a hotel room. I’m staying in a king suite. The room is divided into three areas. A king bed that is separated from a living room with a partial wall that is more like a shoulder separating the bed area from the living room, which is quite large. The third area contains a wet bar (very nice!) with a sink, some cabinets, a keurig machine, a microwave and a mini fridge. There’s also a work area with a desk. There is a vanity mirror and sink separately outside the bathroom (very nice as well!). The room is spotlessly clean and the bed is super comfortable. There are 2 full size mirrors (very convenient!) and an in-room safe. I haven’t tried the breakfast yet because I was in a rush this morning but the buffet looked like it had plenty of hot and cold items. Looking forward to trying it tomorrow. They also offer free coffee, tea and hot chocolate all day. I do plan to stay at this hotel again and I recommend it for anyone traveling to the area. One final note. I noticed some reviews talked about good lighting in the rooms. Yes that is correct. The rooms have plenty of lighting which I feel is always a plus. I realized that I just spent the last hour writing this review. It all comes down to outstanding customer service because outstanding service deserves to be talked about.

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“Bad Breakfast”

Rooms comfy! Breakfast horrible, we frequent HIE and this is the worst breakfast to wake up to. Ruined the experience for us!!!

“2nd stay review”

This is my second time staying at this hotel and the last time I was here I had written a stellar review because of the outstanding customer service I had received by the GM when I had written him an email regarding a number of maintenance issues I had experienced with my room. This time round I ha… more

This is my second time staying at this hotel and the last time I was here I had written a stellar review because of the outstanding customer service I had received by the GM when I had written him an email regarding a number of maintenance issues I had experienced with my room. This time round I had booked through the IHG app - same as last time - and had chosen the best flexible rate because I felt this would give me more flexibility in case I needed to check out earlier than planned (there’s almost nothing to do in Blacksburg unless you’re visiting the neighboring university). I also thought it would be more helpful in terms of putting in my rooming preferences. Unfortunately, no such luck. When I arrived the lady at the front desk was particularly nice and helpful but unfortunately my room preference on the floor I wanted was booked up and she had no knowledge of the email I had sent earlier to the GM with my request. So she tried to accommodate my request as much as she could and I honestly appreciate her effort and her lovely friendly personality which somehow made everything ok. What surprised me was that I never received a response to my email or even an offer to switch my room to the floor I wanted should one become available. I also feel that the hotel is overpriced during peak seasons especially for its star rating. You can get a much cheaper rate just 5 minutes drive away in the neighboring Christiansburg and Blacksburg hotels do need to realize that they do have competition and rethink their pricing versus what they offer. I hate to say this but when I walked into my room I was immediately hit by a very musty smell - it smelled like socks! Also I found one dead fly on the window and another one on the pillow. The lady at the front desk had charged my credit card for the full amount upon check in so I didn’t think that moving hotels would be an option at this point. And it was almost midnight when I got in anyway. I had ordered a few packages to the hotel and they all arrived on time except for one. On the day of my checkout I asked for my package again and was told it had not arrived. They were sure. When I showed the guy the proof of delivery he said USPS sometimes says delivered when they haven’t actually delivered the package yet. However, when I insisted that i can’t leave without my package, one of the 2 gentlemen at the front desk went out and checked the mailbox and sure enough it was there. No apologies. Despite all this I’m giving 4 stars because the room amenities have everything I need. Breakfast choices are limited but I really appreciate the 24 hour coffee in the lobby and they usually have one type of fruit out as well. Apart from the lady at the front desk who was really personable I would say that the other staff basically acted as if I was not there. Very impersonable this time. I do plan to book again here the next time I’m here because of the amenities and closeness to the university if the price is right. Let’s hope the 3rd time is the charm!

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“Dirty bedding and inaccurate breakfast ad”

Rooms were spacious but not very clean. There was a huge brown stain on the couch, and when we opened it to be a sleeper sofa for my son, the sheets underneath were stained and disgusting. Sink in the bathroom didn’t drain and there was a large stain in the shower. Walked down to let front desk kno… more

Rooms were spacious but not very clean. There was a huge brown stain on the couch, and when we opened it to be a sleeper sofa for my son, the sheets underneath were stained and disgusting. Sink in the bathroom didn’t drain and there was a large stain in the shower. Walked down to let front desk know the sheets were filthy and they handed me a new set to change myself so I had no gloves to pull off the dirty sheets. Picked this hotel because their website listed breakfast at 6:30, which was earlier than some of their neighbors and we wanted to get on the road. Breakfast was not actually offered until 7, and at 6:30, even the cooler with milk and yogurt was still locked. Feel like they could have at least had the bagels and cereal out and unlocked the cooler even if hot items weren’t ready so we would have something to take to go.

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