Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Pleasant Prairie Kenosha

"Holiday Inn Express"

We’ve always been Holiday Inn people.  With the Holiday Inn, you can count on a clean, comfortable hotel, with all the amenities you need for a great price.  The Holiday Inn Express in Kenosha definitely fits those standards in most cases.

When we first arrived at the Holiday Inn Express, the front desk staff greeted us enthusiastically.  Once they saw our name on the reservation, they referred to us by name from that point on.  Our three year old was being a little rambunctious while we checked in, and they didn’t mind one bit.  They started chatting her up and she just loved it!  The staff made us feel welcome and at ease.  There also were complimentary cookies set out, which was a nice touch.

The hotel is tastefully decorated and recently updated.  Flat screen televisions grace the guest rooms and the lobby, and a fireplace in the breakfast area makes you feel right at home.

Our room wasn’t any larger than a typical hotel room, but the layout made it feel extremely spacious!  Standard rooms include a microwave and mini-fridge, perfect for our grazing children.  There’s also free wireless access, which nowadays I consider a must.

The first thing our children wanted to do was head right to the pool. I was a bit concerned when we first entered the pool area because the emergency exit door that leads to the outside was broken off of its hinge and kind of leaning against the doorframe.  This seemed like a tremendous safety and security hazard to me.  My husband went over and put it back in its place and we continued playing and having fun, but he shouldn’t have had to do that.   I was delighted about the pool setup because the hot tub is connected to the pool, making it easy for the grown-ups to relax while keeping a close eye on the children.  The pool depth ranges from 3 feet to 5 feet.  This was perfect for our family, because both our preschoolers could touch in the shallow end, yet I could get in a good workout in the deeper section.  Especially fun, is the mood lighting the pool has!  Both the whirlpool and the pool have lights that changes the color of the water while you swim! Next to the pool is a fitness center, which is open 24 hours.

The Holiday Inn Express does not have any attached restaurants, but it is nearby several major chains and local eateries.  The complimentary hot breakfast was a hit with our family as it had a pancake machine that made fresh pancakes at the push of a button.  Our 5 year old was delighted to “cook” pancakes for the whole family.  The Holiday Inn Express is also close to the freeway and only a short drive to the quaint downtown Kenosha area.

We were very impressed with the day staff and went to bed that evening feeling quite happy with the hotel.  However, we hardly slept at all that night because the person in the room above us was jumping up and down until 1:00 am, creating loud booming noises in our room.  At midnight, I went to the front desk very upset to complain.  The night staff person did not seem empathetic about the situation and told us she couldn’t do anything about it and our only option was to switch rooms.  With two small children.  At midnight.  After I walked away furiously, she did then go upstairs and talk with the man (who it turns out was exercising), and he did quiet down after that eventually.  But he woke us up at 6 am doing the same thing.  I don’t blame the Holiday Inn for our poor night’s sleep, as they can’t control what their guests are doing, but it would have been nice to have a little more compassion and sympathy from the night front desk staff at the situation.  It made for a long second day of touring for us.  The morning front desk person was much more understanding and apologized to us for the inconvenience.  

Bottom Line:  We really enjoyed the hotel.  It was clean, comfortable, and we were welcomed warmly. Had we not had the unfortunate experience with the night staff and upstairs guest, we would have been whole-heartedly pleased with our stay here.  

This review is based on a complimentary visit to the Holiday Inn Express. I received no other compensation and the business owner did not state any requirements that I express a particular point of view. The opinions I express are entirely my own.