A Review of the Holiday Inn Charlotte University in Charlotte, North Carolina

When looking for a hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, you will find many options from your humdrum Knights Inn to the extravagant Omni. The Holiday Inn Charlotte University is a 3-star hotel (as rated by hotels.com) conveniently located near I-85, the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, UNC-Charlotte, the Lowe's Motor Speedway, and several chain restaurants. Expect to pay anywhere from $89 to $159 for a room for two adults if you book through the Holiday Inn website. The price varies depending upon the features in the room, e.g. two double beds or queen bed with a sofa bed, the special package you choose, and your booking choices.

The Holiday Inn Charlotte University has a small seasonal outdoor swimming pool and a fitness center. The University Bar & Grill is located on the first floor and room service is also available. Children 12 and under eat free, and children 19 and under stay free. Pets are welcome, but a $25 non-refundable fee will be charged. 4,733 square feet of recently renovated multi-purpose space is ideally suited for receptions, meetings, conferences, and themed events. Full-service banquets and catering are available. The modern audiovisual equipment and WiFi access in the area serves professional events well.

The lobby is nicely appointed and clean, with a seating area opposite the desk. Check-in is simple. The elevator is prompt and finding guest rooms is easy. Each of the 174 newly-renovated guest rooms is equipped with a secure WiFi network and a nice desk perfect for the business traveler. The rooms also have cable television with an impressive channel line-up that includes kid-friendly choices. Two dual-line phones with voicemail are available. No need to bring a hair dryer as there is one in the bathroom. An iron and ironing board can be found in the closet. A tea and coffee maker, complete with tea, coffee, cups and condiments is in the bathroom. And of course, complimentary soap, shampoo, conditioner and hand lotion are in the bathroom as well.

Recent guests report that their room was pleasant and large, but they did have complaints. It had two double beds and the mattresses were saggy and uncomfortable. It was generally clean but they found a white tube of chapstick left by a previous guest at the foot of one of the beds. There were four or five circular stains on the wall opposite the first bed. Presumably they are water stains. The far wall was one large window with a view of the neighboring buildings' dirty rooftops. There was a binder on the desk that contained only a menu for the overpriced restaurant downstairs. There were no local restaurant listings, no directions on connecting to the WiFi network, and no television channel listing. The bathroom was on the small side with an average size tub. They found a crack in the countertop face near the tissue dispenser, but the room was otherwise nice. The door only locks from the inside; you cannot lock it and pull it closed. This is troublesome when trying to childproof a room. They mentioned that the soundproofing is terrible. They clearly heard people running up and down the hallways talking loudly. The guests said that the hotel is in a nice area and they felt safe staying there.

When asked to rate their experience as terrible, bad, fair, good or excellent, they said that it was good, not bad but certainly not excellent. They agree with hotels.com's 3-star rating, but they expected more of a 3-star hotel. They remarked that the room was not worth the price ($123 for a room with two double beds not booked in advance). They said they would stay at this hotel again, but only if they could find a better price.

The Holiday Inn Charlotte University is a good choice for a hotel in northeastern Charlotte. It has amenities one would expect from a 3-star hotel. It is located in a key part of the city, close to many local attractions and businesses. The area is safe, easy to navigate and home to many restaurants. While there are some drawbacks, including poor soundproofing and an over-priced restaurant, it is definitely an option to consider.