Overview
Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Courtenay is a newer (built in 2009), centrally located hotel with value-added features like a pool and complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi and airport shuttle. These features make it well suited to business travellers and families looking for a modern hotel with extra amenities.

This 100% non-smoking hotel offers 91 rooms and suites over four floors. Standard room features include a flat screen TV, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a coffeemaker, a hair dryer, a desk, air conditioning and two queen beds. Suites also include dishes, cutlery and either two queen beds and a separate bedroom area with a king bed or a separate bedroom area with a king bed (and jetted tub in some rooms) and a living room area with a sofabed. Free Wi-Fi and local calls are available in all rooms. Pets are allowed for an additional $15 per night.

Amenities at the hotel include an indoor pool with a 32' waterslide, a hot tub, a fitness centre, guest-operated laundry facilities and a business centre. Free parking, newspapers, airport shuttle running between 8am and 5pm (reservations recommended) and complimentary breakfast buffet are available to all guests.

This hotel is about a 10-minute drive from the Inland Island Highway and a 3-minute drive from the downtown area. A grocery store and shopping plaza are about a 10-minute walk away. The Courtenay Riverway 5 km riverside walkway is right beside the hotel. Mount Washington Alpine Resort and Strathcona Park can be reached in about 50 minutes by car while Comox Valley Airport is a 15-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps).

Verified by hotel staff on November 14, 2012: free airport shuttle from 8am to 5pm, two queen beds in standard rooms.

The Good
The majority of reviews used for this analysis were positive and focused on the staff, rooms and amenities.

The majority of reviewers were very happy with the service they received and some thought the hotel was well-managed. The staff were routinely complimented for being friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating.

Many guests felt the rooms were spacious, clean, modern and comfortable. Some comments were made about the beds being comfortable and the linens being of good quality.

It was generally felt that the breakfast was "good quality for a hotel of this caliber". Some guests also enjoyed the pool area for its cleanliness and waterslide.

The Bad
Of the reviews used for this analysis very little were negative. A few negative comments focused on the availability of breakfast and there was an isolated comment about noise.

A few guests felt the breakfast room closed too early and some noted that if you didn't get to the free breakfast early enough that you would be left with a reduced selection.

One guest, who stayed in a room near the pool, complained of excess noise from that area.