Overview
Located just east of Highway 99 in South Richmond, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites is popular with air and car travellers who require a hotel close to this major highway or to Vancouver International Airport (YVR), which is roughly a 15-minute drive away. The hotel is also next door to Richmond Ice Centre, making it popular with visiting sports teams.
This non-smoking hotel has 105 air-conditioned guest rooms, all of which offer free Wi-Fi, satellite TV, a mini-fridge, a microwave, a coffeemaker, a desk, a hair dryer, and an iron and ironing board. Standard rooms offer two queen beds, while executive rooms also offer a full kitchen, a sofabed and a separate living area. Suites offer all executive room amenities plus 1 or 2 bedrooms, a dining room, and laundry facilities.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool and hot tub, a business centre, a fitness room, and a free 24-hour airport shuttle. Accessible rooms are available upon request, parking is free, and pets are not allowed. A complimentary breakfast is offered to all guests.
Nearby dining options and the Riverport Entertainment Complex are within a 4-minute walk of the hotel. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site and Steveston Village are a 17-minute drive west. Highway 99 is a 2-minute drive away. BC Ferries' Tsawwassen terminal is a 20-minute drive south of the hotel. Downtown Vancouver can be reached within 30 minutes by car. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free airport shuttle, free parking, free Wi-Fi, and pets not allowed (call date: Oct. 17, 2012).
The GoodThe majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive with much praise going to the hotel's staff, location, and rooms.
Most guests complimented the staff at this hotel, characterizing them as friendly, helpful, efficient and professional. They were also described as being attentive to client needs and quick to provide information about local attractions.
Several reviewers were pleased with the hotel's location. They noted it was close to Highway 99, surrounding restaurants, the Richmond Ice Centre (next door), and a grocery store. It should be mentioned, however, that a few patrons found the location farther from the airport (roughly 15 minutes) than they would have liked.
The accommodations were a source of compliments by many guests, who described their rooms as clean and spacious with comfortable beds and a strong Wi-Fi signal. The hotel itself was described as looking "new inside and out".
The Bad
While most of the reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints among them about noise transfer and the complimentary breakfast.
Some guests complained about noise disturbances. They recounted having heard truck noise outside the front of the hotel, noise from hockey teams staying in adjacent rooms, and a humming sound within the walls. It should be noted, however, that most reviewers found their rooms to be quiet.
A few guests were disappointed with the free breakfast and described the selection as including reheated eggs and sausages. A couple of other patrons felt the breakfast room was too small and crowded.
A few reviewers said the location was farther from the airport than they would have liked (15-minute drive).
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #2 out of 26 Richmond hotels from 199 reviews.
Expedia.ca guest reviews rated the hotel 4.5 out of 5 with an 95% recommendation rate from 41 reviews.
Hotels.com guest reviews rated the hotel 4.5 out of 5 from 68 reviews.
Verified with a front desk agent: Free airport shuttle, free parking, free Wi-Fi, and pets not allowed (call date: Oct. 17, 2012).
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Analyzed by Erin H.
Erin loves to travel, and considers it her personal mission to help fellow travellers get the inside scoop, both good and bad, on Canadian Hotels.
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