Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Carlsbad Beach, An Ihg Hotel, Carlsbad

My stay at the hotel was quite convenient as my room was on the first floor, close to the parking lot, which was very convenient. The cleanliness and overall niceness of the room were impressive, especially considering there was no additional cost. The king-size bed was comfortable, although I felt the room was a bit below average in size.

The hotel was spacious, but had an unpleasant odor. We were a family of 7 people in 3 double bed rooms. The carpet was dirty with food crumbs scattered. The exit door slammed all night with people coming in and out. The guests above us had kids running until almost 2 am, which made it hard to sleep. I didn't bother changing rooms for the last night due to the hassle of packing and moving.

The hotel was rarely used as it looked brand new and had a great room, but unfortunately, the rooms smelled like a wet rag throughout my stay. The service was friendly and very helpful, even offering complimentary ice pops by the pool area in the afternoon. The location was convenient, close to the beach, shops, and Legoland. The dining experience had a variety of buffet options but lacked proper cooking for some dishes. Overall, the hotel had modern facilities but some noticeable drawbacks.