Rochester's BEST Hotel Near the University? (Holiday Inn Express Review!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving deep into the Holiday Inn Express near the University of Rochester. And by deep, I mean, like, I’m gonna dissect this place like a frog in high school Biology. Forget the sanitized brochure fluff; this is the real, unfiltered, slightly-scattered experience.
First things first: The Vibe (and the Wi-Fi!)
Okay, let's be honest, the Holiday Inn Express isn’t exactly winning any design awards. It's… functional. Clean, yes! But screaming "Instagrammable?" Not so much. HOWEVER! And this is a big HOWEVER in today's world: The Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!!!? Rock solid. Uploading those late-night research papers (or, let's be real, doom-scrolling) was a breeze. And hey, let's give props for Wi-Fi in public areas. Because sometimes you just need to check those emails in the lobby, pretending you're super important.
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (Because Life Is)
Alright, let's talk about this. Wheelchair accessible? Yes, absolutely. Elevators? Check. You can navigate the place. Facilities for disabled guests? They say they have them. I didn't specifically need them, so I can't vouch for every tiny detail, but visually, it seemed like they were covering the bases. I'm giving it a solid, tentative thumbs up. On the other hand, let's get to the real problem here: Accessibility to Rochester's legendary garbage plates. The hotel, sadly, does not deliver it. This is an accessibility problem of the soul.
Cleanliness: The COVID Shuffle
Look, we’re all obsessed with germs these days, right? The Holiday Inn Express gets points for trying. I saw the Anti-viral cleaning products listed, the Daily disinfection in common areas. They even had the Hand sanitizer readily available. Here's an anecdote: I once walked into the elevator and immediately saw a housekeeper already cleaning the buttons. It was unnerving, but reassuring. The Room sanitization opt-out available is a nice touch, though. Feeling extra germaphobic? You're covered.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The Struggle is Real)
Okay, this is where things get a little… interesting. The Breakfast [buffet]? It's there. Scrambled eggs (the rubbery kind), instant oatmeal, the usual suspects. I wouldn’t call it a gourmet experience, but it got the job done. The Coffee/tea in restaurant? Adequate. They had a Coffee shop on-site, which I missed during my stay. The options are Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, and Western breakfast. You gotta love the attempt at diversity, but I can't vouch for anything other than the eggs.
The Room: A Sanctuary of Sorts (Mostly)
The room itself was… fine. The Air conditioning in public area was a godsend in July. The Air conditioning in all rooms! was also a godsend in July. The Blackout curtains were a lifesaver for sleeping in, even though I had to set Alarm clock that woke me at 6 AM. You get the standard Desk, Refrigerator, and Coffee/tea maker. The Bathroom was clean enough, though the water pressure in the shower was weaker than my willpower to resist a garbage plate. I'm giving it a 6.5/10 on the Room Quality Scale. It's a place to crash, and that’s sometimes all you need.
Amenities: The Good, the Unnecessary, and the Missing
- Fitness center: There was one, and it looked… functional. I'm not a gym person, so I can’t elaborate, but I'm pretty sure the treadmills were present.
- Swimming pool: Yes, there's a pool (indoor), but not one with a "view." Come on, Holiday Inn, I crave a view.
- Spa/sauna: Nope. Not even a hint of aromatherapy.
- Babysitting: For those with kids, yeah. I ain't got kids.
- Car park [free of charge]: Always a win! Rochester parking can be a nightmare.
- Room service [24-hour]: Yes! And that's a plus.
- Business facilities: They had stuff for printing and faxing. Let's be honest, who is faxing anymore?
Getting Around: Location, Location, Location
The location? Excellent. Close to the University of Rochester, so ideal for campus visits, parent weekends, or pretending you're a grad student again. Airport transfer? You can arrange it, I'm sure. Driving? Car park [on-site], Car park [free of charge]. The city center is a short drive.
The Quirks: A Word About the Staff
The staff were friendly. Not overly effusive, but helpful. I had a small problem with my key card at check-in, and they sorted it out fast and with a smile. No complaints there.
My One Big, Emotional, Messy Experience
I'm gonna get specific here. One day, I was just… wrecked. Like, emotionally destroyed. Not for any particular reason! But I needed a place to hide. I retreated to my room. And I just sat there, swamped by grief and despair. The bed was comfy, the blackout curtains were a blessing, and no one disturbed me. Then, I ordered some room service. It was a burger with fries, nothing fancy. But the simple act of being able to close the door, knowing the hotel allowed it, helped me to recharge. And, for that, I will be grateful to the Holiday Inn Express forever.
The Verdict: Is it Rochester's BEST Hotel Near the University?
Okay, let's be real: "Best" is subjective. But the Holiday Inn Express near the U of R is a solid choice. It gets the job done. It's clean. It's reasonably priced. It's in a good location. It has free Wi-Fi. The breakfast is… well, it’s there.
Here’s the Offer: The "Get Your Rochester Fix" Package!
Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express near the University of Rochester through this link (I’ll add one when I can): and get more than just a comfy room. Get…
- FREE Breakfast… that you can skip! (Just kidding, it's included! Just… manage your expectations).
- A voucher for a 15% discount at a local Rochester restaurant (I'll help you find a real good one!)
- Free upgrade to a room with a view (subject to availability, but I'll whisper some sweet nothings to the front desk! No guarantees, though. Life is about risk!)
- AND… a complimentary bag of local Rochester snacks (because you deserve it)
- PLUS… Early Check-In to fully maximize your time in Rochester!
Why you should book now: Because Rochester, and life, waits for no one. Book your trip and get some rest. You'll need it.
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Maison Apart Hotel, Mar del Plata!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to ride shotgun with yours truly through the glorious… and potentially slightly disastrous… adventure that is the Holiday Inn Express Rochester - University Area. Buckle up, because this isn't a perfectly polished itinerary; it's a messy, glorious, and probably slightly caffeinated account.
ITINERARY: ROCHESTER, MY ROCHESTER, AND THE HOLIDAY INN, OH MY!
(Day 1: Arrival and Existential Dread – Hotel Edition)
1:00 PM: Land in… friggin’ Rochester. Seriously, who chooses Rochester? Fine, let's get this over with. The airport is surprisingly clean, which is a pleasant surprise because honestly, I was expecting something out of a David Lynch movie. Find the shuttle to the Holiday Inn. (Note: always tip the shuttle driver, even if their small talk is more awkward than a mime convention).
1:30 PM: Check-in. Okay, the lobby isn’t terrible. It's got that generic hotel vibe, you know, that smells-of-cleaning-products-mixed-with-weak-coffee. The front desk person is… nice enough. This is the starting point of my trip.
2:00 PM: The Room Reveal. Ah, yes. The moment of truth. Key card in hand, I brace myself. (I swear, hotel rooms are always a gamble). Okay, a standard double. Clean-ish. A view of… well, a parking lot and a sliver of a bleak Rochester sky. The bedspread is the color of sadness. But hey, at least there's a working TV. Praise be.
2:30 PM: The Great Bed Test. I plop onto the bed like a sack of potatoes. Success! It doesn't immediately collapse. Small victories. The pillows, however, remind me of rocks… or maybe just particularly stubborn clouds. I debate calling reception to complain, but then I realize, it's Rochester. Who am I, the Princess and the Pea?
3:00 PM: The Bathroom Blitz. I take a look at the bathroom. Standard hotel bathroom: questionable water pressure, a tiny bar of soap that looks like it’s been sitting in a museum somewhere. And the shower curtain? Oh, the shower curtain. It’s got that familiar clingy, slightly mildewy quality that promises a fun time.
3:30 PM: The existential dread sets in. I'm alone in a hotel room in… Rochester. What am I even doing with my life? Need coffee. Desperately.
4:00 PM: Coffee Run. Head down to the "complimentary breakfast" area. Expectation: a decent cup of joe. Reality: lukewarm, slightly burnt disappointment. I load up on the miniature muffins, because hey, carbs comfort.
5:00 PM: Local Exploration (the Very, Very Casual Kind). Time to venture out. I decide to walk a block. The street is very…quiet. I walk and end up at the university, it's a very beautiful university. I take some pictures.
7:00 PM: Dinner. I'm torn. Room service? (Too lonely). Some chain restaurant? (Boring). I stumble upon a place downtown, a dive bar: The kind of place where it's obvious everyone knows each other and someone is always yelling something at someone else. I order a burger and a beer. The burger is surprisingly good! (And I even make a new friend that night!)
9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. TV time, and maybe, just maybe, a solid night's sleep despite the rock-pillows. I order another drink.
(Day 2: Museums and (More) Minor Disasters)
8:00 AM: "Breakfast". The "complimentary" breakfast is… the same. More sad coffee, more sad muffins. I eat with the ferocity of a starving wolf.
9:00 AM: Museum time. The Rochester Museum & Science Center. It's honestly, pretty cool! I spend hours lost in exhibits on history, and science. I find a whole new level of respect for history.
12:00 PM: Lunch at a local cafe. The place is super busy, the staff is nice. But the food is just…okay. I’m starting to think Rochester isn’t a culinary powerhouse.
1:00 PM: More exploration. I decide to visit some shops. I'm a little lost, and so I spend a good while finding my way around and I end up shopping.
4:00 PM: Back to the hotel for a nap. The exhaustion is real, and those rock-pillows are starting to win me over.
6:00 PM: Dinner. My new friend and I met again, we went back to the dive bar. This time, I order fries.
9:00 PM: Back to the room, this time a little more tired that the first night.
(Day 3: Departure and Reflections)
7:00 AM: "Breakfast". You know the drill.
8:00 AM: Check out of the Holiday Inn. (Goodbye rock-pillows, it's been… real?)
8:30 AM: Shuttle to the airport. I'm actually kind of sad to leave. I spent all my time exploring.
10:30 AM: Flight home. As I look back at the trip, I think about how awesome Rochester is! It's a place that has its own vibe and I loved it!
Reflections: Look, the Holiday Inn wasn't the Ritz. It was a Holiday Inn. But it was… fine. The real star of the show was the city and the people I met. Would I go back to Rochester? Maybe. Would I stay at the Holiday Inn Express again if I had to? Absolutely. But I'll pack my own pillow next time. And maybe, just maybe, I'll find a better coffee. Because a girl can dream, right?
Rochester's Holiday Inn Express Near the U of R: The Unfiltered Truth (And a Few Tears)
Is this actually "the best" hotel near the University of Rochester? Let's be real...
What’s the biggest Pro of staying here, and the HUGE Con that makes you want to scream?
Tell me about the rooms. Are they... livable?
Seriously, what's this breakfast situation like? Is it worth the panic of the crowd?
Do they have a gym? Is it a joke?
How's the staff? Are they friendly... or just trying to survive?
Parking: Nightmare fuel or manageable?
Overall: Would you recommend it? Give it to me straight!
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