Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Tulare by IHG

First stay here and I’ve loved my experience will be back on my next trip.

We stay here every three months for a Friday to Saturday stay. We usually like the availability, the parking is never an issue and the staff has always been extremely attentive and polite. This trip was very different. The night person was dismissive, and borderline rude. I believe she knew how she was acting and tried to get ahead of it by making up a story about me trying to park my car in front of the front door. Which I didn't do. Again we have stayed here many times and never encountered this type of behavior from staff.

The hotel provided what we needed which was a place to stay and the coffee machine was above average which In appreciated. However during our 7 day stay, the breakfast was ALWAYS the same. Pancake maker worked 1 day, potato’s were bagged cheap tater tots, yes tater tots for breakfast everyday, and undercooked sausage. The rest of the breakfast was a standard continental breakfast. We booked a room for 5 people and had a charge for the extra person even though it advertised slept 5, with 2 queen beds and a pull out sofa, which was nothing but a rack of springs. Again, even though they knew we had 5 people and we paid extra for 5 people, we only had 3 towels at check in and had to ask for extra towels every day thereafter. Even when they cleaned the room we would tell the cleaners to leave extra towels, they would only leave 3 and we would have to ask for more. The hot tub didn’t work either so I’ll just stop here. Wouldn’t go back.

We were extremely disappointed with our stay at this location. One of the reasons we chose this hotel was to enjoy the pool and spa, only to find out after arriving that BOTH were broken. What was even more disappointing was being told by a staff member that they have apparently been broken for about a YEAR and that the owner has shown no desire to fix them. If that is the case, guests should absolutely be informed before booking. After an already long and exhausting day, I expected at least basic hotel service and amenities. There wasn’t even a box of Kleenex in our room. When I called the front desk to request one, I was told that the employee was the only person working the desk that night, so I would have to come downstairs and get it myself. I understand being short-staffed, but as a paying guest, this was frustrating and disappointing. Although I appreciated that breakfast was complimentary, that was disappointing as well. The breakfast area was not fully stocked, the juice machine was broken, and several of the food items were provided in such small quantities that there simply wasn’t enough for all the guests. Overall, this stay fell far below our expectations. Between the pool and spa being out of service, the lack of basic room amenities and service, and the poorly stocked breakfast, I will NEVER stay at this location again. My advice: CALL BEFORE YOU BOOK and confirm that the pool and spa are actually working! Super disappointed with this experience.

The hotel itself is clean, staff is professional, but may need more training. On my first day of check-in, hotel reception gave me someone else's reservation to sign that already had checked out. After staying my first night and on my second day, I went to hotel reception again to say that I would only be staying two nights of the 3 nights booked and wanted to cancel the third night. When I thought the Hotel reception was rebooking to only two night stay, he checked me out not staying a second night. When i told him the mistake, he rebooked me for my second night and checked me out for the third night. Each transaction was with a different hotel reception staff person. All in all, you do have to pay strong attention to what they put in front of you, read it, make sure it is your name and your dates. Both hotel Reception staff was very courteous and professional in handling the matter. I stayed in the hotel in April and just this week again, and both times, there were no face wash clothes put out and each time, the rooms were cleaned and ready. I asked for the wash cloths the first stay in April, but this time I just used a hand towel for my face. I had too much going on to waste more time. Maybe this is a new thing for them is to save on face hand towels. I did not use any other amenities. No food. The hotel is conveniently located though. I am not sure if I will attempt another stay here.