Holiday Inn Express Clearwater East - Icot Center By Ihg

The hotel offers a welcoming and comfortable stay, largely defined by its exceptionally friendly and helpful staff and recently updated, clean accommodations. Its convenient location near the airport makes it a practical choice for various travelers. This hotel is particularly well-suited for business travelers seeking efficiency, families looking for a comfortable base with spacious rooms, and couples desiring a relaxing getaway. Guests consistently highlight the attentive service and the overall cleanliness of the property, contributing significantly to a positive and memorable experience. To enhance your stay, consider requesting a room on a higher floor or away from high-traffic areas like the laundry room or side exit doors, as some guests noted noise disturbances. Additionally, arriving early for the complimentary breakfast is advisable to ensure access to all food options before they run out.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel provides a range of amenities designed to enhance guest comfort and convenience. The pool area is often praised for being nice, clean, and spacious, offering a pleasant spot for relaxation, though some guests occasionally found it dirty or lacking sufficient towels. A fitness center is available and generally well-equipped, allowing guests to maintain their routines. Complimentary Wi-Fi is provided, though a few guests reported slow speeds or connectivity issues. The lobby offers welcoming touches like free popcorn, cookies, and coffee, which are much appreciated. The elevators are typically quick, but some guests observed them to be unclean or out of service at times. While a laundry facility is available, several reviews indicated it was frequently out of order, causing inconvenience for longer stays.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guests generally find the rooms to be clean and comfortable, contributing to a pleasant stay. The beds and pillows receive consistent praise for their comfort, ensuring a restful night's sleep. Many appreciate the absence of carpets in the rooms, which is beneficial for allergy sufferers and contributes to a fresh feel. However, some guests reported issues with humidity in rooms, particularly on lower floors, and isolated instances of dirty floors or bathrooms, including hair or sand. While most rooms are quiet, noise levels can be a concern, with reports of sounds from hallways, slamming side doors, and other guests impacting tranquility. Some encountered issues with air conditioning units being loud, rattling, or difficult to control, leading to uncomfortable temperatures.

Dining & Food Quality
The complimentary breakfast is a significant highlight for many guests, offering a variety of hot and cold options to start the day. The coffee is frequently praised for its quality, and popular items like biscuits and gravy and cinnamon rolls are often mentioned positively. However, a recurring issue is the challenge in keeping the food items stocked, especially during peak hours, leading to frustration for guests who found empty serving dishes or missing items like fruit or oatmeal. The buffet area can become crowded, making access difficult. While the breakfast is generally considered good for a complimentary offering, some guests found the overall food quality to be inconsistent or not particularly tasty, and replenishment efforts by staff were sometimes perceived as slow.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel boasts a convenient location, particularly for those traveling through the St. Pete/Clearwater Airport, making it an ideal choice for quick layovers or early flights. It offers easy access to major roads and is well-situated for exploring the wider area, including downtown Clearwater and Clearwater Beach, though these require a short drive. Guests appreciate its proximity to various shopping centers and dining options, with some restaurants within walking distance. A unique feature is its adjacency to a weekend farmer's market, providing a local experience. Parking is generally described as easy and spacious, though some guests noted that the parking lot can be poorly lit at night, and it is shared with other businesses.

Staff & Service
The hotel staff consistently receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with guests frequently commending their friendliness, helpfulness, and professionalism. Front desk agents are highlighted for their attentive service, quick check-in processes, and willingness to go "above and beyond" to assist guests, including accommodating room changes, printing tickets, and resolving reservation issues. Housekeeping staff are also praised for their diligence in keeping rooms clean and refreshed daily, though some guests occasionally reported inconsistencies in daily service or specific amenity replenishment. The overall impression is that the staff are dedicated to providing excellent customer service, creating a welcoming and caring environment that significantly enhances the guest experience and makes guests feel valued.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that the hotel has undergone recent renovations or is currently experiencing ongoing construction, which has caused some disruption. This has led to noise from drilling and hammering, strong paint smells in hallways, and the temporary closure of certain facilities like the gym or restricted pool access. Some guests were not informed of this in advance, leading to unexpected inconveniences. Another recurring issue is the loud slamming of side exit doors, which can disturb guests, particularly those on lower floors or near exits. There have also been reports of false fire alarms occurring, which can be unsettling. While the hotel aims to provide a comfortable stay, these factors can impact the overall tranquility and convenience for some visitors.