Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon

Families, hiking fanatics, and other tourists keep this hotel busy, drawn by its excellent location, just a few minutes' drive from the world-famous Grand Canyon. Photos of the spectacular canyon line the lobby walls, and brown tile floors and rustic wood furniture also help create a southwestern feel. The wood front desk has rose-colored marble that resembles canyon colors. Brown and gray upholstered sofas and armchairs provide comfortable sitting areas. This area can get crowded at peak registration times and during breakfast hours in the adjacent dining room, which has clusters of tables and high-back wood stools along a bar area. Seating can get scarce at the busiest times. The indoor pool and whirlpools get popular in the afternoon as guests return from exploring the canyon. And the indoor pool plays into the southwestern theme, with a large mural of the Grand Canyon. 

Other than staying inside the park, it doesn’t get more convenient for visiting Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim than staying in the small town of Tusayan, where this Holiday Inn Express is located. It’s about five minutes’ drive to the park entrance, and 13 minutes to the Visitors Center. (The National Park Service operates a free shuttle to the Visitors Center from spring through fall.) Several restaurants, shops, and gas stations are in Tusayan, with the closest being only a few minutes’ walk. A McDonald’s is a six-minute walk away, and the Grand Canyon Tours Company office is four minutes on foot. The National Geographic Grand Canyon IMAX Theater is an eight-minute walk, and the Grand Canyon National Airport Park and Grand Canyon Campers Village are both about five minutes away by car. 

Guest rooms at the Holiday Inn Express Grand Canyon have a rustic, southwestern theme that's pleasing, if not terribly memorable. Framed photos or art prints of the Grand Canyon and other southwestern scenes decorate the walls. Brownish-red tile floors in the hallways and bathrooms resemble some of the rock colors in the canyons nearby. In the suite we saw, beige walls are paired with chocolate-brown accent walls and drapes. Bedrooms have multicolored carpet in an undulating pattern. Matching reddish-brown wood furniture includes desks, nightstands, headboards, and dressers. Bedding is bright white, and brown upholstered armchairs and sofas provide seating. 

Standard rooms have coffeemakers and flat screen TVs, and come in King, Double, and Two Queen options. Free Wi-Fi is included in room rates, but it’s slow and spotty. The 35 suites add enough space for separate living rooms with second TVs, as well as small sinks, microwaves, and mini-fridges. Kids’ Suites have bunk beds and Xbox consoles. The bathroom we saw has a spacious wood/quartz-top vanity inside, but some rooms have vanities outside the bathrooms. SImple bathrooms have shower/tub combos. The rooms are generally quiet, but some room-to-room noise can be heard. Be aware that 32 rooms are located in an annex building across the street. 

The amenities at this Holiday Inn Express reflect its tourist clientele and the Holiday Inn brand. The free hot breakfast includes eggs, and coffee/tea is available in the lobby throughout the day. The indoor heated pool is in a nice enclosure with a natural wood ceiling and a large mural of a Grand Canyon scene on one wall. Indoor whirlpools are located in each of the hotel's two buildings. The small fitness center includes a couple of cardio machines. Guest computers are located in the lobby but like the free Wi-Fi, Internet connections are very slow. Free parking is available on the hotel’s surface lot, but guests report that it reaches capacity at times. The National Park service operates a free shuttle to the park’s visitors center from spring through fall that stops at the hotel. Free newspapers are available in the lobby, and the front desk has a safe deposit box for guest use. No pets other than service animals are available at this nonsmoking hotel.