Holiday Inn Express & Suites Port Clinton

This mid-range chain hotel is situated by the lagoon that separates Port Clinton from Catawba Island and features bright and airy modern interiors. Contemporary furniture spills out of the hotel's bright breakfast room into the airy lobby, giving the interiors a friendly, welcoming vibe. Couches around a gas fireplace and a TV keep the space cozy, even with its high ceilings and mezzanine. This Holiday Inn Express is geared toward business travelers and military personnel as it's very close to Camp Perry, a National Guard training facility. Plenty of families and couples make their way here as well, and the hotel can be an alternative to staying in Sandusky for travelers visiting Cedar Point.

Overlooking the large lagoon across from Catawba Island, the hotel is centrally located near many business and tourist destinations between Port Clinton and Sandusky. The hotel is right off Catawba Road, next to a McDonald's and surrounded by other fast food restaurants and shopping malls. Marblehead Lighthouse State Park is a 15-minute drive to the east. To the west, the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power plant and Camp Perry are both under a 20-minute drive. Cedar Point amusement park, a major local destination, is about 25 minutes away by car, while pretty East Harbor State Park on Lake Erie is a five-minute drive from the hotel. It takes about 12 minutes to drive to the ferries to Kelleys Island, which depart from Marblehead. The closest airport is in Toledo, an hour away by car.

The hotel's 102 rooms and suites are modern, in a homey and suburban way, with mid-tone wood furniture, attractive blue and gray walls, and earth-tone patterned carpets. The look is a step-up from many of the mid-range chain hotels in the region. Standard Rooms have two double beds with a small sitting area consisting of a table and two chairs, or a single king bed with a desk and ergonomic chair, along with a single armchair. Free Wi-Fi comes standard, as well as features like flat-screen TVs with free HBO, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, and microwaves. Most rooms have cramped bathrooms with shower/tub combos. Some upgraded rooms have whirlpool tubs, while suites add sofa beds and wet bars.

The outdoor terrace in the back of the hotel is a quiet spot with tables and chairs overlooking the lagoon. There's also an outdoor sundeck with lounge chairs to augment the adjacent indoor pool and hot tub. Business amenities consist of a meeting room that can accommodate up to 80 people and a business center with a printer and paper shredder. The free continental breakfast buffet has cinnamon rolls and several changing hot options that may include scrambled eggs, cheese omelets, bacon, sausage, and biscuits and gravy. Discount coupons to nearby amusement and water parks are available, as well as discounts for ferry transportation to nearby Lake Erie islands. The hotel also has a free shuttle to the Jet Express Ferry terminal, and coin-operated laundry room is also available.