Holiday Inn Express San Diego Airport – Old Town

The lobby, with its light-brown granite-tile floors complemented by dark-wood walls, is inviting. Beige upholstered armchairs and an oversize sofa face a large flat screen TV. An adjacent dark-wood table with high chairs gives guests a nice space to work on their laptops. Contemporary art adds splashes of color. Nothing in the decor is particularly surprising, but the effect is pleasant. Two separate outdoor spaces -- an interior courtyard with nice wicker furniture and potted plants and a landscaped patio that surrounds the pool and whirlpool -- are popular gathering spots. Given its location near the airport, convention center, and downtown, the hotel draws business travelers, including convention-goers and vacationing families and couples.

This Holiday Inn Express is off I-8, bordered by Interstate 5 to the south. There are a few restaurants within walking distance, and it's about a five-minute drive (or hotel shuttle) to Old Town and Balboa Park. San Diego International Airport, SeaWorld, and downtown’s major attractions such as the convention center, Gaslamp District, and Petco Park are all about 10 minutes away by car, but the hotel offers free shuttle service to most major sights. Mission Beach also is about a 10-minute drive, and La Jolla is about a 20-minute drive away.

The fairly spacious guest rooms have a pleasant chain-style decor, with matching, espresso-colored wood furniture that includes nightstands, dressers, and glass-topped desks with black-leather office chairs. Striped brown-and-gray carpet and dark brown-and-green drapes give a masculine look to the spaces. Armchairs and matching ottomans upholstered in a speckled dark brown fabric provide seating. Beds are adorned with leather-padded headboards and simple white bedding. Rooms come in Queen, Double Queen, King Executive, and Executive Suite options -- suites have sleeper sofas and large whirlpool tubs. Bathrooms have roomy tan granite vanities and tan tiles on the floors and around the shower/tub combos. All rooms come with  mini-fridges, coffeemakers, microwaves, 32-inch flat screen TVs, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Rooms facing I-5 pick up some traffic noise. Some suites have patios, but most rooms overlook the pool, parking lot, or highway.  

For a Holiday Inn Express, this property checks all the boxes and adds a few extras to the list. The free hot breakfast buffet includes eggs and meats, and the 24-hour convenience store sells a range of snacks, drinks, and sundries. There's free shuttle service to the airport as well as the Gaslamp District and convention center downtown. Free parking is available in the hotel’s secure, underground garage. The heated outdoor pool is small, but it’s surrounded by nice landscaping, lounge chairs, and a whirlpool perched above it that’s open 24/7. The fitness center is a bit of a squeeze, with four cardio machines. The guest laundry room has several coin-operated washers and dryers, and valet dry cleaning and laundry services are among the concierge services offered. An ATM and free coffee and tea are available in the lobby. The lobby also has a business center with a printer and two computer stations with internet access. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.