The Kinney San Luis Obispo

While it's still a chain hotel at heart, this Holiday Inn Express has a bit more personality than most, particularly it its public spaces.  The lobby is especially inviting, with beautiful hardwood floors, high ceilings, and lots of wood paneling. Mission-style furniture arranged living-room style provides comfy places to relax. A gas fireplace positioned by a library-like area completes the homey look. Outside, natural stone columns and a bubbling water feature greet arriving guests. A secluded patio with lush landscaping provides a quiet spot to enjoy breakfast or an afternoon drink, too. Throughout, this property maintains a friendly and relaxed vibe drawing a diverse mix of travelers looking for a good home base at affordable rates.

This Holiday Inn Express is centrally located on a relatively quiet street near Highway 101. Several other hotels are in the immediate area, but there are only a couple of restaurants within walking distance. Fortunately, most of San Luis Obispo’s top attractions are a short drive away, including Cal Poly (three minutes) and downtown (four minutes). It’s also possible to walk to downtown’s restaurants and bars in about 15 minutes. Pismo Beach is a 15-minute drive, and driving to Hearst Castle takes roughly 50 minutes. 

Muted earth tones are used throughout the Holiday Inn's guest rooms conveying a tasteful, uniform look. Cream and tan walls and striped carpets in soft shades of green, gold, brown, and red give the backdrop. Furnishings are also a touch more high-end than expected, with platform beds, leather swoop armchairs, and box-frame coffee tables that wouldn't feel out of place in a West Elm catalog. Abstract art and tangerine-colored table lamps provide the finishing touches. The result is pleasant but somewhat colorless. 

Standard rooms (Kings, Queens, and Double Queens) are comfortably sized, with even Double Queens having enough space for desks with office chairs and corner armchairs. Various Suites with sleeper sofas are available, too, including studio, two-room, and a two-story townhouse with two bathrooms. Standard bathrooms are average in size, with white ceramic vanities and shower/tub combos, plus hairdryers and individual toiletries. The Executive Suite we saw had twin vanities and lovely gray tiling. It also included a wet bar and microwave. These are absent in standard rooms, although they do include Keurig coffeemakers and mini-fridges. Irons and ironing boards, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi also come standard. 

Travelers familiar with the Holiday Inn's roster of on-site extras won't be disappointed by this outpost. The brand's signature free breakfast buffet features lots of hot items, including omelets, sausage, and warm cinnamon rolls. It’s served in a spacious room, and a lovely outdoor patio offers alfresco dining options in warm weather. Free coffee is available in the lobby all day as well, although there's no full restaurant or bar on site to cover other meals or snacks. Another welcome bonus is the heated outdoor pool. It has plenty of space for a swim, plus a nicely-landscaped area with an adjacent whirlpool, large palms, loungers, and covered tables. On the other hand, the fitness center is a let-down. It has only a treadmill, elliptical, and stationary bicycle all crammed in a narrow L-shaped space. For business travelers, the hotel’s meeting room can host functions for up to 60 people. There's also a serviceable business center in the lobby with two computers and a printer. The guest laundry room has two washer/dryer sets, and valet dry cleaning and laundry services are available. Parking, newspapers, and Wi-Fi are all free.