We arrived to see a sign announcing that there were no key cards for the rooms. We would have to get the desk staff to let us back into our room every time we left to eat, swim, go for a.walk, etc. On top of this this overworked woman at the front desk had obviously partaken in more than a little "liquid ibuprofen." She was slurring her speech, had trouble modulating her volume, and couldn't seem to run the computer correctly (I later went for an early morning walk and found her curled up on the lobby couch fast asleep).
Our rooms showed obvious signs of wear, the breakfast was mediocre at best, and the pool had blood on one side and a large clump of hair on another.
None of us were absolutely disgusted by our stay, but we all agreed this was not up to expectations for a Holiday Inn Express.