Just several blocks west of downtown Athens, the Holiday Inn Express provided plenty of parking, surprising unusual for downtown hotel locations. At the corner of Broad Street and Newton Street, we easily found the hotel’s lobby entrance. Interestingly enough, the Holiday Inn is a mere two blocks closer to downtown, so pay attention to the slight difference between "Holiday Inn" and "Holiday Inn Express". Two blocks makes all the difference in your reservation and room price!
The lobby is actually on the second floor with a single elevator at the far end. Before getting to the elevator, we walked down a small set of steps and I did not see a ramp for our wheeled luggage. The small workout facility and ballroom extended off the back of the lobby along with a set of restrooms.
Two exits to the side parking lots were off the first floor. The keyed entrance to the outdoor swimming pool was at the south end of the building. A small laundry room with washers and driers "for guests only" was found by the west door also on the first floor.
Our room on the fifth floor fit typically in the Holiday Inn Express model. Carpets, bedding and towels were clean with small sets of usual toiletry items in the bathroom. Much to my satisfaction, actual ceramic mugs for hot drinks sat next to the coffee pot. The standard Styrofoam cups were also available and they had lids.
High speed internet by any media was not available with a promise of implementation by the end of calendar year 2004. Dial-up service was an option if I wanted to pay for the local call, so I did not connect the laptop during our stay. After all, the entire section of downtown Athens offers free wireless internet connection and I could easily check email the next morning at no cost.
The sign for complimentary breakfast stated that guests should be properly attired. On a Saturday morning, with my wife in her Capri pants and my wearing khaki shorts, we looked underdressed. Most other guests wore business suits or full business attire. We decided they must be attending a conference or formal event. Certainly appropriate dress in the south does not require something as formal.
Hot coffee was readily available along with the advertised cinnamon roll. Not much on sweet items for breakfast, I skipped the rolls and went for adult cereals. Toasters for bagels, English muffins, French toast and other pastries served as the "hot" portion of breakfast. I chuckled when I saw the containers of grits available by the instant cereal. We knew we were in the South. What breakfast would be complete without grits?