A group of us were in town to visit family friends and this was my first time in Massachusetts. It was also the first time I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in some time. This hotel did not disappoint!

This was a good location in Springfield, because there were several venues (e.g. shopping, restaurants, museums, casino) within an easy walking distance. The hotel is located in the downtown area, so that means there will be neighborhood charm and characters to see. About the same as in some other cities in the U.S. and around the world.

While I travelled with a group, we stayed in different rooms in the hotel. I felt safe journeying outside the hotel by myself, when I had to catch up with the others.

I will say that the general area seems to be quiet on Sundays. I thought it was because of the holiday weekend, but some residents I asked said that was a typical Sunday.

But, enough about outside - yes, there are lots of things to explore and do, so feel free to do some or all of them while you stay - let's talk about the hotel!

Check-in was the usual. Front desk staff were average. Not rude by any means, but not overly service-oriented. They were accommodating as needed. I noticed, but I don't require a lot from my check-in experience. Be professional and I'm good!

The pool was closed due to the health and safety of everyone. I didn't plan to use it, so I didn't ask when it would be available.

There was a gym available, but I didn't use it. There was a nice business center, which I also didn't use, but I enjoy amenities being available.

There was a coffee bar in the lobby, which was a surprise and a delight! The weather kept changing during our visit, so a nice cup of coffee was always welcomed.

The lobby and lounge areas were clean. There were no weird odors or anything else disturbing and the overall vibe was a relaxing one. There was a widescreen TV in the lounge area, but there was one in the room, so I didn't use the one in the lounge.

There was a HOT breakfast buffet available for FOUR hours! Health and safety protocols continued to be observed and there was STILL a hot breakfast provided. The breakfast staff dished up the breakfast items guests wanted.

There was also a breakfast to-go bag for anyone who needed to head to the airport or go outside for an adventure.

To the room! In the room we had a microwave and a refrigerator; both appliances were clean. There was a Keurig coffeemaker and the usual assortment of coffee and tea options. The room décor was simple but modern. I LOVED the rolling desk.

I had to do some work while on vacation, so being able to roll the desk and set it and the comfortable desk chair how I preferred to work was a BONUS! There were also lots of working outlets, which we needed because, work.

The beds and bed linen were COMFORTABLE. The beds were raised, which may not seem to be a big deal to some, but it made it easier to crash for a nap without having to sink into a bed.

I brought my own pillow, but everyone who used the pillows said they were comfortable. I appreciated that there were soft AND firm pillow options (that's one of the reasons I bring my own).

The bathroom was clean and there were plenty of towels. There could have been a few more toiletry options, but perhaps to reduce waste, the hotel had dispensers for body wash, shampoo and conditioner. Again, not a deal breaker since I travel with my own.

The WiFi worked well during our stay and there were lots of channels to choose from on the TV. I appreciated the window curtains were both black-out style blinds AND more translucent, to give options for letting in as little or as much natural light into the room. We were able to heat the room a bit and cool it down, depending on the weather.

Parking is a little odd, because there were, if I recall correctly, three different parking lot options. One was adjacent to the property on the street, but the other two were at parking lots nearby. Good to know ahead of time, so you can drop off people and/or luggage beforehand, but again, not a deal breaker.

Would I stay here again? Absolutely! It was well-located, comfortable, easy to find when driving, comfortable, had a yummy breakfast setup and was comfortable.

Did I mention comfortable?

Enjoy your stay! I know we did.