Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jersey City - Holland Tunnel, an IHG Hotel

Compared to other hotels with the same amenities, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Jersey City is fairly new but some of the amenities that we truly appreciate were the valet parking, the free breakfast was good and plentiful, rooms are spacious with queen beds wide and comfortable. Pillows are generous (2 per person), and bedsheets are soft and smell good. No funky smells at all in the hallways or rooms except for the smell of breakfast food in the morning. Lol, I don't know if this is because we were on the 2nd floor & directly above the kitchen or the 1st floor where breakfast is being served. It didn't bother us at all but instead reminded us that breakfast is ready. We love the toiletries that are available, especially the Dove products consisting of handwash, lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and the combination body & face wash, which really smells so good. We are hoping that it is something we can purchase outside, for we really loved it. Staff were courteous and pleasant to deal with. And even if the location is near the Holland Tunnel major highway, we weren't bothrered at all with any high noise level. This hotel is also within walking distance to the Newport mall. Thank you very much for making our stay safe and comfortable. We hope to come back again soon.

On my final day, I planned to leave at 6:15am for an ultra-long-haul flight from Newark airport. Got up at 5am to get ready; power black-out at 5:30am. Pitch dark, hard to continue getting ready/pack up (I just showered so all wet-hair too), i went down to front desk, met with indifferent & frustrated staff, who told me to go back up to my room as there should be backup power. I went up, still dark, came down again to ask for help; met with very angry same lady who told me off rudely. She was busy calling her boss to find out what to do etc. She basically told me, in a rude tone, to "i don't have time for this. i have a kitchen that can't cook breakfast, a hotel full of guests, i don't have time to deal with you", and left me there. SWhile I udnerstand the stress/frustration she was under, it was not the guests' fault that the staff did not know the proper SOP in case of a power outage nor how to handle emergencies. Neither does it account for her rude manners, when all i did was ask calmly for help in order to depart on time. Absurd attitude and manners put me off completely. When I came down again at 6:15am for my taxi, there were a few more guests (Caucasians) standing around asking for help & she seemed much nicer/calmer to them. I certainly hope it was not a case of discrimination against me. Earlier on in the stay, nothing eventful - neither good nor bad, just a normal stay. However, when I first checked in upon arrival, staff at front desk (a different lady) was not too friendly. She gave off an extremely indifferent and impatient vibe when checking me in. All in all, it did not leave me a good 1st impression; and certainly a very very bad final impression. Location was just alright; the commute into NYC/manhattan can be either time consuming or expensive, and the station was not *that* near the hotel.