Hotels: Portsmouth Harbor Holiday Inn Express

Many hotel rooms that I’ve booked are basic. They don’t need to be like the Sheraton on Piccadilly that I was just at earlier this trip, with the ornate furnishings and the view of Big Ben from my window. I do, however, expect a bit nicer than what I have here.

Holiday Inn is a hotel chain designed to be basic: they have the same amenities and are known for their consistency. I don’t often stay in them, so I was a bit surprised to learn how basic my accommodation really is for the next three nights. I have a room, with a bed, and outlets that seem to be placed anywhere but near the desk or nightstands. The mattress is firm, and I appear not to have a sheet between the comforter. The shower drains, sort of. The room’s furniture is like 2000’s IKEA that was never really supposed to last this long.

The room is sparse. There is nothing extra in the room, aside from the obligatory tea kettle. I have four pillows: two soft and two firm. The carpet has been well used. The hallways are cramped, like a maze, and have very little light. There is no gym.

The reason for my stay here in Portsmouth is for a meeting on Monday. The reason I’m here on a Friday night, and that I selected this specific hotel, is because of its proximity to multiple museums and tasty restaurants. It is also close to the train station. All of this means I can walk where I want to and spend the weekend exploring Portsmouth.