OverviewLocated on the beach along Coastal Highway 528, the Holiday Inn Ocean City is suitable for business and vacation travellers who require a hotel with extended kitchen amenities, on-site dining and easy highway and beach access.
This hotel has 216 air-conditioned guest rooms and suites, each offering two double beds or one king bed with a sofabed, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a DVD player, a coffeemaker, a full kitchen, a dining area, an iron and ironing board and a hair dryer. Some rooms also have a fireplace and/or a desk.
Hotel amenities include an indoor pool, an outdoor pool, two hot tubs, a sauna, a tennis court, a tanning bed, fitness facilities, a recreation and sports court and summertime activities for children, like treasure hunts and magic shows. There is also a business centre, meeting/conference space, a games room, guest laundry, vending machines and free parking.
On-site dining is offered at Pool Bar and Grill, serving lunch by the pool daily in the summer season, and Reflections Restaurant, which serves dinner daily. Sterling Raw Bar and Grill features several TVs, serves drinks, and offers a raw bar with fresh seafood. Room service is available in the evenings, from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Pets are not permitted, and wheelchair-accessible rooms are available upon request.
Jolly Roger Amusement Park is roughly a 7-minute drive away, while Gold Coast Mall can be found 6 minutes from the hotel by car. Ocean City Convention Center is about a 5-minute drive from the hotel and Salisbury-Ocean City-Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY) is approximately a 40-minute drive away. (All distances and travel time estimates: Google Maps)
Verified with a front desk agent: Free Wi-Fi, free parking, pets not permitted, wheelchair accessible. (Call Date: June 4, 2013)
The GoodThe majority of the reviews sourced for this analysis were positive, with much praise going to the hotel's staff, rooms and location.
Numerous guests praised the hotel's staff, characterizing them as welcoming, energetic, helpful and accommodating.
The hotel's accommodations were the source of many compliments by lodgers. They were described as well equipped, clean and spacious, with great ocean views, comfortable beds and linens and good water pressure. It should be noted however, that a few guests had complaints about their rooms (see below).
Several reviewers were pleased with the hotel's location, and found it to be close to restaurants, highway access and nightclubs. One guest stated, "The location is good, away from too much commercialism and right on the ocean".
The Bad
While the majority of reviews consulted for this analysis were positive, there were a few common complaints about noise transfer and the rooms.
Some guests complained of noise disturbances, and reported loud guests in the pool area and hallways, as well as noise from adjacent rooms and in rooms located near the elevators and stairwells.
While the majority of reviewers were pleased with their clean and well-equipped accommodations, a few guests had concerns about their rooms. They reported worn decor and fixtures, as well as musty odours and cigarette odours in non-smoking rooms.
Expedia.com guest reviews rated the hotel 4.2 out of 5 with a 92% recommendation rate from 465 reviews.
TripAdvisor.com guest reviews ranked the hotel #19 out of 104 Ocean City hotels with an average rating of 4 out of 5 from 384 reviews.
Booking.com guest reviews rated the hotel 8.4 out of 10 from 111 reviews.
The author called the hotel on June 4, 2013 to verify some information.
