We checked in late and went to rooms (2). One of the cards didn't work so had to make another trip down to front desk. The bathroom needs a good scrubbing, black mildew in the grout. Uck! Bed is hard, as well.

I used to think that you couldn't go wrong with a reservation at a Holiday Inn or a Holiday Inn Express. Not so. When I arrived at this inn, I was told that the double beds located in the nonsmoking section that I requested were no longer available. The front desk clerk said that since I reserved the room online through Orbitz, Holiday Inn could not guarantee what Orbitz promised me. Instead I was offered two double beds in a smoking section which I refused. Since I and the rest of my family are not smokers, this offer was not a realistic option. The clerk told me that I would have to take the room in the nonsmoking section with the king size bed. I told her if she thought I was going to share a bed with my husband and15 year old grandson she was out of her mind! I asked the clerk if she had a rollaway bed for my grandson. Although she did not feel confident that a bed was available for my grandson, the clerk reluctantly looked for one and located a rollaway bed. I paid cash for the use of the bed and maintained a zero balance. I was grateful that we only stayed one night at this inn because the next morning my husband, grandson and I awoke to tremendous back pain. The mattresses were so uncomfortable, it felt like we had slept on the floor. I was ecstatic to check out of the hotel and head back home until I went online to check my bank statement. I almost hit the ceiling when I saw that the Holiday Inn Express had placed a hold on my checking account for an additional day even though I had paid in advance three weeks prior to my stay. When I contacted the inn in Mobile, the front desk clerk stated that she could not do anything about the charges and that I should leave a message on the voice mail. I told her that I wanted to speak with the manager and she stated that I needed to "speak to the voice mail." When I contacted the Holiday Inn's corporate offices I was told that because I used a Debit Card, the hotel placed a hold on my account for $109 and they could not determine how long the hold would be placed on my account. Consequently, I am going to contact my bank to lodge a complaint against Holiday Inn Express for fraudulant charges. In addition, I am contacting the Better Business Bureau.

The staff was super and the rooms were clean. We felt safe and at home for the 4 days spent in Mobile. It is close to downtown and west Mobile (Semmes and Wilmer) equally.