The Holiday Inn Express in Joliet, IL needs some updating and has some minor maintenance issues. Our room door security lock was broken, the window curtain was water stained, and the grout looked dirty.
We were in a non-smoking room ($250 charge if evidence of smoking) and I could smell smoke in the bathroom. I told the desk clerk because I didn’t want to be blamed for it. He said the smell comes through the vents.
There was a refrigerator, microwave and safe in the room. The breakfast was very good with lots of variety. They even had sausage and a pancake maker. Most hotels have terrible donuts and rolls so the warm cinnamon rolls are great!

This hotel had friendly staff and clean rooms. Nice location right by a mall, shops, and resturants. We loved the nightly cookies that were free in the lobby, along with the coffee and hot choc.

This Holiday Inn Express is adequate, though not overly clean. The first morning of my stay I was unable to put my wedding band (plain platinum, no diamonds) back on after removing it (swollen nuckles!) and I placed it in a very specific, though obvious spot on the counter, so that I would not lose it. With its lack of sparkle and very plain appearance, I did not think it would be attractive as a theft item, yet I returned to my room to discover it indeed had been removed from its spot, and was nowhere to be found. The staff was much less sympathetic and helpful than I would have hoped. I got a "we've asked the housekeepers and sorry for the inconvenience, but we are not liable" answer. They either did not believe me or simply did not care.
Also I could hear quite a lot from the adjacent rooms, hallways, and especially the floor above me where it seemed someone was running/stomping back and forth over and over for 30+ minutes around 10:30pm.
Due to the theft and subsequent apathetic manner the staff took with the incident, I will absolutely never consider staying here again, and would certainly not recommend it.

Although beside a high traffic area I found it somewhat tricky to find the hotel's entryway. The parking lot was spacious but area in the back was not all cleared of snow. The hotel entrance was clean and the staff friendly enough. I found the room comfortable and quiet. The microwave and fridge was handy. The tv reception and quality was fine; the wireless internet worked well. The breakfast was the usual fine HI Express fare.
All in all no major gripes and this will be my hotel of choice in the area.