Holiday Inn Express lacks many business amenities that travelers often expect: Such as laundry facilities and access to a refrigerator and microwave. Certainly, you can pay extra to add a refrigerator to your room, and if you need to microwave something, the staff does oblige. However, I found it fascinating that they charge an extra $10 per night for a refrigerator.

In addition, the hotel doesn't offer any paid movie options...not a big deal: however, as a business traveler, having basic amenities (laundry facilities, fridge/microwave and movie access), improves the experience.

The gym boasts of a treadmill; elliptical and bicycle. During my stay, the elliptical was broken, and the treadmill although somewhat working, had computer issues. The staff seemed unconcerned when notified about broken equipment.

On the pro side, the rooms are clean, and the staff friendly; although I must note that the staff frequently leaves the front desk unattended.

For travelers who like breakfast options, this hotel offers one of the best, I have seen: plenty of hot and cold food choices. However, the dining room is small for a hotel of its size, and during my stay, there were several mornings, where there were not any free tables, and I was forced to sit with groups with other guests. Not entirely a bad thing, but on some mornings, being forced to making small talk with strangers because you asked to share their table, becomes a bit exhausting.

The Dekalb/Sycamore area doesn't have a great selection of hotels - and on the whole, the Hilton Express is a decent place to stay if you're in the area.

However, as a frequent business traveler, I miss many of the amenities, I have come to expect at a comparable chains such as the Hilton and the Marriott.