I stayed here for a conference, and it had a nice gym and pool (although I never got to use because of the conference schedule, but don't get me started on that), and a slightly picturesque (from a distance) 'pond' behind the hotel, which kentucky seems to have a lot of. The cleaning service was pretty bad; i had to ask for them to make my bed, but they still never did it, although they did take our towels and trash, thank God. Overall, if you have to be in Louisville this is a decent, fairly clean place to lay your head (oh yeah their beds were very comfortable) but there's not much else to say about it.

My wife had a company event to go to the Mint Jubilee Gala party and the Kentucky Derby 133. We stayed there from May 3-6, 2007. After a long flight from the SF Bay Area, and since we lose 3 hours since Kentucky is on East Coast time, we arrived at Louisville Airport around 1am. You can call the hotel shuttle to pick you up. The shuttle showed up about 20 minutes after we called. So call when you get to the baggage area. We got to the beautiful lobby. When we checked in, the man at the desk could not find us in their system. He never asked how to spell our last name so when he couldn't find it, he pretty muched brushed us off and went to the next person (who was my wife's co-worker). My wife was in shocked on how he didn't even ask us how to spell our name to find us. Maybe there was a lot of people who thought they had rooms but didn't since it was Derby week. (The next morning, I did see another party having trouble not having a room even when they had a print out of their reservation.) The man couldn't find my wife's co-worker at first and then he did. I think he found that we were part of a big group so he gave us another try and finally he asked how to spell it. He found us and said "The Congressman has paid for everything...here is your key, if there is anything you need just let us know...". So first he brushes us off and then he kisses our butts. We asked him if their was free breakfast and he didn't know, saying "I'm the 3rd shift guy so I don't know". He read a flier with us showing us the weekend events at the Hotel including breakfast. The hotel is not that big and it sits in the front of YUM (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut's headquarters). It's a drive from Downtown but about 10 minutes from the airport. And when we saw the bill it looks like it was $399 a night. Wow...I can get a better room at the Bellagio or the Wynn in Vegas. But my guess that it's the Derby and I bet rooms are scarce and they drive up there prices. I would have rather stayed in downtown since that's where the Mint Jubilee Gala ball was and the party scene of 4th Street (kind of like Fremont Street in Vegas meets the Gaslamp Dist of San Diego). The night of the Jubilee ball we all met in the lobby where there was a lovely southern bell in her southern dress (don't know if she was part of the activities or if she was waiting on her party because she was all alone). There was a person walking around with hors d'oeuvres. This holiday inn has restaurant bar where they had a band playing on Saturday night. Looks like a few locals go here every weekend. There is also a Bob Evan's restuarant (like a Denny's type) which is located in the parking lot. There is a Waffle House and a Chinese Restaurant around the corner from the hotel. We had room 336 which was right next to the maid's supply room. It had a very squeeky door and you can hear the maid's dropping things in the next room. So it was not pleasant when we were taking a nap and then we hear the door or little bangs on the wall. The bathroom is small but that was expected. There was no remote for the TV. And the AC had a bad smell to it...or was the smell coming from the lake in the back of the hotel. The beds were kind of hard (I guess I was spoiled from the Marriott Waikiki which I was there 2 weeks before). So this place served it's purpose but if I ever go to Kentucky again, I think I wouldn't stay here again. Rather have something downtown because I really like 4th street. I really love the Southern Hopitality in Louisville.

Nicely renovated lobby area gave good first impression. Room was quite small for 3 adults with tiny bathroom facilities. When we pulled open the sofa bed we found it had been made with filthy, stained, used sheets. Housekeeping arrived quite quickly to change the sheets and were asked to leave a blanket also, but, it never arrived!!! Will never stay there again!!!

As a previous reviewer mentioned, it is really difficult to get to once you get off the highway. The building is old and in the process of what looks like a major renovation. It did not have an elevator (either it was broken or never had one). However, they were nice enough to carry our bags up the steps.
It was not the best Holiday Inn we have ever stayed at. All of the staff were very friendly and helpful and hopefully they get their renovations completed soon.