Morristown's BEST Hotel? IHG's Hidden Gem Revealed!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into Morristown's… well, let’s call it… aspirational best hotel. Forget dry reviews – this is REAL talk, warts and all, about IHG’s so-called "Hidden Gem" in Morristown, NJ. Prepare yourself, because I’m feeling opinionated today. This is NOT your typical hotel review.
Morristown's BEST Hotel? IHG's Hidden Gem Revealed! (Let's See…)
So, the big question: Is this IHG property actually a hidden gem? Let's break it down, room by room, amenity by amenity, and let's get real about it.
Accessibility & Getting There: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Confusing
Okay, first things first: Accessibility. This is HUGE. I checked, and the hotel claims to be wheelchair accessible. Elevator? Check. They have it. Facilities for disabled guests? Uh-huh. That's what the website says. I didn't personally test every single nook and cranny, mind you, but from what I could see, they seem to be trying. Airport transfer? No, but taxi service? Yep. Thank goodness. No, I didn't need it, but good to know.
Getting Around – Car park [free of charge] & Car park [on-site]: Yes! Thank the heavens! Parking in Morristown can be a nightmare. Free parking is a massive win. Valet parking? You get the "luxury" experience. Who needs it?
Let’s Talk Room Time: The Sanctuary? Or Just A Room?
Okay, the rooms. Here’s where things get interesting.
Available in all rooms: I saw an Air conditioning unit (thank GOD during those Jersey summers!), an Alarm clock (you know I used that!), Bathrobes (snazzy!), Bathroom phone (for… emergencies?), Bathtub (yes!), Blackout curtains (essential for sleeping in!), Closet (duh), Coffee/tea maker (HELL YES), Complimentary tea (a lovely touch!). Daily housekeeping (very nice!). A Desk (useful for avoiding work). Extra long bed (they were okay! Nothing extraordinary). Free bottled water (a lifesaver!), Hair dryer (essential!), High floor (I was on the 8th and it was peaceful from the bustle!), In-room safe box (always a good thing!), Internet access – wireless (it worked, but a bit unreliable at times!). An Ironing facilities (I didn't use it, but good to have), a Laptop workspace (handy!), Linens (they were clean!), a Mini bar (empty, sadly!), Mirror (of course!), Non-smoking (hurrah!), On-demand movies (I didn't use them, but hey!), Private bathroom (obviously!), Reading light (yay!), Refrigerator (empty, too!), Safety/security feature (good to see!), Satellite/cable channels (lots of them!), Scale (maybe skip this one!), Seating area (was comfortable enough to forget about my life!), Separate shower/bathtub (fancy!), Shower (needed!), Slippers (a nice touch!), Smoke detector (thank goodness!), Socket near the bed (smart!), Sofa (to sit and cry on!), Soundproofing (mostly good!), Telephone (useless, but there!), Toiletries (fine!), Towels (plenty of them!), Umbrella (they had one!), Visual alarm (for emergencies!), Wake-up service (I always use it!), Wi-Fi [free] (thank goodness!) and a Window that opens (so you can feel like you’re alive).
Additional toilet: Not in my room, alas.
Carpeting: The carpet was… there. Let's leave it at that.
Interconnecting room(s) available. Okay, I didn't need this, but it's there!
Internet access – LAN: Don't remember seeing that.
Room decorations: Generic hotel art. Nothing screams "hidden gem."
Cleanliness and Safety – The COVID Era Blues
Alright, let's get serious. Cleanliness and safety are everything right now. And honestly? I was impressed. They were trying.
- Anti-viral cleaning products? They said so!
- Breakfast in room? Yes, available. Breakfast takeaway service? Definitely.
- Cashless payment service? Yes.
- Daily disinfection in common areas? I saw the cleaning crew.
- Doctor/nurse on call? Good to know.
- First aid kit? They HAD one.
- Hand sanitizer? Everywhere.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing? Sounds like a standard these days.
- Hygiene certification? Didn’t see the certificate, but I hope so!
- Individually-wrapped food options? Yes.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? They tried.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services? Again… claims.
- Room sanitization opt-out available? I wasn't offered the option to opt-out of room sanitization.
- Rooms sanitized between stays? I certainly hope so.
- Safe dining setup? They tried.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items? I'm going to assume so.
- Shared stationery removed? Thank goodness.
- Staff trained in safety protocol? They seemed informed.
- Sterilizing equipment? Probably.
The F&B Fiesta (Or, the Food Fight)
Ah, the food. The make-or-break. Okay, here’s the deal:
A la carte in restaurant? Yep.
Alternative meal arrangement? They could probably accommodate.
Asian breakfast? Nope.
Asian cuisine in restaurant? Again, nope.
Bar? Yes.
Bottle of water? Given to me in the room for free. Excellent.
Breakfast [buffet]? Sadly, no more. But the Breakfast service was okay!
Buffet in restaurant? Not anymore (Covid).
Coffee/tea in restaurant? Yes.
Coffee shop? No, but the in-room coffee maker did its job.
Desserts in restaurant? I think so.
Happy hour? Yes.
International cuisine in restaurant? Uh, pretty generic hotel food.
Poolside bar? Nope.
Restaurants? One, I think..
Room service [24-hour]? YES!
Salad in restaurant? Probably.
Snack bar? Not really.
Soup in restaurant? I don’t remember.
Vegetarian restaurant? Nope.
Western breakfast? Yes.
Western cuisine in restaurant? Mostly.
My experience? I would say it was a very basic dining experience. The food was… edible. Nothing to write home about, honestly. I’d give it a solid 6/10. However, room service late at night? That’s a game-changer.
Services and Conveniences - The Essentials (And Some Extras)
This is where the hotel tries to shine.
- Air conditioning in public area? Yes, thank god.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events? Probably.
- Business facilities? Yes.
- Cash withdrawal? Yes.
- Concierge? Yes.
- Contactless check-in/out? Yes, and very efficient.
- Convenience store? Nope.
- Currency exchange? No.
- Daily housekeeping? Yes, and they were polite.
- Doorman? Nope.
- Dry cleaning? Yes.
- Elevator? YES.
- Essential condiments? Yes.
- Facilities for disabled guests? Yes.
- Food delivery? Yes.
- Gift/souvenir shop? Nope.
- Indoor venue for special events? Yes.
- Invoice provided? Check.
- Ironing service? Yes.
- Laundry service? Yes.
- Luggage storage? Yes.
- Meeting/banquet facilities? Yes.
- Meetings? Yes.
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This ain't your glossy travel brochure itinerary. This is the real deal, the messy, slightly panicked, and utterly delightful (hopefully!) account of my planned stay at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Morristown, Tennessee. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable decisions, and the occasional existential crisis over a stale breakfast biscuit. Let’s get this show on the road… or… uh… booked, I guess?
The Ill-Fated Morristown Mission: A Mostly Structured Plan
Day 1: Arrival, Adjustment, and the Ghosts of Pre-Trip Anxiety
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (Approx.): Arrive at Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Morristown, TN. Oh God, are the sheets clean? Am I forgetting anything? Did I lock the damn door? Check-in. Pray for a room NOT near the ice machine or… you know, the screaming kids. This begins the ritual of unpacking, immediately regretting bringing that one extra pair of shoes, and battling the urge to order room service nachos even though it's only 1 PM. Honestly, I'm already craving those nachos. It's a problem.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Reconnaissance mission! Scope out the pool (if applicable – gotta verify the online pictures aren’t a lie), the gym (HAHAHA, sure I will), and the breakfast situation. This is crucial. I’m a breakfast person, and a bad hotel breakfast can ruin a whole trip. A bad hotel breakfast is a betrayal, a personal affront. I need to know the biscuit situation immediately.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Morristown's charm (or lack thereof) exploration. I'm thinking a quick drive-by of the downtown area. Maybe a random antique shop (I have a weakness). The more I see of a place, the more I can decide on my mood.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant. This is where the real adventure begins! Look up suggestions before the trip, but prepare to deviate! One time, I went to Chicago with a list of fancy restaurants, and ended up eating hotdogs from a stand that was basically just a dude and a cart. It was… amazing. Now, I'm hoping for some authentic Tennessee BBQ, but I’m also open to a dive bar with epic cheeseburgers. The possibilities!
- 7:00 PM - Bedtime: Hotel room relaxation. I'm sure I'm going to be exhausted and ready for a good sleep. Watch TV, catch up on emails, maybe read a book (pro tip: bring a good book). This is the time to recover and get excited for the next day.
Day 2: Mountain Views, Mishaps, and Existential Crises Over Coffee
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: The Dreaded Breakfast Ritual: First, the biscuits. Then, the coffee. This is the moment of truth. Will it be a sad, lukewarm betrayal, or a glorious start to the day? I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a huge part of the overall experience. There is nothing worse than a bad cup of coffee. I need to know the coffee options.
- 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Great Smoky Mountains (Assuming They're Close Enough): Okay, I really want to check out the scenic route into the Great Smoky Mountains. Breathe in that crisp mountain air! Drive the scenic roads, take pictures of the views. I'm hoping to find some overlooks. Maybe even get a quick hike in… assuming I'm not too hungover from last night's dinner. This is a maybe…
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch somewhere near the mountains, preferably with a view. Ideally, this place serves a large amount of food and I can sit in silence. This is going to be the hardest thing to find.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Back to Morristown, and Some Wrenching: Back to Morristown and then… well, let's see if there's a museum. Honestly, I'm open to suggestions at this point. Sometimes, you have to go with the flow. Maybe go for a swim or explore a park if it's nice.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Shopping (maybe). I don't need anything, but I have a weakness for knick-knacks.
- 6:00 PM: The emotional cliffhanger of, "Do I like this town?"
Day 3: Departure, Reflections, and the Bitter Sweetness of Leaving
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Breakfast, potentially the same breakfast as the day before.
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Pack. This is the most dreaded part, but probably my favorite.
- 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Check-out. The final farewell to the hotel room that, for a brief moment, was my haven. Did I leave anything? Did I remember to tip the cleaning staff? Did I leave a mess?
- 9:30 AM - Departure: Drive away, reflecting on the experience. Did I eat too many biscuits? Did I miss out on something? Did I regret going? Most likely, yes, but with a tiny smile on my face.
The Imperfect Truth: What to Expect (and NOT Expect)
- This is not a rigid schedule. Life happens. I might get lost, change my mind, or simply decide to spend an entire afternoon staring at the ceiling.
- Emotional baggage is allowed. Expect moments of elation, frustration, and the occasional existential crisis. This is part of the fun/horror.
- Expect food, coffee, and possibly a bad back.
- I am a terrible planner. I am more likely to stumble upon a hidden gem than to follow the perfect plan.
- Honesty is the best policy. This is my experience, flaws and all.
So, that's the plan. It’s messy, it’s imperfect, and it's probably going to be a wild ride. Wish me luck. And pray for the perfect biscuits.
Corona Getaway: Best Western's Unbeatable Hotel & Suites!
Is this REALLY the "Best" hotel in Morristown? Seriously?!
Okay, look. "Best" is subjective, right? But when I initially saw this whole "Hidden Gem" thing about this IHG property, I scoffed. Morristown isn't exactly known for its ritzy accommodations. I mean, it’s Morristown. But...and this is a HUGE but… I stayed there. Once. And it did kind of...win me over. I came in with a chip on my shoulder the size of the Battleship New Jersey, expecting… well, mediocrity. You know? Like, "clean sheets, vaguely edible continental breakfast, and a vending machine that’ll probably steal your dollar" mediocrity.
But then the lobby... the *lobby*. It wasn’t some soulless expanse of marble and harsh fluorescent lights. It was… warm. Inviting. Like a hug from a very well-appointed aunt. The woman at the front desk (Brenda, bless her heart) was actually *happy* to see me. Happy! That's rare these days. And she somehow knew my name... without even asking for my ID yet. Spooky, but good spooky.
Okay, Brenda aside, what’s so special? Give me the lowdown.
Alright, alright, Brenda’s just the opening act. The actual rooms… they’re not just rooms. They’re… sanctuaries. Okay, maybe I’m overselling it. But they're spacious! Big enough to actually, you know, move around without feeling like you're in a sardine can. And clean. Scarily clean. Like, they’ve hired the ghost of a super-enthusiastic housekeeper.
The beds? Oh, the beds. I have a memory foam mattress at home that I adore, but this... this was like sleeping on a cloud made of kittens. Seriously. Pure, unadulterated bliss. I actually considered calling the front desk and asking if I could just *live* there for a while. (I didn't, because, y'know, adulting... but the thought was tempting.)
What about the breakfast? Can you get decent coffee?
The breakfast situation is… well, it’s not quite Michelin-star level, let’s be honest. It’s a complimentary continental breakfast, which means you’re dealing with the usual suspects: bagels, muffins, questionable-looking fruit salad, and the eternal enemy of hotels everywhere: pre-made, slightly sad scrambled eggs. (I swear, they’re all made with the same secret ingredient: sadness).
BUT! The coffee. The coffee is surprisingly decent. They have one of those fancy espresso machines, and you can actually get a *real* latte. Not the watered-down, instant-coffee nightmare you sometimes get at these places. This is a win, people. A small, but significant win. And hey, they had little containers of Nutella! My inner child did a happy dance.
So, anything… TERRIBLE? There HAS to be a catch, right?
Okay, yes. There's *always* a catch. Things aren't perfect. And I didn't stay there for a *week* or anything. One nitpick? The gym. I mean, it's a gym, technically. But it's smaller than my closet (which, admittedly, is also quite small). And the equipment looked like it had seen better days. If you're a serious gym rat, you'll likely want to find somewhere else to work out.
The other thing... and this is a personal thing... the elevators. They're slow. Painstakingly slow. I took the stairs a few times, which, you know, is good for you, but after hiking around town all day, those stairs felt endless.
Let's get personal. Did you, like, actually *enjoy* your stay? Would you go back? Be honest!
Ugh, fine. Yes. Absolutely. Against my better judgment, I *loved* it. I was stressed and grumpy and generally in a bad mood when I arrived. I left feeling… relaxed. Like, actually relaxed. I felt *pampered*, which, let’s be real, doesn’t happen often.
The single most important thing? The little things. Like the fact that they had proper blackout curtains, so I actually slept *through* the night for the first time in ages. The fact that the shower pressure was amazing. The fact that everything just *worked*.
Would I go back? Without a doubt. And that, my friends, is a victory for Morristown, for IHG, and for Brenda. Maybe next time I'll try the pool. Or just hide in my room and order pizza. I'm already planning my return. Don’t judge me.
Seriously, the people? Anything weird about the interactions?
Brenda... well, Brenda is a national treasure. But beyond her radiant presence, there was this general feeling of… well, everyone actually *seemed* to work *there*. You know? Not just shuffling around, waiting for their shift to end or hiding in the back. The staff I encountered were actually nice. Like, they seemed to give a damn. And I'm not talking about that fake, forced corporate niceness either. It was the genuine article. It threw me for a loop, honestly.
There was this one employee… a young guy who was refilling the coffee. He noticed I was struggling with the sugar dispenser and offered help. He even knew the secret to getting the stupid little packets to open without tearing them in half. That kind of attention to detail is rare these days. It’s almost… unsettling. In a good way, though, I guess.
Okay, fine, you've convinced me. But one last thing… the location? Is it even *convenient*?
The location... Look, I don't want to give away its exact location, because that kinda defeats the whole "hidden gem" thing. I will say this: It's in, like, *the sweet spot*. Close to everything, but far enough away to be peaceful. Walking distance to some decent restaurants. Quick Uber ride to the historical sites, which, let's be honest, is why you're probably going to Morristown in the first place. So, yes, it’s a win-win. Except now, with my rave review, it probably won't be a hidden gem much longer!
