Let me confess for the sake of transparency. I am not a fan of franchises. But when in rural areas, I do find that franchises offer you a consistent standard of comfort that is reliable, no matter where your travels may take you.
As we were moving from Albuquerque to Las Vegas after emptying out our U-Haul storage locker, we found Holiday Inn Express Bernalillo to offer a level of cleanliness, comfort, and familiarity that we needed after a long day of packing up our moving truck.
The Location
Holiday Inn Express Bernalillo is situated on Interstate 165, just off Interstate 15, the main artery in New Mexico.
Because of its location, it is strategic and yet somewhat removed from the traffic of Albuquerque. Bernalillo is about 10 miles north of Albuquerque on the way to Santa Fe. As such, it is also the road to take for people heading West. And West to Las Vegas is where we were heading.
When you stay at Holiday Inn Express Bernalillo, an IHG Hotel in Bernalillo, you’ll be in the historical district, within a 15-minute drive of Sandia Casino and Balloon Fiesta Park. The Coronado Historic Site is also less than a 5-minute drive.
The Hotel
Be sure to enjoy recreational amenities, including an indoor pool, a spa tub, and a 24-hour fitness center.
Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, a 24-hour business center, and express check-out. Free self parking is available onsite.
The Room
The hotel has 70 guestrooms, all featuring refrigerators and microwaves. They also have 37-inch LED televisions with satellite programming and complimentary wireless internet.
Rooms are fairly standard across the Holiday Inn spectrum. Expect comfortable beds with all required amenities in place. What was surprising about this hotel was the quality of breakfast as well as the cleanliness of the indoor pool and hot tub. When my husband and I enjoyed the hot tub after a long day of packing our U-Haul moving truck, we had the room and hot tub all to ourselves. It’s what we needed to relax and de-stress for the journey ahead of us.
The Rates
For the best rates online as well as special packages, book directly with the hotel. Or, check Booking.com or Expedia for competitive prices. Depending on day of the week, season and room type, rates run from around $133.00 upwards per night. Check the website for special promotions. Discounts are available for military, seniors, and AARP members.
For reviews of other hotels in the Albuquerque area, check out the following:
- El Vado Motel: Get Your Kicks on Route 66 in Albuquerque
- Albuquerque’s Luxury Hotel Chaco Inspired by Chaco Canyon
The Bottom Line
The Holiday Inn Express Bernalillo is definitely a cut above its surrounding competitors. And for about the same price. After trying to book with an adjacent hotel and being totally ignored, I immediately went to the Holiday Inn Express. Another 100 yards made all the difference between a mediocre stay and a very comfortable, and enjoyable stay in Bernalillo while on our moving trip to Las Vegas.
Clean, comfortable, and courteous staff are the hallmark of this hotel.
Indoor swimming pool and hot tub are available to all guests. And a buffet hot breakfast was the expected Holiday Inn Express standard. It met all our needs.
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Karin Leperi Pezo is a writer and photographer living part-time in Peru and part-time in Nevada. She and her husband paid full fare for one night while moving from Albuquerque to Las Vegas. All photos are taken by Karin Pezo unless otherwise noted. As always, all opinions are those of the author and are based on an actual stay at the property. This is what sets her reviews apart from AI-generated text.
