A good place if you're looking for somewhere to lay your head after a long trip (which we were). There isn't much there and it's on the edge of town so you need to drive realistically to get anywhere. The breakfast was disappointing, very limited selection and average quality. Plastic cutlery! No bar or restaurant.

We stayed here while visiting nearby wildlife refuges and riding the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. Our room was very nice. The breakfast was excellent, served by a pair of friendly, helpful people. The evening snacks and drinks were nice.

We spent one night at the Holiday Inn Express Suites at Alamosa in mid-September. It was a stop-over for us, on our way from Denver to Durango, so we weren't looking for anything fancy. Holiday Inn Express has a nice base-line that from hotel to hotel that we wanted and got: clean, well managed, nicely decorated/furnished, and a nice breakfast to get us on the way.

We arrived in the late afternoon to find the lobby filled with soccer players. Perhaps there had been a tournament? Soccer players were all over town. We worried about noise, especially since our room was close to the pool. However, the folks at the front desk seemed to have a handle on things and we even received a welcome bag with bottled water, a bag of chips and a welcoming note (all much appreciated!). That night the hotel was quiet or at least we didn't hear anything (good noise insulation/sound barriers between walls? good management keeping an eye on potential noise problems? tired soccer players?) and we got a great night's rest.

The room was clean and tidy and neat. Looked like they had done some fairly recent remodeling or redecorating. Room highlights: the hot water and the cinnamon scented toiletries.

The super highlight that made this place a memorable stop on our trip, however, was Ramona at the breakfast buffet. She was cheerful, on the ball, and helfpul. She made sure we had fresh coffee and walked around with fresh orange juice, offering it to those eating before she put it on the buffet. She also really talked up the cinnamon rolls. So helpful and great service. Ramona stood out on her own, but even more so after we stayed at another Holiday Inn Express property in Glenwood Springs later in the week. There, the person minding that buffet was more interested in the tv expose than the guests or the food. There, the food was fine, but the coffee was getting cool and the gravy for the buscuits was getting that layer on the top that happens when it sits too long under the heat lamps. When the pancake machine didn't work, it took awhile to get the attendant's attention and help. My husband and I both looked at eachother and knew what we were thinking...this Holiday Inn needed a Ramona to make our day start right!

The staff was very welcoming when we checked in and gave us a printed list of nearby restaurants which was much appreciated. The cookies and fresh lemonade was a nice touch too. The room was clean and comfortable. At breakfast the staff impressed us by coming to the table and asking if we wanted more orange juice. They even cleared away our plates! The only downside was the price. It cost us $152 for the night. The night before we had stayed in a Holiday Inn Express for $112. For those of you who like beer you might like to check out the San Luis Valley Brewing Company which is only a couple of miles from the restaurant. Beer and food were excellent.