I could write a long winded piece here but I wont waste the time - others have covered the problems. Don't stay here it is dirty and located in bad part of town. There were unpleasant people in the lobby while we were there and a sign on the inside of our room door telling us to engage the dead bolt while we were in the room. This is a dump.

Since our family looks forward to our yearly vacation, the problems we encountered here were disappointing. This Holiday Inn was the formal Crowne Plaza and they are undergoing renovations(rolled up carpet, knobs missing off desks, etc.). I booked the Dorney Park package which was $139. This package entitled us to discount Dorney Park tickets, kids under 12 eat free, free continental breakfast and a $25 gas card.(upon leaving) We had planned to visit Dorney Park for 2 days. When we arrived at 11 am, we were able to check into our room immediately.(I became a priority member for free which allowed us to check in early)However, the hotel had sold out of Dorney Park discount tickets. We would have to go to a grocery store up the road to purchase them. We decided to eat lunch at the hotel and the waiter/host seemed to discourage us from eating there. (we were the only customers) Since we did not know the area, we wanted to eat there. Once we were seated, he had a better attitude. He told us about local attractions, specifically the Allentown Fair. We decided not to do Dorney, but went to the fair instead (free admission first day) It was great!
That day we requested a fridge and microwave ($10 each per day). None of the ice machines were working on any of the 9 floors. The front desk said they would deliver ice to us.(we declined)
The parking is in a garage adjacent to the hotel. Though the parking is $6 a day, you must get your ticket validated at the front desk every time you use the garage. We were not given that info when we checked in and the garage attendant gruffly explained it to us.(garage not owned by hotel)
The next day there was still no Dorney Park tickets. We went to the grocery store up the street and they were sold out of tickets. We went to the park and paid full price. The hotel was very close to the hotel and easy to find. They offered a free shuttle to anywhere within a 5 mile radius, but since we needed our vehicle for snacks, change of clothes, etc. we opted to drive.
When we returned I complained to the manager about the lack of discount tickets. She refunded my money for the difference ($40)
My family used the indoor pool which was nice. The bar was also popular with about 12 different tvs to watch sporting events.
That night we had dinner at a local restaurant and we walked passed the Lehigh Valley Tourist Center. There was a sign indicating discount Dorney tickets. This center was 1 block from the hotel.
The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel. Since we were a priority member/package deal we received a discount and additional food (muffins/fresh fruit) with our breakfast which was good.
Check out was frustrating..only one elevator worked which was very inconvenient(very long wait). My husband had to get a cart himself since the bellman was not available. We could not get any ice for our drinks. When I checked out, I spoke to the manager. They apologized and waived our fees for the fridge, microwave and breakfast.(The manager's suggestion)
I feel the problems added unnecessary stress to our vacation. Though they compensated us for the inconveniences, we would rather have had the promised amenities.

The first thing we noticed was how sketchy the neighborhood is where this property is located, but after walking into the lobby I felt a little better. It was clean and I thought, "ok, let's not judge the book by the cover." Then I stepped into the elevator. It was like something out of a horror movie. It was dirty and smelled disgusting. When we got to our floor, it looked like the wall coverings had been recently replaced and was very nice. The carpeting, however, is disgusting and needs to go. My wife would not even walk on it in her bare feet. The beds were very comfortable and the bathroom was ok. It looks like they have recently begun renovations that include new countertops and tub walls in the bathrooms. The bottom line is that this hotel has potential and if they actually complete the renovations, it will be very nice. The staff is friendly and helpful. I don't know that I would choose to vacation here but to stay over for a night, it will probably be ok.

Background, I booked this hotel for my family of four at the last minute after we decided rather late to go to the NHRA races, and we were looking for someplace to stay near Reading and everything was booked there. We decided to make a weekend out of it, and go to Dorney Park. I got this hotel after being "upgraded for free" by Priceline from a 2.5 to a 3 star. I believe that I actually got a 2.5 star hotel, masked as an upgrade. I chose 2.5 stars in this area of Allentown/Lehigh Valley specifically to avoid this place after reading the reviews on Trip Advisor and on Priceline. I was upset with what hotel I got for my $75 bid (and the surprise upgrade buried in their website rules). As anyone that has used Priceline knows there is zero opportunity to make a change, so we went and made the best of it. I did have a list of 3 near by acceptable (according to TA reviews) alternate choices complete with phone numbers just incase I got here and had to leave. Fortunately, it didn't come down to that. Here are our thoughts/observations.

1. Location - The Inter-Continental Hotels Group has aptly renamed this "Holiday Inn Allentown Center City". From what we observed during our short trip, this hotel, like its new name, is in the Center of the CITY of Allentown. We drove from Dorney Park, on Hamilton (Route 222), through a lovely suburban area, then up a hill to the more urban area, at one point drove past a hospital, some very close together inner city housing then finally several blocks past stores, etc to the hotel. After reading reviews here, on that first drive I was apprehensive. I was fine after that. Never saw anything to alarm us on Friday night or Saturday night. I probably wouldn't have walked far by myself at night but it was certainly OK to drive through the area.

2. Parking - This is not a surburban hotel. You must pay to park your vehicle in a detached city garage or park on the street at meters. The garage height limit is either 6'2" or 6'7" (we can't remember) but our Ford F250 would not fit. Meter charges start at 8:00 AM Monday-Saturday, so get your quarters ready if you will be there later than 8:00 AM. In all, we paid $1.50 to park for the weekend at a meter, never parking more than one block away (on the same street).

3. Renovations - They are not complete. One elevator working the entire time, the walls in the elevator were painted black and it was slow. There were signs apologizing for the renovations. Ladders, working crew about even on weekends. I do not know if our room was renovated. I think maybe new beds and linens? Maybe newer furniture? New clock/radio. Old Magnavox TV (still had a clear picture though). Carpet seemed older, wallpaper was not peeling, bathroom was clean but vanity stand needed several coats of paint, it had certainly seen better days. Beds were small (two double), bathroom was tiny! If on the pot, the door would hit you, sink on one side, bathtub on the other. You could touch sink counter, edge of tub, door and wall behind toilet from same spot. Furniture in the lobby was tired, needed replaced. Restaurant looked newly renovated and actually looked quite appealing (we did not eat here). The bar also seemed renovated and was very nice with wood floors, lots of TV's, a man singing and playing music on Saturday and a nice big pool table. I would have liked more time to sit in the bar and listen to music (rather than getting a drink to go).

4. Cleanliness - Our room was VERY clean, I inspected it closely. I had nothing to complain about. The pool area was clean (and the water was clear), the lobby was clean, the public bathroom in the lobby was clean, the bar was clean.

5. Staff - Friendly, helpful, no problems.

Overall, this hotel was acceptable for our $75 bid. I would have been disappointed if paying full price. I might stay here again once renovations are complete for the same price or less, if going to Dorney Park.