Front desk very nice and fast with check in. Hotel itself is in dire need of renovation. Although I expected much worse based on recent reviews. My room was clean and bed comfortable. Great water pressure during my shower as I prepared for my early flight out. I will agree the area is a bit shady but only a mile from the airport. The Clarion down the street is a true dive.
If I had to stay here extended nights that might be a different story. I stayed on the 5th floor. I average 15 nights a month as a business traveler so for me it was very adequate. Some people over exaggerate, if you have to catch a morning flight this is very smart choice especially for the price point. It is amazing if you are a nice person when you check in you might just get a nicer room. Some people are just rude and demanding upon check in and guess what happens to them? They write a bad review imagine that.

We stayed here one night to be close to the airport for an early departure. The front desk help wasn't very accommodating and because our company was paying the bill, the front desk claimed the manager doesn't allow Priority Club points to anyone other than the credit card holder. Funny how the other 53 nights with IHG properties I never had that problem. Then when we checked out, the front desk couldn't give me a finalized bill due to "computer issues" right at the prime time for check out he said he needed 30 minutes to reboot. If you are a light sleeper forget about sleeping as it sounds as the highway is in your room. The bar was a welcome surprise and the food was great (the reason for two stars instead of one). Otherwise I would not recommend this hotel.

We needed a hotel convenient to the airport for a group we were assembling for a tour of civil rights sites. This was a clear first choice last year and again last week. We plan to use it again next year. The front desk staff is very friendly and helpful. The rooms are pleasant and very adequate. Breakfast and dinner are available in the restaurant, and we found the dinner offerings (currently mostly Mexican) quite good and varied. Lunch can be purchased at the Kebab House just across the street. If you are visiting downtown Birmingham sites, access is very easy by car on either the interstate or via regular streets.

Our plane lost an engine on the way from Dallas/Ft. Worth to Charlotte and had to divert to Birmingham. After a short delay at the air port while American got their act together, we were issued vouchers for this hotel. Didn't really know what to expect but there wasn't much of an alternative so we boarded the shuttle.

I was pleasantly surprised by the hotel. While there was a bit of a musty odor in the hall, the room was clean and spacious. The bed slept very well, the bathroom was clean and the towels were not worn out. The staff could not have been more friendly! And the hotel restaurant was a plus (Mexican and I had food that rivaled what I'd eaten in Mexico City two weeks earlier!).

Should we be back in Birmingham for whatever reason, I would stay at this hotel again.