Dear Holiday Inn Downtown Log Beach,

I would like to Thank you for the great week I spend at you hotel. From the second I got there, Justin went out of his way to welcome me, made me feel like it was at home and to make sure that every thing was just right. From the booking of the hotel over the phone to the day I left left me welcome feeling. He always called me by name and with the hotel book fully that was something. The other staff such as Adrian, Temo, Richard and Wendy also went way above to make my stay awesome. The Hotel was every clean inside and out, the bed was just right and the room was clean, with a fridge and microwave saved me on food cost. The outside pool was great, was able to get in some tanning and see the stars at night. I found the hotel quiet and easy to sleep. I was there on business at a convention near the end of October with over 10,000 people. I also noted that the staff at the front desk was talking to other people by their names as well.
The free 3 mile transportation provided by the hotel was great to use. They would take us to downtown where all the restaurant and action was or all the way down to the beach. This saved me on taxi cab fare.

The found Long Beach, for the areas that I was in, to be clean and a every friendly city, so thanks to the city also.
Thanks again John

The hotel was probably quite the place in it's day. While it's day has passed, the hotel has been kept up quite well.
There is what looks like a fountain in the portico. It is not a fountain anymore, but a desert garden in its early stages of growth. One way to save water.

Hotel lobbies in smaller European hotels are very functional- a desk or counter and that's about all. You don't hang around these lobbies. You check in, check out, and go to your room. Lobbies in most American hotels are designed to be spaces that welcome you, where you want to have a drink and hang out and if nothing else people watch. The lobby of the Holiday Inn was somewhere in between. Not inviting. But a bit more than the European lobbies.

The hotel will give you a ride to nearby attractions, restaurants, etc. And you can call them to pick you up. It is quite a walk to the harbor area.

All of the staff were very friendly, said hello, etc.

One guest review called the neighborhood scarey. I was definitely a minority in the neighborhood. But I never felt scared. And I walked to and from the hotel to the harbor area a number of times, during the day and in the evening.

The room was OK. Nothing spectacular, but no significant flaws either.

Yes indeed a strange neighborhood; the hotel is located next to a large hospital and surrounded by an immigrant neighborhood (Cambodia town). Not a lot of restaurants nearby ( a so-so Korean restaurant and a burger joint are 5 blocks down the road towards the harbor).
I did not felt too comfortable when I checked in, but the room was actually fine for the price; the bedding is good , lots of pillows labeled firm or soft and the free internet was working ok; there is a coffee maker, a microwave and an fridge in the room (there is a nearby supermarket if you need to buy food or beverages). Breakfast was ok.
The staff is indeed friendly and helpful in particular the drivers of the courtesy shuttle that can bring you to the conference center or any place within 3 miles radius and pick you up again when you call. Alternatively, you can also get to the harbor and conference area or back to the hotel by taking the free shuttle bus running on Pine street ( a 10 min. walk away) or the regular city bus # 61 ( $ 1.25 fare) that stops in front of the hotel.
My complaint is the noise coming from the water pipes; I heard water flushes underneath my room every 10 minutes or so. Also the AC is outdated and noisy; can't sleep while running.
In summary, the hotel is ok for a 3-4 day conference stay (the upside is you pay muss less than in the ritzy glitzy hotels 10 blocks down the road near the convention center) and the shuttle provides convenient transportation.

Stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Long Beach-had a hard time finding the hotel because it is smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Not a nice neighborhood, would not walk around here at night, but the hotel was convenient to where I needed to be.it is relatively close to the 405 fwy, and also to downtown Long Beach, but if you have a choice, stay at one of the hotels near the water on ocean blvd where the scenery is much nicer.
However, the staff were friendly, and the hotel is easy access with the elevators straight from the parking area. The room is nice for the newly upraded Holiday Inn brand, not bad for the price. I like the new color pallette for the brand, decent coffee and toiletries. The view is not the best-you could see dilapidated homes and the backyards of homes with dogs and rusty roofs.
If you want clean and efficient, this will be fine, but look for a nicer hotel in a walkable neighborhod if you have a choice!