We were driving through to get to Macomb, IL and decided to stay in Rock Falls/Sterling area... did not check Tripadvisor since we were on the road. First mistake! Checked into this Holiday Inn & asked for quietest room, nonsmoking - we just wanted a decent night's sleep.

We have stayed at many Holiday Inn Expresses during our travels & generally (of course there have been exceptions) have been satisfied with them - so we figured "well, why not.... let's try a regular Holiday Inn". Second mistake!

Anyway, the room was smelly... like it had formerly been a smoker's room and also musty. Rooms were old. Place was noisy even though we were not near the inside pool - a lot of screaming kids and noisy people until 9:30 to 10pm. Sound carried VERY WELL in this older structure... e.g. when a door closed it was like a loud slam.

Okay, okay, we take some of the blame... we should have complained to management to have our room changed, but we were tired & we realized given the age of the hotel & appearance of the hallways, etc., the odds are that changing rooms would not accomplish much.

Had an ancient CRT slower-than-molasses PC you could use - well, I guess at least they had internet access, as it was.

The restaurant that was attached to it for breakfast was expensive for what you got for breakfast.

On the positive side, the desk help was very friendly and courteous and once you peeled off the top cover the sheets were clean.

After looking at the Tripadvisor reviews, would perhaps stay at the Country Inn & Suites - we looked at it the next morning & it was definitely newer on the outside at least.

Holiday Inn Sterling Rock Falls was a great hotel for my a recent trip my family and I took. The pool area offered a great place for the kids to have fun while we relaxed. The Bennigan's Restaurant on property had awesome food and even better service. Rooms were clean and bright.

All in all a great hotel!