I am an platinum level member of priority club (and diamond with Hilton Honors). I tavel alot. Usually I try to stay at a property that will add to my point totals.

This was just an overnight trip in the Salisbury area. I decided on Holiday Inn Express, the closest property they had was in Delmar - less then 10 miles from my business site.

Driving to the hotel I thought I had missed it. I called and the person that answered the phone knew the area well - his directions were excellent, he even knew why I thought I had missed it (You drive into a remote area of Rt 13 and go through some woods - then the property appears on the left out of nowhere).

Check in was smooth - I arrived at 10pm, and the parking lot was pretty much empty. The clerk gave me my key for the 3rd floor and up I went.

This is where the problems started. It was a very cold night out and the heat was off in the room. I turned it up on high but the curtains (very thin) just billowed up and I suspect half the heat went to warming the windows. WHY DO SOME HOTELS HAVE PAPER THIN CURTAINS? If they had been heavier this would not have been a problem. Around midnight I realized the room would not warm up much, and I suppose I could have called down and requested another room. But I figgured I would be put into another cold room and wanted to get some sleep.

The next morning I woke up to a 'cool' room, if not cold. Mind you the heater had been blowing on high at maximum heat all night.

The paper thin curtains were barely opaque. This is a problem. - I could clearly see the cars in the lot and on Rt 13, so anyone outside could see into the rooms.

Next problem - half way through the shower (10 minutes?) the hot water gave out. I finished my shower in cold water. Went downstairs for breakfast (8am). Pickings were VERY sparse. A few rolls, some danish, and exactly 3 pieces of fruit in the bowl. So I guess I'm skipping breakfast, huh?

I went to the checkout desk and explained the issues to the clerk. She got defensive as I was explaining the problems. Only after I reassured her that I wasn't blaming her personally, but thought managment should know. She said "Well, we're having lots of problems on the third floor" Since the hotel was very empty I asked why I was put there. She told me she didnt know, SHE wasn;t the one that put me there. When I asked for the manager she told me she would take care of the bill - "I'll give you half off".

I would have prefered to pay full rack rate and gotten a decent hotel.

TIP - Anytime you are going to check in late, call ahead and tell them to turn the heat up in your room.

I will NOT stay at this particular Holiday Inn Express Again