Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Express & Suites, Southport, NC

Holiday Inn & SuitesPhoto by the author

If you want to take a trip out to the beautiful Oak Island beach area in North Carolina, chances are you’ve made a list of what kind of place you want to stay. You look for amenities but maybe you want a little more information about what it is like before you book your stay? Today, I’ll review my experience at the:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Southport - Oak Island Area, an IHG Hotel

(Booked through Expedia)

Note: IHG offers a rewards program but you cannot get points if you book through a third party like Expedia or Tripadvisor.)

Hotel Amenities

• Free wi-fi
• Pool
• Dog-friendly! (limited walking areas)
• Direct TV in the rooms
• AC worked very well
• Blackout curtains / do not disturb
• Elevator worked well
• The pool was great/heated
• Very friendly staff

Checking-In Was a Breeze!

After my 3 ½ hour drive with my doggie, I was exhausted. I’d left so early for my trip that I arrived hours before check-in time. With all my traveling things (including a laptop and writing equipment) and my dog in the car, I needed a plan for what to do with the hours until check-in.

I decided to ask the folks at the hotel and just double-check on when I might check in. Turns out, the room was already cleaned and ready to go so the kind lady at the check-in desk allowed me to check-in early. Then she told me about some great areas I could go to and take my dog with me.

For hotel desk staff, each person I met and interacted with was kind, considerate, helpful and it all seemed very authentic. No sterile, painted-on faces. I felt very welcome and so did my dog!

It only took a few minutes to check-in, receive my room keys, and get started moving my bags up to the room. There was a push-cart by the front door and an area to pull up for off-loading.

Hotel entrance area, Bolivia, NC, June 5, 2021Photo by the author

The Lobby Area Was Nice and Clean

Here are a few pictures of the lobby area, which I found to be warm, welcoming, and spacious.

Lobby fish tank, June 5, 2021Photo by the author

This fish tank was in the area between the lobby and the dining space. It was a nice, relaxing space to stand while waiting for the elevator and brought a calming ambiance to the lobby area.

Lobby fish tank, June 5, 2021Photo by the author

Lobby area with computer station in the corner, June 5, 2021Photo by the author

Lobby area, June 5, 2021Photo by the author

The Room

I didn’t get pictures of my room when I first arrived, but I snapped a few shots as we were leaving (so, it had not been cleaned, but you can see the room is nice and comfortable.)

room, June 7, 2021Photo by the author

My room had a King-sized bed, an AC unit that worked very well, a refrigerator, a coffee machine (Keurig cups), and a television. There was a desk for working, a couch for sitting, and plenty of places to plug things in for charging.

The bed was super-soft and cozy. The pillows were luxurious. I slept very well for our entire stay.

The bathroom was rather large for a hotel room bathroom. I really enjoyed the large shower area.

shower, June 7, 2021Photo by the author

bathroom, June 7, 2021Photo by the author

Another thing I really enjoyed about my room was the lovely black and white framed photos for the wall art. Not cheap-looking artwork. The photos were really beautiful and I found them to be a calming element for the space. One of them, in my room at least, was of a beautiful beach with a lighthouse and another was of a gorgeous horse running in the sand. I just loved the wall art in my room. You can see a sample of the tasteful art in the bathroom shot above with another lighthouse print.

The Pool Area

The other hotel space I spent significant time at was the pool room. I have to say, for all of the hotels I have ever stayed in, this was the nicest, most comfortable, and pleasant pool area I have ever used. It was enclosed, the water heated to the perfect temperature, and it was very clean. It smelled clean but not too much like a bunch of chemicals. As for swimming areas, this one was a lot of fun and very relaxing after long days of traveling around and walking.

There are no lifeguards on site so children are required to be with an adult at all times while using the pool area. Fresh towels are available at the desk. No glass bottles or food are permitted in the pool area. Although advertised as open until 10, the pool actually closes now at 9 pm, so be aware of that.

pool room, June 5, 2021Photo by the author

The Continental Breakfast

Don’t think you’ll get short-changed on your free breakfast like most hotels. The Continental breakfast spread was impressive!

• Catering-style with a server
• 3 juice, Cranberry, apple and orange
• Cold water and hot water for tea
• Full, self-service coffee bar with hand sanitizer available
• Cinnamon rolls
• Oatmeal with walnuts, brown sugar, raisins
• Cereal/milk
• Fresh waffles/pancakes made for you
• Hot food bar (new since October 2020)
• scrambled eggs
• toast, rolls, bagels
• Eggwhite & veggie omelet
• Cheesy omelet
• Turkey sausage
• Pork sausage
• Sausage gravy & biscuits
• Muffins
• Fruit
• Hard-boiled eggs available, ask staff for them as they are stored in the kitchen refrigerator

The eating area was bright and inviting with a large white quartz bar in the center, and tables and booths scattered about the room. The television set to the weather makes it easy to plan your day.

If You Bring Your Dog; Try Some of These Nearby Dog-Friendly Sites to Visit

• Oak Island Beach
• Sunset Beach
• Southport area for shopping and leisure experience on the edge of the Cape Fear River
• Visit the Oak Island Lighthouse
• Take a drive on the back roads. We saw deer, raccoons, turkeys, turtles, some wild pigs (those were in Bolivia), lots of birds, and plenty of beautiful botanical areas.

My dog on Oak Island beachPhoto by the author

Note: No matter where you go, make sure you have plenty of doggie bags in tow. You want to be sure to clean up after your pooch for those who come along behind you. It’s the considerate thing to do! For the safety of your dog and compliance with leash laws, keep your dog leashed. Take a bowl and a bottle of water with you everywhere you go to keep your dog well-hydrated.

My Overall Thoughts on the Hotel

Would I stay at this hotel again? Absolutely. I was pleased with the price and the location. As a woman traveling alone, the fact that I felt safe and secure the whole time I was there was a big deal for me. The food at the Continental breakfast was not the best food in the world, to me, but there were so many options you could certainly get your belly full each morning before a long day of travel fun and sightseeing. Oddly, that oatmeal really hit the spot for me. It was so good with the brown sugar, butter, and walnuts mixed in.

Next time, though, I’ll call the hotel directly to book my room so I can build points with the IHG program and eventually earn some free nights.

This hotel is located 5 minutes from the beach, minutes from grocery stores and gas stations, 15-20 minutes from the Southport area along the Cape Fear River, and 25-30 minutes from Wilmington.

Plan to drive to stores etc., though, because there’s not much within walking distance of the hotel along a 4 lane semi-busy road.

Happy travels to you and say hi to all the wonderful folks at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Bolivia...they were all fantastic! Tell 'em that writer-chick sent ya!

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