Gettysburg's BEST Hotel? IHG's Hidden Gem Awaits!
Gettysburg's "Hidden Gem"? Let's Dive Deep! (IHG's… Something or Other)
Alright, buckle up, folks. I just got back from Gettysburg, a place steeped in history and, let's be honest, a whole lotta… well, you know. And I stayed at… something… under the IHG umbrella. Look, I'm not going to pretend I memorized the exact name. But it was touted as a "hidden gem." Let's unpack that, shall we? Because "hidden" sometimes means "hard to find," and "gem"… well, that can be aspirational.
First Impressions & Accessibility (the "Getting In" Bit)
Finding the place wasn't too bad, thankfully. Parking? Surprisingly smooth! Car park [on-site] was plentiful and Car park [free of charge] - a definite win in my book. I was rolling with my Aunt Mildred, bless her heart, and she’s not a spring chicken. So, Accessibility was huge on my radar. And I'm happy to report, they seemed to have their stuff together. Wheelchair accessible throughout the common areas, a decent elevator, and plenty of space to maneuver in the rooms. Score one for Aunt Mildred! Plus, Facilities for disabled guests looked well thought out. Though I didn't personally test them… she did!
Rooms: The Good, the Bad, and the Blackout Curtains
Our room? Okay, let’s be real. It wasn't a suite at the Ritz, but it wasn't a fleabag motel either. Perfectly acceptable! We booked a Non-smoking room shudders at the thought of the alternative, and it was clean. Cleanliness and safety seemed to be a top priority, especially with all the… you know… pandemic stuff still going on. They had the Anti-viral cleaning products, Hand sanitizer stations everywhere, and the little signs about Rooms sanitized between stays. Made me feel a little safer, I gotta admit. They even had a Room sanitization opt-out available - which, honestly, I skipped. Why tempt fate?
The Air conditioning was a lifesaver in the July heat! And I was especially grateful for the Blackout curtains. Seriously, those things were amazing. You could have detonated a small sun outside, and I wouldn’t have known. I probably slept a little too long, but hey, I was on vacation! The Bed was comfy enough, though I wouldn’t write home about it. It had Extra long bed - a plus for tall people! There was a Coffee/tea maker, a Refrigerator (necessity!), and the usual hair dryer and stuff. They even had bathrobes! I'm not much for bathrobes on principle, but Aunt Mildred loved hers.
Internet: Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Everywhere?
Okay, so Internet access was a must. Aunt Mildred needs her Facebook groups, I need my news, and well, it’s 2024! Thankfully, the Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and public areas was not only promised but actually delivered. I mean, it wasn't blazing fast, but it was adequate for my needs. They also had Internet access – LAN in the room, for those who want to feel like it's 1998.
Dining: A Culinary Battlefield (and a Bloody Good Breakfast)
This is where things got… interesting. The restaurants situation wasn’t as… extensive as I’d hoped. There was a main restaurant, but I was underwhelmed, it wasn't a Vegetarian restaurant as advertised. Lunch was forgettable, and I spent too long staring at the menu to even take a good look at it. Dinner was a slightly better experience. They had A la carte in restaurant, but the menu was a bit… limited. The International cuisine in restaurant was a stretch, and there was very little Asian influence which was also advertised. There was a Bar, which was a lifesaver. However, the Breakfast [buffet]? That was the saving grace! A hearty Western breakfast with all the usual suspects: eggs, bacon, sausages, fruit, and pastries. And the coffee? Surprisingly decent! The whole experience was helped by the Coffee/tea in restaurant. They also had a Breakfast takeaway service and Breakfast in room option, but let’s be honest, those were kind of pointless after the breakfast.
The Spa, The Pool, and the Pursuit of Relaxation (or Lack Thereof)
Now, the "hidden gem" hype really ramped up around the spa/sauna and pool. I was really looking forward to some serious chill time. There was a Swimming pool [outdoor] that had a lovely Pool with view. So I was excited. I love to spend the morning swimming and reading. Here is where things went wrong for me. I was excited to find a Spa. But when I got to the spa, I found out that it was not for women. This was a complete shock, they had a lot of Body wrap, Body scrub, and Massage options, but because of the type of services, these services were men-only. I felt an immediate disappointment and I was pretty grumpy for the rest of the day. Still, it was a nice, quiet place to relax.
There was a Fitness center and Gym/fitness, but I have to admit, I didn't set foot in either. My idea of fitness is getting from the breakfast buffet to the pool, and back again. Aunt Mildred did say she saw a Steamroom, which she described as “steamy”. And they had a Sauna as well.
Services and Stuff: The Extras
The concierge was helpful with directions and local recommendations. They had a Convenience store which came in handy for late-night snacks. Laundry service and Dry cleaning are always a plus when you're traveling. Cash withdrawal was available, which is always a good thing. There was a Gift/souvenir shop which was full of the usual Gettysburg-y stuff. Overall, the services were solid, and that's what you want, right?
COVID-era Considerations (Because, You Know)
They seemed to be taking the pandemic seriously. Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Daily disinfection in common areas, Staff trained in safety protocol. The Cashless payment service was convenient. And even though I felt safe, it was still a little weird.
The Verdict: Hidden Gem or… Just Okay?
So, was it a "hidden gem?" Honestly, it’s complicated. It wasn't a bad stay. Far from it! The rooms were clean, the staff was friendly, and the breakfast was a winner. The accessibility was excellent, and I liked the Blackout curtains. But the restaurant was lacking and I was very disappointed in the inability to get a massage. It was more like a solid, reliable choice. If you're looking for a perfectly adequate, historic stay with a decent pool and a great breakfast, then yeah, it might be your hidden gem. But if you're expecting pure luxury, you might want to adjust your definition of "gem."
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain’t your grandma’s meticulously planned itinerary. This is… a vibe. And that vibe, my friends, is Gettysburg in a Holiday Inn Express. This is going to be chaotic, so sorry in advance to anyone who likes neatness.
The Gettysburg Gauntlet: A Holiday Inn Express & Suites Saga
Day 1: Arrival and the Ghostly Gawks (and Total Hotel Room Chaos)
- 1:00 PM - Arrive at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Gettysburg By IHG. Okay, first impressions? The lobby is… fine. Like, perfectly acceptable. A bit sterile, honestly. I’m immediately scanning for coffee. Coffee is vital. Found it! Weak, but free, so beggars can’t be choosers. The check-in dude, bless his heart, looked like he’d seen some things. Probably a lot of confused Civil War buffs. The room itself? Standard. Two queen beds (score!), a desk (where I’ll inevitably dump everything), and a view of… a parking lot. Romantic.
- 1:30 PM - Settling in & Mental Inventory. Okay, unpacking. This is always a disaster. My suitcase exploded into a glorious mess of clothes, chargers, and a rogue travel-sized toothpaste container. I swear, I packed way too many things. Must. Stop. Overpacking. The air conditioning is blasting. I'm freezing. I'm also starving. Gotta figure out dinner.
- 2:30 PM - The Gettysburg Battlefield (First Glimpse, and a Whole Lot of Questions). Okay, I tried to be prepared. I watched a documentary, skimmed Wikipedia… But standing there, on Cemetery Ridge, it’s… overwhelming. The sheer scale of it. The quiet. The feeling – it's heavy, man. I tried to picture the battle, but my brain just kept spitting out images of Ken Burns documentaries.
- Anecdote Alert: As I walked around Little Round Top, I swear I heard a twig snap behind me. I whipped around, fully expecting a phantom soldier. Nope. Just a squirrel. My heart was still pounding for a good five minutes. So dramatic.
- 5:00 PM - Dinner at a Random Restaurant (and a Questionable Margarita). Found a place on TripAdvisor – The Dobbin House Tavern. It looked historic! It sounded historic! And the margarita? Oh, lord. It was a neon green concoction that tasted vaguely of… dish soap? I bravely soldiered on. The food was… okay. The atmosphere, however, was thick with history. And maybe, just maybe, a few actual ghosts.
- 7:00 PM - Nighttime Ghost Tour (and a Mild Panic Attack). Okay, this is where things got interesting. Our tour guide? Total character. He had the dramatic flair of a Shakespearean actor and the spooky stories to match. By the end of the first hour, my palms were sweaty, and I was convinced my own room was haunted. We explored old buildings, eerie streets, and I swear I saw a shadow move across a window.
- Emotional Reaction: Okay, I'm a wuss. I admit it. The whole tour was a mix of fascination, pure terror, and an overwhelming urge to run back to the safety of my bland, yet blessedly un-haunted, hotel room.
- 9:00 PM - Back at the Hotel: Room Service (Sort Of). The vending machine, after a few failed attempts to get a snack, I managed to get a bag of Cheetos. I ended up eating those in bed, watching a late-night movie on Netflix, and then falling asleep with the lights on. Real sophisticated.
Day 2: History and Hangovers (and a Deep Dive into Gettysburg)
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast at the Holiday Inn Express (and the Great Waffle Debacle). Free breakfast! This is my jam. The waffle machine, however, is a cruel mistress. After a battle of wills (and several close calls), I finally managed to produce a waffle that was only slightly burnt. The orange juice, surprisingly, was decent.
- 10:00 AM - The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center (and My Respect for the Union and Confederate Soldiers). Okay, I didn't expect to get choked up, folks. But the exhibits? The stories? The sheer bravery and sacrifice… It hit me like a ton of bricks. I spent way longer than planned in the Cyclorama Center and even bought a souvenir book (a big one).
- Quirky Observation: I'm starting to think the Civil War era had a real penchant for facial hair. Beards everywhere!
- 12:30 PM - Lunch at a Local Dive (And My Quest for the Perfect Cheeseburger). Found a local place called "Garryowen Irish Pub." It wasn't the most historically accurate, but the food was great. And the cheeseburger? Perfection. Still, it's hard to shake the feeling that a ghost is lurking around the corner.
- 1:30 PM - The Gettysburg National Military Park Auto Tour. Ah, the open road! Or, you know, the incredibly crowded road, packed with other tourists. Still, it gave me a chance to really explore the battlefield at my own pace. The car filled with me singing along to tunes.
- Messy Structure: I ended up being distracted by an argument I got in with a family about parking.
- 3:30 PM - Witnessing the National Cemetery: This was a lot to take in and a lot to process.
- 4:30 PM - Return to the Holiday Inn & The Pool (Yay or Nay?). Okay, I was torn about the pool. It was a bit… chlorine-y. But the lure of relaxation was strong. I dipped my toes in… and immediately retreated. Too cold.
- 5:30 PM - The Gettysburg Civil War Institute: I always wanted to do this institute, and finally, I did! It gave me even more to process.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner and Drink. Back in the hotel.
Day 3: Departure and Lingering Ghosts (and Overall Feelings)
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast and Packing. (And the "Where Did My Socks Go?" Mystery) Goodbye, complimentary waffles. Goodbye, mediocre coffee. Packing is always the final hurdle, and my socks, naturally, have vanished. The hotel room is once again in disarray.
- 9:00 AM - Check-Out and a Final Look Back (and a Realization). The check-out guy is the same one from Day 1. He looks… slightly less tired. I have a sneaking suspicion he’s seen it all. As I drove away from the Holiday Inn Express, I felt… well, strangely moved. Gettysburg is a place that stays with you.
- Stronger Emotional Reaction: It's more than history; it’s the weight of the past, the echoes of lives lived and lost, that linger in the air. And the fact that I ate my weight in Cheetos definitely adds to the overall experience.
- 10:00 AM - The Long Drive Home. I left Gettysburg with a lot to reflect on.
Final Verdict: The Holiday Inn Express Gettysburg? Fine. Functional. But Gettysburg itself? Utterly unforgettable. The ghosts? They're probably still there. And the emotional hangover from the whole experience? Definitely worth having. Would I go back? Absolutely. And next time, I'm getting a room with a view… of something other than a parking lot.
Hamlet Slept HERE: Your Helsingør Castle Hotel Awaits!
Gettysburg's BEST Hotel? IHG's Hidden Gem... Maybe? Let's Get Real.
Okay, spill it! Is this IHG place REALLY the best? Or is this just marketing fluff?
What's the location like? Because Gettysburg involves a lot of… walking.
The Rooms! Tell me about the rooms! Are they clean? Are they comfy? Is there a mini-fridge for my celebratory beer after a long day of... history?
Anecdote Time! I went to the room, right? A long day of hiking the fields and soaking in history. Needed a cold one. I open the fridge, and… nothing. Empty! My heart *sank*. Panic! (Dramatic, I know, but a beer is important after walking around the battlefield, okay?) I called the front desk, fully ready to unleash my fury. But the guy was super chill. Totally apologetic! Said they’d replaced it the next day. The next day?! I knew I had to ask – and get *serious* now… "So… no emergency beers in the fridge for the history-weary travelers?" He actually *laughed*! "Sorry, ma'am! We'll get those beers for you pronto!" I was still disappointed but, well… he was apologetic! So that was… okay. Still, no beers for me that night. And my friend had to listen to my whining.
How's the breakfast? Because hotel breakfasts can be a gamble. Will I be eating sad, rubbery eggs?
Are there any hidden gems… besides the *potential* hidden gem of a hotel? Like, a pool? Cool amenities? A secret, underground speakeasy? (Hey, a girl can dream!)
What about the staff? Were they friendly? Helpful? Did they know their Gettysburg history, so you can ask questions, or were they bored out of their minds?
Okay, okay, the BIG question: Would you recommend this hotel, or should people look elsewhere?
So, if you want a comfortable, convenient, and reasonably priced place to stay while you explore Gettysburg, and aren't expecting the Ritz? And you got the room with the mini-fridge? Go for it! Just manage your expectations. And bring your own beer. (Unless you want to risk the wrath of the beer-deprived history buff.)
So... I'm now going to say it. It's the *best* hotel for it's cost and value. So yeah, book it.
