Holiday Inn Express St. Joseph

Situated across the street from Lake Michigan, the Holiday Inn Express St. Joseph is a lower-middle-range property owned for 30 years by the same family who also operates the next-door restaurant, where there’s live music and 24 beers on tap. This three-floor hotel has a family-friendly vibe, serving fresh cookies in the afternoon and broadcasting a live feed of Silver Beach by the front desk. Another flat-screen TV hangs above a fireplace in a contemporary and comfortable lobby lounge with high ceilings, lime-green and blue furnishings, and the Holiday Inn signature scent -- a citrus and woodsy concoction -- in the air. Also in the lobby is quirky artwork -- including a carousel horse and bulldog sculpture -- that are auctioned off, with a portion of the proceeds going to the city. The great room, between the pool and lobby, offers more seating and a TV lounge, and patio furniture is set in the gardens in warmer months. There are also nice perks for guests, like buckets and shovels for kids to play in the sand with. Generally this hotel caters to travelers with kids, but corporate guests also frequently use the hotel’s meeting facilities.

This hotel is located on a low-key road that’s across from Lake Michigan, but there’s no direct beach access; it’s a five-minute drive to the closest beach. Next door is the LakeHouse by Cravings, a restaurant and bar under the same ownership as the hotel. Downtown Saint Joseph, with shops and restaurants, is a five-minute car ride. Guests have free access to the South Shore Health and Racket Club, which is also about a five-minute drive away. This is a popular business location, with companies such as Whirlpool and LECO within two to five minutes' drive. Tourists can also easily drive to attractions from this hotel; Silver Beach Carousel, Whirlpool Compass Fountain, Curious Kid’s Museum, and St. Joseph North Pier Lighthouse are within a 10-minute drive. It’s around one hour by car to the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport. 

The hotel offers spacious rooms that are tailored for a variety of different travelers, from KidSuites that have bunk-beds and PlayStation consoles in separate kids’ rooms, to suites with lake views, whirlpool tubs, and/or kitchenettes. Decor is a bit generic, but it's contemporary and comfortable, with dark wooden furniture, green drapes, and navy blue carpeting. Some rooms and suites also have sitting areas and/or balconies with garden or lake views. Guests can order room service from the next-door restaurant. All rooms have mini-fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers, flat-screen TVs, hairdryers, and irons/ironing boards; DVD players are available with some rooms. Bathrooms are standard in appearance with basic toiletries and shower/tub combos. Five ADA-accessible rooms are also available. 

The hotel itself doesn’t serve lunch or dinner, but there's a restaurant and bar next door that shares ownership with the hotel and also offers room service. On-site, there's a nicely decorated dining lounge with a fireplace, ample seating, and a counter where the free breakfast is laid out. The clean, but basic indoor pool and large hot tub are popular among families with children. Overlooking the pool is a small fitness center that offers modern cardio and weight equipment. The close proximity to corporations makes this hotel convenient for meetings. Three conference spaces, including the great room, fit a total of 135 people, and a business center has a computer and a printer. At the front of the hotel is a large, outdoor parking lot with 92 spaces.