Holiday Inn Niagara Falls - By The Falls

The outside of this six-floor property looks much like any standard mid-range hotel, with a beige facade and a porte cochere. But inside, an eclectically designed and modern lobby is far from the norm. Dangling from the blue-sky mural on the ceiling is a colorful glass chandelier that hangs above faux-leather booth seating in irregular shapes. Abstract backlit stained glass features are scattered throughout the lobby, including above the front desk. But the loud patterned rug and oddly angled coffee table and accent walls recall a certain 1980s aesthetic. There are two elevators in the lobby, pay phones, and the usual rack with tour brochures. Souvenirs in the gift shop appeal to the hotel’s mostly tourist clientele base.

The Holiday Inn sits on the four-lane Murray Street in a central location convenient for travelers without cars. (But free on-site parking is available for guests that need it.) Right beside the hotel is the Fallsview Casino. The hotel is on the same street as Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, beside Skylon Tower, and walking distance to Queen Victoria Park (eight minutes away) and the Hornblower Niagara Cruises (15 minutes away). It's a seven-minute walk to the funicular station that leads to the Horseshoe Falls. Also about 18 minutes away on foot is Clifton Hill with tons of shops, restaurants, and entertainment. Queen Street in downtown takes 10 minutes by car. Rainbow Bridge is also 10 minutes away. Buffalo International Airport and Hamilton International Airport are about an hour by car. 

Rooms have colorful abstract paintings, striped carpeting, and classic furniture. While they're generic in design, they’re tidy and come with writing desks, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, irons/ironing boards, and balconies with Skylon Tower or parking lot views. Most stone-tiled bathrooms have shower/tub combos and hairdryers. Sofa beds are found in some Standard Rooms, and heart-shaped hot tubs in select King Rooms give a romantic spot for couples. Executive Club Level rooms have comfy sitting areas and whirlpool tubs. Suites offer Nintendo systems, skylight whirlpool tubs, and glass showers in bathrooms. Two ADA-compliant rooms are available as well. Connecting rooms and cribs are provided on request. There's a fee for rollaway beds.  

Niagara's Skylon Tower is visible from many of the hotel’s facilities, including the outdoor pool that has patio furniture on the deck and a small garden. Glass doors from the deck lead into the lovely indoor pool with vaulted wooden ceilings, a hot tub, and a sauna. There’s also a small gym offering two modern treadmills, a cross trainer, and a stationary bike. A coin-operated washer and dryer are in a laundry room. The hotel doesn’t have a computer center, but printing and copying services are offered at the front desk. The Coco Terrace Steakhouse and Mr. Coco’s Pizza Bar and Lounge -- which serve breakfast, lunch and dinner -- have contemporary dining rooms. Mr. Coco’s bar also offers nightly live performances. Outside, on the street, is a tropical dining terrace with illuminated palm trees, an outdoor bar, and those Skylon Tower views.