Holiday Inn Express & Suites Granite City

The complimentary Holiday Inn Express Express Start breakfast is served daily from 6am to 9:30am in the renovated lobby breakfast room, with extended hours to 10am on weekends. The buffet rotates standard hot items - scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal, breakfast potatoes - alongside the chain's signature cinnamon rolls, fresh bagels, fresh waffles cooked to order, yogurt, fruit, cereals, juices, and coffee. The cinnamon rolls are made fresh on-property each morning and disappear quickly on weekends. The breakfast room seats roughly 60 and was completely redesigned in the 2023 renovation with longer tables, more counter seating, and improved buffet flow.

The indoor heated swimming pool is open daily from 6am to 10pm and is one of the most family-friendly amenities at the property. The pool depth ranges from 3 to 5 feet, with comfortable deck seating, pool towels, and supervision during peak hours. The renovated fitness center, redone in the 2023 work, includes two treadmills, two ellipticals, a stationary bike, a free-weight rack, and a yoga mat area; it is open 24 hours with room-key access. The 24-hour business center has a printer for boarding passes and a small workstation. Self-service guest laundry is on the second floor.

Other property features include a small market in the lobby selling sundries, snacks, frozen meals, and beverages; a fireplace lounge area in the renovated lobby with comfortable seating clusters; free wifi throughout (fast enough for streaming and video calls); free parking with several oversized spaces at the back of the lot for RVs, motorcycle trailers, and tour buses; and a small outdoor patio area at the back of the property with a picnic table and a small garden.

Standard king rooms run roughly 315 square feet and include a single king bed with the IHG Atrium pillow-top mattress standard, two side tables with reading lights and built-in USB ports, a work desk and ergonomic chair, a 50-inch wall-mounted smart television with cast functionality, refrigerator, microwave, in-room coffee maker with Smart Brew pods, and a closet with iron, ironing board, and luggage rack. The renovated bathroom features a walk-in shower with rainfall and handheld heads, granite-look vanity, hair dryer, and IHG-branded toiletries.

Queen-double rooms include two queen beds, the same desk and television setup, and the same bathroom configuration. King suites add a separate parlor with a sofa bed, a wet bar with a full-size refrigerator and a second microwave, a desk in the parlor area, and a slightly larger bathroom; they are the right choice for families with children or extended-stay business travelers. ADA rooms have wider doorways, roll-in showers, lowered closet rods, and visual and audio fire alarms. All rooms include blackout curtains and individually controlled HVAC.

Wifi is included at no charge and operates at sufficient speed for streaming services on multiple devices simultaneously. The smart televisions allow guests to cast from their phones or laptops without needing the hotel's account. Room service is not offered, but the lobby market sells frozen meals that can be heated in the in-room microwave, several restaurants in Granite City offer delivery to the hotel through the standard delivery apps, and the property is a short drive to several sit-down dinner options including Ravanelli's, the Chouteau Greek restaurant, and several chain dining choices.

Best rates are available through the IHG One Rewards loyalty program and through advance non-refundable bookings on the IHG website or app. IHG One Rewards members receive a 10 to 20 percent discount on standard rates, free wifi enhancements, and the option to use points for free nights. The property is reliably available on most weeknights and most off-season weekends. April through October weekends can sell out during major St. Louis events (Cardinals home games, Blues playoff games, Fair St. Louis, downtown convention dates) when St. Louis hotels fill and overflow shifts to Granite City.

Check-in is at 3pm and check-out is at 11am. Early check-in and late check-out are accommodated when available and are generally easy to arrange on weekdays. The hotel hosts business-meeting groups, wedding-party blocks, and youth sports team blocks several weekends a year, particularly in spring and fall. If a group block is in residence, the hotel will fill earlier and the breakfast room will be busier in the morning. Smoke-free policy is strictly enforced. Pet rooms are available for a one-time fee.

Practical tips: the front-desk staff includes several long-time employees who know the Route 66 itinerary well and will happily recommend restaurants, alignments, and side trips - particularly Ravanelli's for Italian, the Chouteau for Greek, and Eckert's Country Store and Farm in nearby Belleville for a non-Route 66 day-trip option. Coffee is available 24 hours in the lobby. The pool is open until 10pm. The fitness room is open 24 hours and is generally empty after 9pm. The hotel's position makes it equally convenient for travelers crossing the Chain of Rocks Bridge to St. Louis attractions, or heading north on Route 66 toward Litchfield, Springfield, and Chicago.