I never stay at a hotel without checking the Trip
Advisor on my Droid. There was only 1 recent review since the property has recently undergone a change from Holiday Inn
Express to Best Western. It certainly has been for the best according to the mediocre reviews of the past. We nearly stayed at the Comfort Inn due to these disheartening reviews but they only had smoking rooms available so I decided to take a chance with the "new" Best Western. It was a long shot that paid off BIG. I give everything 5 stars.--CLEANLINESS: couldn't have been better; SERVICE--desk clerks were outstanding; BREAKFAST--welldone although the breakfast room would have been crowded in peak season.; POOL:immaculately clean, heated salt water. Side note: We ordered pizza delivery from the local Pizza Ranch and it was the best pizza we had ever had. Comfort Inn was the loser this time.

After a string of lame-o highway hotels, I had no expectations of this used-to-be Holiday Inn Express. However, I was pleasantly surprised at the updated rooms and very comfortable bed. I believe all the rooms were updated very recently with the name change. We were not bothered at all by highway noise. I slept great and was ready for another day of driving. I don’t know what would bring us back to Albert Lea, but I would stay here again.

Hot breakfast included, the room was clean, and the staff was very friendly.

We were driving across the USA for our vaction and after reading some other reviews on the HIE in Albert Lea were a bit hestitant in booking the accommodation. But as the stay would be only one night and the location was convenient for our day's driving and sight seeing we decided to book the hotel anyway.

We found the hotel to be up to the standard of all HI & HIE hotels we had stayed in while the USA. This hotel had friendly staff to welcome us, a very comfortable room, good quality bed and bedding and we had a quiet and relaxing nights sleep. The breakfast was usual HIE fare.