I decided to check in here because of the good reviews, but was sadly disappointed. Everything looks great from the outside, but....

I tried to overlook my initial impression as I walked into the lobby - very dirty carpet, 3-4 toddlers running around screaming and yelling while parents sat over in the breakfast area and chatted, a mangled Holiday Inn Express sign on the wall behind the desk that looked like someone had taken a hammer to a couple of the letters to straighten them out, and no visible front desk clerk.

After the clerk came out from the back and I checked in I was given instructions to parking and another entrance close to my room on the other side of the building. The toddlers were still running around basically unsupervised screaming and yelling.

At the other entrance to a non-smoking floor, there were three people congregated around the entrance smoking up a cloud. As I was with my small daughter I did not want to walk her through that, so I turned around and entered back through the lobby again. By now the toddlers had discovered the brochure rack (just out of sight of their parents, but still in sight of the front desk clerk) and were flinging brochures from the brochure rack all over the floor by the entrance.

I walked down the hall to the room. The carpet was again dingy and dirty and there was a stale, pungent odor in the air that I just hoped was not present in the room. When I opened the door there was a similar odor hanging heavy in the air. I didn't even bother to check the room out beyond that. With that little attention by the management to cleanliness and detail, who would want to slip between their sheets?

Not a good place to stay for anyone who has any class and self respect. Probably ok for families who don't want to have to watch their children and are not concerned with cleanliness. I have stayed at motels that were nicer and I expected more from a Holiday Inn Express.

Although the town of Lompoc was disappointing with little to do, and not a lot of good restaurants, the hotel was excellent. The staff couldn't have been friendly or more helpful. The room was large, and very clean. The evening milk and cookies was a real treat, we would go back for them alone! Breakfast was again excellent with a wide choice including cereal, pastries, eggs, yougurts etc. We would definately recommend this hotel to anyone.

My family and I stay here whenever we want to visit Solvang and Pismo Beach. The staff is very friendly and accomodating. The rooms are clean and they are equipt with a mini-frig and a microwave. There's a pool and a jacuzzi. They even have a work-out room. There are restaurants, shops and a grocery store nearby. You can easily walk to all of them. They have a "free breakfast" each morning that is out of this world. It will defininately fill you up before you hit the road. Oh, every evening they serve a variety of warm cookies and milk. Boy are they delicious! The prices are always reasonable here. Always book this hotel on their website for the "best deals". Lompoc is a fun town to explore.