Holiday Inn & Suites Ocean City

I stayed at the Holiday Inn Ocean City during the off-season, and unfortunately, the hotel fell well short of typical 3-star expectations.
Check-in service felt standard at best, with staff not particularly proactive or enthusiastic about enhancing the guest experience—something I'd expect more from the Holiday Inn brand.
Parking was an unexpected charge of $10/night, added without any prior mention or opt-in during booking or arrival. Also most other hotels in the area don't charge for parking on the off season.
The room itself had some appealing updates, including modern furnishings and a fantastic ocean view, which was a highlight. However, the bathroom fixtures (tile, shower and tub) looked dated and showed significant wear. Cleanliness was a major letdown: I easily wiped visible dirt off the vanity, noticed spots on the bedding, and the shower drained very slowly, making baths far from relaxing.
Overall, this felt more like a 1- or 2-star experience rather than the 3-star rating it promotes. Paying peak-season rates here would be especially frustrating given these shortcomings. I won't be returning and plan to choose a different property next time.

We have been coming to this hotel for the past 15 years. When we arrived on Friday, February 20th, the hotel was closed for rennovations. It's fine that the hotel was closed, but we were not informed of it prior to arriving. When we called to ask what happened to our room, we were sent to the hotel next door. The room was a worse than the type of room that we had originally booked (a corner suite with a jacuzzi) and was a lot cheaper, but we were not compensated for the difference in costs. Instead, when we tried to call back again, we were brushed off and told to talk to our third party, since it wasn't "their problem". We still needed them to authorize the third party to get our money back, but they kept pushing us off. This all happened 10PM at night after we had driven 4 hours to get there. There was no prior communication to inform us that rennovations were happening. Had we known, we could've taken care of it weeks prior before leaving on our holiday. I am very disappointed about how we were treated, especially since this was an annual holiday our family has been making for the past 15 years. Luckily the Hilton Ocean City Oceanfront Suites was able to accomodate us with a comparable room and better serviec.

Valerie was absolutely exceptional during our dinner at Coral Reef. From the moment we were seated, she made us feel welcomed and cared for. Her attention to detail, warm personality, and genuine professionalism elevated our entire dining experience.

She anticipated our needs, offered wonderful recommendations, and checked in at all the right moments without ever being intrusive. Valerie’s kindness and upbeat energy made our evening truly memorable.

5 stars without hesitation. Valerie is a standout, and we highly recommend requesting her if you’re dining at Coral Reef!

In addition to Valerie, Five stars to Pec and her exceptional service during breakfast at Coral Reef in the Holiday Inn & Suites!

Pec went above and beyond to make our morning perfect. She was warm, attentive, and incredibly quick to take care of anything we needed—often before we even realized we needed it. Her welcoming smile and upbeat attitude set the tone for a great start to our day.

From keeping our table refreshed to checking in just the right amount, Pec delivered top-tier hospitality. You can tell she truly cares about her guests and takes pride in making every experience memorable.

Highly recommend Pec—she’s outstanding!