Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Brainerd-Baxter by IHG

Hotels
•
Holiday Inn Express
7.9 (213 reviews)
15739 Audubon Way, Highway 371 North , Baxter , US
+1 218-824-3232

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Free
Children allowed

Facilities

WiFi available
Free WiFi
Parking
Free Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Fitness center
Swimming pool
24-hour front desk
Business center
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
On-site waterpark (frequently praised)
Kid-friendly amenities (arcade, pool)
Friendly/helpful staff and smooth check-in
Included breakfast
Plenty of towels and carts for luggage
Cons:
Breakfast quality and organization disappointing
Room condition issues: dark/dingy, noise, worn finishes
Cleanliness concerns and isolated bedbug report
Plumbing/drain problems in some rooms
Slow elevator and occasional A/C humidity issues

Categories

Cleanliness
6
Mixed reports: some guests praised very clean public areas and waterpark, while others reported rundown areas, a bedbug sighting nearby, dark/dingy rooms and missed housekeeping.
Service
9.5
Generally strong: multiple mentions of very friendly, helpful front-desk staff and smooth check-in; isolated service failures (e.g., plumbing not addressed) but overall staff interaction rated highly.
Location
9.5
Location described as convenient and attached to the waterpark, which guests repeatedly noted as a major benefit.
Room Quality
6
Room condition is mixed to negative: reports of dark, dingy rooms, noisy halls, slow elevator, inadequate A/C dehumidifying, and plumbing/drain issues for some guests.
Amenities
10
Standout amenity is the on-site waterpark (and arcade/pool) which guests repeatedly praised as the main draw and very convenient.
Value for Money
9
Perceived good value for many families due to included waterpark access and breakfast; some guests felt the worn condition reduced perceived value but overall inclusion of key amenities boosts value.
Food and Beverage
5
Breakfast was frequently called disappointing or average (several comments rating it around 5/10); guests wished for more options (waffles/pancakes) and better organization.
Overall Experience
8.2
Mixed but generally positive for families: grandchildren loved the waterpark and many had stress-free stays; however, cleanliness and room issues led some guests to report they would not return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-11-05 14:16

Property Description

Indoor Waterpark and Restaurant
Experience fun and relaxation at our on-site indoor waterpark and savor delicious American cuisine at Three Bear Grill Restaurant, all under one roof.

Comfortable Accommodations
Each guest room at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Brainerd-Baxter is equipped with free Wi-Fi, cable TV, a microwave, refrigerator, and coffee-making facilities for your convenience.

Convenient Amenities
Start your day right with a daily continental breakfast, stay active in the fitness center, and unwind in the games room during your stay.

Book now to enjoy a perfect blend of entertainment and comfort at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Brainerd-Baxter.

Important information:

Upon check-in, photo identification and credit card are required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may be subject to additional charges.

Please note that the Three Bear Waterpark is only open on Friday through Sunday from September through May. It is open 7 days per week from June through August.Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.
A deposit may be required at the property.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: MSP

Location

Guest Reviews

7.9
Based on 213 reviews
Cleanliness: 6
Service: 9.5
Location: 9.5
Room Quality: 6
Amenities: 10
Value for Money: 9
Food and Beverage: 5
Overall Experience: 8.2
D
Diane • solo_traveller • us
8
2026-10-26 • via Nuitee
J
Jeramy • family_with_children • us
7
Close to good but falls short in several areas.
Pros:

Waterpark. Breakfast included. Plenty of towels. Carts to bring in your stuff.

Cons:

Breakfast was disappointing (poorly organized and not very good). One small, slow elevator. Hotel room was dark, dingy. A quarter of the listed tv channels not available. Didn’t receive housekeeping.

2026-10-18 • via Nuitee
L
Lisa • family_with_children • us
10
Great fun for the granddaughter
Pros:

Waterpark and included breakfast

Cons:

Wish snack shop was open later

2026-08-19 • via Nuitee
T
Turner • family_with_children • us
6
2026-08-18 • via Nuitee
S
Skyler • couple • us
8
Was great! Was just disappointed with breakfast
Pros:

Front desk lady was wonderful and pool

Cons:

Continental breakfast was 5/10

2026-08-12 • via Nuitee
K
Katie • family_with_children • us
6
2026-08-10 • via Nuitee
B
Brouillard • solo_traveller • us
10
Pros:

Grandkids loved the water park. And...we all enjoyed the pool.

2026-08-08 • via Nuitee
J
Jean • solo_traveller • us
10
Everything the way it should be for a stress free stay.
Pros:

Very clean. Very smooth check in process. Water park was very nice and clean.

2026-08-07 • via Nuitee
F
Frederick • couple • us
5
Lack of Cleanliness and rundown are reasons not to stay here.
Pros:

So so bfast food, well worn hotel in need of a overhaul. New flooring , window treatments, basically a total update! The gentleman in front of me when checking in found a bedbug. Fortunately we didn’t find any in our room. 2nd time staying here but won’t stay a 3rd!

Cons:

All of the above

2026-07-20 • via Nuitee
J
Joan • extended_group • us
6
Pros:

Water park, room options

Cons:

Cost; a/c didn’t adequately keep room dry.

2026-07-17 • via Nuitee
C
Carolee • family_with_children • us
9
2026-07-13 • via Nuitee
H
Hannah • solo_traveller • us
10
2026-07-12 • via Nuitee
M
Megan • couple • us
8
Will be back
Pros:

The fun Waterpark and arcade. Very kid friendly!

Cons:

I wish the breakfast had waffles but it was still an okay breakfast.

2026-06-24 • via Nuitee
T
Thorson • solo_traveller • us
1
Never ever again will I stay here
Pros:

That I had a place to sleep that's it.

Cons:

Our bathtub and sink wouldn't drain staff never came up to fix it, so we couldn't shower from the icky coming up from the drain.

2026-06-24 • via Nuitee
P
penny • family_with_children • us
9
Pros:

Location was fine I was hoping for wafflesor pancakes would have been nice

Cons:

Had pancakes or waffles

2026-06-22 • via Nuitee
O
Olga • solo_traveller • us
8
2026-06-15 • via Nuitee
N
Noah • couple • us
6
Pros:

the friendly environment

Cons:

N\A

2026-06-13 • via Nuitee
D
Deborah • solo_traveller • us
9
Pros:

The staff was super friendly and very helpful. The Waterpark was great as it was attached to the hotel very convenient.

Cons:

The noise from the hall and rooms next door was very easily heard.

2026-06-10 • via Nuitee
N
Nancy • solo_traveller • us
4
2026-05-11 • via Nuitee
A
Andrea • family_with_children • us
5
It was a fun weekend but I wish the hotel look more clean and the rooms are more neat.
Pros:

The location was close to restaurants, the water park was good and the warm water Rin the splash area, kids area was a plus.

Cons:

At the pool area, the towels appeared old, dry, and unclean. Although I understand they may have been washed, the clean towels were placed next to a bin with dirty ones, which could easily cause confusion—especially for children—about where used towels should go. Several towels were unfolded and did not give the impression of being freshly cleaned.
Additionally, the cleanliness of the room did not meet expectations. The beds were poorly made; the blankets appeared to be simply pulled over the bed, with the sheets underneath visibly hanging out.
Regarding food service, there was one day when the only option available at the pool area was pizza, as the staff member on duty mentioned they did not know how to prepare any other food.
I wanted to bring these issues to your attention as they significantly affected the overall experience.

2026-05-05 • via Nuitee