Holiday Inn Express Hotel Raleigh Southwest by IHG

Hotels
Holiday Inn Express
9 (719 reviews)
3741 Thistledown Drive , Raleigh , us

Free
Children allowed
Pets allowed

Facilities

Offsite parking discounted rates available
Electric bicycle charging station
Fitness facilities (surcharge)
Parking
Non-smoking rooms
Air conditioning
Swimming pool
Pets allowed
BBQ facilities
Lift / Elevator
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Clean
Friendly staff
Good location
Comfortable rooms
Great amenities
Cons:
Limited nearby attractions
Noisy events during stay
Checkout time dissatisfaction

Categories

Cleanliness
8.46
Reports of cleanliness are positive, with many mentions of very clean facilities.
Service
9.43
Staff are frequently described as friendly and accommodating.
Location
8.97
Generally convenient location, although some mention lack of nearby attractions.
Room Quality
8.42
Most reviews remark on comfortable beds and well-kept rooms.
Amenities
9.45
Positive remarks on the pool, breakfast, and facilities.
Value for Money
8.91
Good value perceived by many guests for the services and amenities offered.
Food and Beverage
8.96
Breakfast received favorable comments, seen as sufficient and enjoyable.
Overall Experience
9.43
Overall positive experiences shared, with many expressing desire to return.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-07 06:53

Property Description

Convenient Location
Situated just 10 minutes outside downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Raleigh Southwest offers easy access to the city's attractions, including the North Carolina Museum of Art only 4 miles away.

Modern Amenities
Guests can enjoy the convenience of an indoor pool, on-site gym, and flat-screen TVs in every room. The rooms are equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, work desk, coffee maker, cable TV, and free Wi-Fi for a comfortable stay.

Additional Features
This pet-friendly hotel also features a business center, coin-operated laundry facilities, continental breakfast, and complimentary parking. With North Carolina State University and the RBC Center nearby, this hotel is the perfect choice for both leisure and business travelers.

Book your stay at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel Raleigh Southwest now for a memorable experience!

Important information:

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: RDU

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Pets

    Pets are allowed on request. Charges may be applicable.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 17 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Groups

    When booking more than 6 rooms, different policies and additional supplements may apply.

Location

Guest Reviews

9
Based on 719 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.46
Service: 9.43
Location: 8.97
Room Quality: 8.42
Amenities: 9.45
Value for Money: 8.91
Food and Beverage: 8.96
Overall Experience: 9.43
C
chang extended_group us
9
2026-06-12 via Nuitee
C
Cortney solo_traveller us
9
A must save to try again!
Pros:

The attendant at check-in was so lovely and the aesthetic of the desks when walking in were nice. I hate being separated from my pets, but had to travel due to work but now that I know about this place and how pet friendly they are I will be saving this place and be staying here stress-free. Also, I was not expecting the rooms to be so nice! I love the bathrooms as well

Cons:

They were just out of a hygiene product that I needed, and the freezer portion of the mini fridge fridges didn't work so well in my room.

2026-06-10 via Nuitee
Y
Y family_with_children us
10
It was great for last minute booking would definitely book again
Pros:

It was clean and the pool was great and clean

2026-06-09 via Nuitee
M
Misuani couple us
10
2026-06-08 via Nuitee
D
Dede extended_group us
9
Would stay again
Pros:

The breakfast was nice it would have been great if there was a waffle maker instead of the pancake maker that did not make very great pancakes and somehow became unusable

Cons:

The refrigerator had no freezer which sucks because most people are buying frozen dinners to heat up in the microwave I would like if there was a freezer in the refrigerator and maybe a waffle maker for breakfast to make it more convenient for guest but overall breakfast was delicious room was great

2026-06-08 via Nuitee
S
Sarah solo_traveller us
7
Great hotel stay, for the most part!
Pros:

Loved the breakfast! Love the coffee machine! The pool and hot tub was great too! The location is great for taking public transportation to NCSU.

Breakfast attendant was great! Seemed like she really cared about providing a good meal service each day and it showed.

Cons:

The desk staff was friendly on our arrival and check-in. However, subsequent interactions were subpar, lacking basic hospitality skills. Our room keys stopped working and the desk attendant did not apologize while she fixed it. She almost seemed annoyed, like it was our fault the room key was not programmed for the correct length of our prepaid stay?? So strange. I walked away from the desk feeling like, "Where is the hospitality??" This was not the only key issue we had: we needed a second reprogramming because it did not work for the pool/gym area. Kinda annoying, but fine. I care more about how I'm treated by the staff than the fact that the key cards malfunctioned a little.

My partner asked for a razor at the desk but the attendant did not have any. There was a sign in our bathroom saying to feel free to ask for any items we forgot. False promises. I don't mind if you don't want to provide razors, but just don't act like you're so happy to do so and like you care soooo much about the customer, when you actually can't deliver on it.

2026-06-07 via Nuitee
K
Kati extended_group us
10
Quick stay because we had early flight to the airport. Great hotel
Pros:

Very clean and well kept with nice employees

Cons:

I can’t think of anything!

2026-06-06 via Nuitee
B
Barbara couple us
8
Pros:

Convenient to where I needed to be for the weekend
Staff nice

Cons:

Pool and hot tub needed to be cleaned
Hot tub didn’t work properly

2026-05-31 via Nuitee
L
Linda couple us
10
Perfect for our needs. Clean, comfortable, great staff.
2026-05-27 via Nuitee
M
michaella family_with_children us
7
2026-05-25 via Nuitee
F
fs259 Couples Jacksonville, North Carolina
10
Excellent Stay in Every Way
Pros:

The Holiday Inn on Thistle Drive in Raleigh, NC is our go-to when visiting the Raleigh area. It is always super clean while the staff continuously go out of their way to be helpful and accommodating. During our last visit, Dee at the front desk made us feel like returning family members with her warmth and humor. Later, when we returned to the hotel late at night, Joseph stopped what he was doing and helped us get some ice. Our room was immaculate and contained everything we needed from coffee/tea, a microwave, iron & ironing board, to an in-room safe. The king size bed and pillows were very comfortable with no outside noise disturbing our restful sleep. The following morning, we enjoyed an amazing "full" breakfast, with lots of choices (no continental breakfast or powdered eggs served here). Malik made our check-out quick and easy while treating us like valued customers. Thank you to all the staff at this Holiday Inn; your personal care and attention to detail show in every facet, making our stay such a restful pleasure. F. & K Stokes

2026-05-22 via Tripadvisor
D
Donaldson family_with_children us
10
Best bang for buck
Pros:

The hospitality of the people and cleanliness of the room

Cons:

Everything's was fine

2026-05-19 via Nuitee
C
Candice family_with_children us
7
Best staff, top comfort (almost) poor maintenance, priced just right.
Pros:

Staff was amazing. Pillows and bed were amazing. Very sound proof and comfortable. The breakfast was limited options but the cooked items were delicious. Really loved the location and the common areas.

Cons:

The pool and hot tub were dirty and lacking proper safety and maintenance. The pool had broken steps, the covers on the jets in both pool and hot tub came off. Please be aware that people with long hair have died in the past from such covers on jets being faulty and hair being caught in the jets, those safety standards are being phased out so make sure you protect your fam and braid the hair and keep it away from the jets. The water was a greenish tinge with high chlorine content telling me that chemicals are being overused to cover up proper cleaning. Let's talk about the toilet paper. SANDPAPER. Seriously. BYOTP.

2026-05-19 via Nuitee
C
charles solo_traveller us
10
2026-05-18 via Nuitee
M
Monica A couple mx
10
Volvería a hospedarme aquí!
Pros:

Hay congruencia entre lo que anuncian y lo que encuentras.
Superan lo esperado!

2026-05-14 via Nuitee
L
Lisa family_with_children us
10
Excellent..love this hotel. Perfect location for NC State visits also.
Pros:

My son has been in Raleigh for 8 years now attending NC State as an undergrad and 4 years at their vet school. This was the first hotel I ever stayed at when I first started visiting him from Charlotte. Always preferred it, but their prices started going up quite a bit over the years, so I would look for other hotels on other visits. This past weekend my son graduated from vet school and needed to book another night in Raleigh. I had to switch hotels and was able to get the last night here again. Price was actually reasonable compared to other hotels in the area. They gave out gift bags at check in if you were staying with the for graduation. Such a nice surprise. Super comfortable beds and pillows… very nice clean room. Breakfast was good and coffee available 24/7, which is a nice plus for me. So happy I was able to get my last hotel room in Raleigh that I’ll probably ever need back at this Holiday Inn Express where it all started in 2018.

Cons:

Nothing..no complaints at all.

2026-05-11 via Nuitee
S
Susan solo_traveller us
10
Nice
Pros:

The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. Love they let pets stay for a reasonable price.

Cons:

Nothing. Everything was great

2026-05-10 via Nuitee
J
James couple us
10
Pros:

Close to nc state.

Cons:

Needs more security cameras for parking lot.

2026-05-10 via Nuitee
K
kellywstewart Family
10
Great experience!
Pros:

Great hotel and customer service. Dee exceeded expectations by helping us secure the last room and refreshments.

2026-05-09 via Tripadvisor
L
Leftridge family_with_children us
10
2026-05-08 via Nuitee