Coast to Coast with IHG Hotels & Resorts

Okay, so this is the story of how I drove from Idaho to California to Florida to New York City in the middle of a pandemic! We stopped in six different cities, going coast to coast staying exclusively in IHG Hotels & Resorts along the way. I’ll go through and explain exactly where we stayed when passing through the six cities, to give you a few ideas for your road trip.

Before we start, I’d like to give you a little background on some of the brands, and why we felt comfortable staying in IHG facilities. While driving coast to coast with IHG Hotels & Resorts, we stayed in Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, InterContinental, and voco Hotels.

Why IHG?

From South Carolina to Thailand, I have stayed in IHG hotels all over the world and have been part of IHG Rewards since I graduated college in 2016. It’s a brand I know, love, and trust. Especially during these times, it was important to stay safe. IHG Way of Clean includes deep cleaning with hospital-grade disinfectants, and guests can expect to see enhanced procedures. These may include: face covering requirements, various ways to reduce contact throughout the hotel, social distancing measures within public spaces and procedures based on local authorities’ guidance and/or advice. In addition to many other initiatives, the IHG Clean Promise launched in June 2020 so that guests can be reassured that their room will meet IHG’s high standards of cleanliness, and if not, the hotel will make it right.

Another perk of traveling with IHG is that when you book your stay direct at one of their qualifying properties, you can choose one of their flexible rates to include the flexibility to change or cancel your reservation at no charge! With the uncertainty of travel in 2021, this is a fantastic perk. For full details, refer to their Travel Advisory details. Alright, let’s dive a little deeper!

The Brands

Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigos are all about the local experience. Although located separately geographically, each hotel is styled differently, and they always incorporate the neighborhood into aspects of their design. It’s about getting out and experiencing the city around you with the hopes of giving you a fresh perspective. We stayed at a Hotel Indigo in San Diego and Austin.

Holiday Inn

Most people have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express, however what I think people forget is that Holiday Inn is a completely different entity. Holiday Inn has been giving people trusted stays for over 70 years. It’s a classic, full-service hotel experience that cultivates an environment that connect people, inspire, and deliver exceptional value. We stayed at a Holiday Inn in New Orleans and Charleston.

InterContinental

InterContinental, to me, is iconic luxury. The brand has been helping generations enjoy luxury travel for 70 years in more than 180 locations around the world. Whether you’re looking for an immersive spa experience, vibrant city life, or special time with the family, a ton of options await. In our case, we stayed at the InterContinental Miami, where all those options were available in one!

voco

voco is a brand-new hotel brand for IHG, and it’s about giving people a different choice. Where they make themselves unique is that the important things you can depend on will always be the same, but each location will have its own identity. It’s upscale, with a laidback spirit. “voco” comes from Latin and means “to invite” or “to come together” and that should be transparent with the warm welcome you receive. Outside the warm welcome are two other hallmarks – me time and voco life. The bedrooms and bathroom amenities are both luxurious and cozy and encourage you to take moments for yourself. voco life refers to making sure that the bars and lounges are places you’d want to utilize, be it in the morning or evening!

We stayed at voco The Franklin in New York, which is the first one to open in the US, but there are more options abroad.

And we haven’t even scratched the surface for their domestic options! You can see why we chose IHG. With all that said, let’s hit the road!!

The Cities

City #1 San Diego, California

Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter

For my quick stay in San Diego, I had the pleasure of staying at Hotel Indigo San Diego Gaslamp Quarter. Like I mentioned, the Hotel Indigo is all about the local experience. Each hotel is styled differently, and they always incorporate the neighborhood into aspects of their design. At this location, the beach was definitely incorporated, but with a hip, breezy California way of doing things!

The Room

I think our suite was one of the most beautiful and spacious rooms I’ve ever stayed in! The separate living area, spa-like bathroom, and spacious bedroom drenched with natural light made it feel like a home away from home.

The Amenities

Free high speed Wifi, Business Center Services, On-site Fitness Center, Pets allowed for free, an adjacent parking garage.

Overall

Overall, this was a definite favorite. My friend I was traveling with said it was the nicest hotel room he’s ever stayed in! I would love to come back when the rooftop was open again, after the pandemic. As soon as you walk into the lobby, your experience feels elevated and the room décor was so easy and comfortable. It really gave a boutique-type experience.

Please visit their website to learn more, but here is a little of the logistic information:

509 9th Avenue San Diego, California 92101 619-7274000

City #2 Austin, Texas

Hotel Indigo Austin Downton University

I love Austin! I have been twice before: once for Austin City Limits and once for work. Surrounded by neon lights in one of the most thriving neighborhoods of Austin, this Hotel Indigo was more eclectic than San Diego.