Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills Review

If you’re looking for a hotel near Great Lakes Crossing, this Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills review will help you decide if it’s the right fit for your family.

While this budget hotel is rated as a 2.5-star property, it scores a 4.4 out of 5 on Tripadvisor and was updated in January 2025. During our stay, the hotel was clean, comfortable, and well-maintained.

For families, it offers two big bonuses: an indoor pool and a free hot breakfast. With prices starting around $90 USD ($123 CAD) per night during non-peak times, it’s a good value for the location.

I stayed here for two nights on a Black Friday trip with my sisters, and the location was the main reason we booked it. It is basically in the mall parking lot. If you’re planning an overnight stay to visit LEGOLAND, Peppa Pig World of Play, or other Great Lakes Crossing attractions, this is the perfect spot to stay. It isn’t fancy, but you can’t beat the convenience.

In this Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills review, I’ll break down what you can expect from the rooms, free hot breakfast, amenities, and location, and why it’s one of the best hotels near Great Lakes Crossing.

My Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills Review

Overall Rating: 8/10

@mamasonvacation
We stayed in a standard two-queen-bed room at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills during our Great Lakes Crossing trip. The room was clean, updated, and spacious, with plenty of room for our luggage and shopping hauls. With a free hot breakfast, an indoor pool, and a location just steps from the mall, it was the perfect home base for a busy shopping trip. Full review at mamasonvacation.com (Link in bio) HolidayInnExpress greatlakescrossing auburnhills familytravel familyfriendly
♬ Aesthetic – BoominBeats

Holiday Inn Express Auburn Hills Family Friendly Features

Convenient location near the mall
Budget-friendly pricing
Free parking
Free hot breakfast
Indoor pool
In-room minifridge and microwave

Location and Parking

Rating: 9/10

The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills is located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, right on the edge of the Great Lakes Crossing Outlets parking lot. If you’ve ever visited the mall during peak times, you know how busy the parking lot can get. Staying here means you can leave your car at the hotel and walk to the mall in two minutes or less. We loved the convenience.

Parking is self‑serve and free. The lot isn’t huge, but we had no trouble finding a spot. Most available parking is around the back, so I recommend grabbing a luggage cart and unloading at the front before you park.

Points of Interest Near Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets – 2-minute walk
Peppa Pig World of Play – 11-minute walk
Sea Life Michigan Aquarium – 12-minute walk
LEGOLAND Discovery Center – 13-minute walk
Innovation Hills – 12-minute drive
Erebus Haunted Attraction – 13-minute drive
Cranbrook Institute of Science and Art Museum – 19-minute drive

Check In, Lobby, and Staff

Service rating: 9/10

The lobby setup is what you’d expect from a 2–3‑star hotel. The check‑in desk is on the left, with a seating area across from it on the right. While it isn’t formal or upscale, the décor is nicer than most hotels in this category.

The check‑in desk features layered stone that looks like stacked brick, with a modern grey and yellow tile backdrop. The seating area has a neat feature wall with a large blue map. It’s divided into two sections by back‑to‑back white couches, each paired with yellow armchairs and octagon‑shaped coffee tables. Past the seating area is a small workstation with a computer and printer, plus a white bench across from it.

Straight ahead when you enter is a double‑sided brick fireplace. The breakfast dining area is located right behind it.

Because we stayed during the Christmas season, the lobby was decorated with a large wreath above the fireplace, a Christmas tree in the seating area, and seasonal décor throughout. When the front desk staff noticed me taking photos, she mentioned that many of the decorations were brought in by staff, which was a nice personal touch.

We arrived late, around 10:30 p.m., after a full day of Black Friday shopping in Port Huron and Sterling Heights. My sisters unloaded the luggage while I checked in. There was no line, so the process was quick and easy. The staff member was friendly and welcoming. She explained breakfast and pool hours, Wi‑Fi access, and gave clear directions to our first‑floor room.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills Rooms

All rooms (sleeping 2–6 guests) include a microwave and mini fridge, along with standard amenities like Wi‑Fi, a coffee maker, and a TV. Connecting rooms are available.

Room options include:

Standard Room (1 King Bed)
Standard Room (2 Queen Beds)
Suite (1 King Bed + Sofa Bed)
Suite (2 Queen Beds + Sofa Bed)
Executive King Suite (Larger living area + Sofa Bed)

We booked a Standard Room with two Queen Beds. While the two‑queen suite was only about $25 more per night, we knew we wouldn’t spend much time in the room. For sleeping and storing our shopping bags, a basic room was more than enough.

Standard Room with two Queen Beds Review

Room rating: 9 /10

The two‑queen room layout is pretty standard. When you walk in, the bathroom is immediately on the right. Next to it is a small “kitchen” area that leads into the main bedroom.

Bedroom

Inside the main room, two queen beds sit along one wall with a night table between them. Past the beds, there is an armless lounge chair and a small writing table tucked under a large lamp. On the opposite wall, there’s a wardrobe, a bench with hooks above it for coats, a small three‑drawer dresser with a wall‑mounted TV above it, and a desk with a cozy chair.

The lighting was good, even with the blinds closed, and the blackout blinds did a good job blocking morning light.

The décor is modern, with matching wood furniture, white bedding, and accents of orange and blue in the chairs and curtains. The room was clean and well-maintained. It is obvious that this Holiday Inn Express has beenrecently renovated. Nothing felt outdated or worn.

The room felt more spacious than most budget hotels. The gap between the beds is wide enough for two people to pass. There is an even bigger gap between the beds and the dresser. With the chair on the far side of the bed, the three of us had plenty of space to move around without stepping on each other.

“Kitchen” Area

The small “kitchen” area was compact but functional.

Below the counter was a larger‑than‑average mini fridge with four shelves, a freezer, and door storage. A Keurig sits on the counter above it, with a microwave on a shelf above that. We had plenty of room to store all our snacks.

Bathroom

The bathroom was average in size, with a single sink, decent counter space, and a medium‑sized soaker tub with a wide shower head. The shower had great water pressure with adjustable settings, and the temperature stayed consistent.

The lighting was great, with both ceiling lights and lights around the mirror.

Dove soap, lotion, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner were provided in refillable dispensers. A sign also noted that complimentary toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream, razors, and combs were available upon request.

The real standout in the bathroom is something you don’t often see in a budget hotel: a bidet. While some guests may appreciate this, it’s something to be aware of if you’re staying with curious young children.

Overall impressions

We were more than satisfied with our room. Despite being close to the highway, the room was very soundproof against traffic. We did hear the occasional guest in the hallway or a door shutting, but nothing disruptive. The hum of the heater did a good job of blocking out most background noise.

Auburn Hills Holiday Inn Express Hotel Amenities

Pool rating: 7/10

We didn’t get a chance to check out the pool at this Great Lakes Crossing hotel. Since there isn’t a hot tub, I wasn’t very interested. My sisters planned to swim on our second night, but when they went down, it was crowded with kids, so they decided to skip it.

From what I saw later, it’s a basic indoor pool. It appeared well-maintained, with newer tile flooring. There were several loungers for parents and a couple of patio tables for seating.

Breakfast rating: 6/10

Like many Great Lakes Crossing hotels, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills offers a free hot breakfast.

The breakfast dining area looked recently renovated and had plenty of seating for different group sizes. While the dining room (and coffee station) are open all day, the food service area is closed off once breakfast ends.

Breakfast options included:

Cereal (Frosted Flakes, Raisin Bran, Froot Loops)
Oatmeal
Toast, Bagels, and Muffins
Warmed cinnamon rolls
A pancake maker
Scrambled eggs, sausage, and home fries
Cheddar Omelets (or biscuits and gravy)
Bananas and apples

The coffee comes from a high-tech machine that grinds fresh beans for every cup. There is also apple, orange, and grapefruit juice available, plus milk and chocolate milk.

Like most hotels that offer free breakfast, there were limited options for guests with dietary restrictions. While some hotels provide gluten‑free toast or alternative milks, that wasn’t the case here.

I can’t comment on most of the food since I’m gluten‑free. My sister mentioned that the cinnamon rolls weren’t actually warm despite being on a heated tray, but she had no complaints about the pancakes.

On the first day, I tried the omelet, home fries, and sausage. None stood out. The omelet was a bit rubbery, the sausage was average, and the home fries were well seasoned but not very crispy. On the second day, the omelets were replaced with biscuits and gravy. Since I couldn’t eat those, I tried the scrambled eggs instead, which were similar in quality to the omelet.

While the hot food wasn’t impressive, kids will definitely love the pancakes. For a free meal, it’s hard to complain.

Ready to book your stay?

Does this Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills review have you ready to book?

Check out the current rates.

If you’d rather upgrade to a 3–4-star hotel, these are good alternatives near Great Lakes Crossing:

Crowne Plaza Auburn Hills by IHG: 3-star hotel | $$:
Auburn Hills Marriott Pontiac: 3.5-star hotel | $$$
Royal Park Hotel Rochester: 4-star hotel | $$$

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills Summary

Is the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Auburn Hills worth staying at for a Great Lakes Crossing trip?

If you’re looking for a budget‑friendly Great Lakes Crossing hotel, the Holiday Inn Auburn Hills location is a great choice. The rooms are nice, the price is right, and the location is perfect. While the breakfast wasn’t amazing, it’s free. I’d definitely stay there again.

This is the best hotel near Great Lakes Crossing for families who want to be steps away from the Great Lakes Crossing attractions like LEGOLAND, SEA LIFE Michigan, and Peppa Pig World of Play. The indoor pool gives kids a chance to unwind after a busy day, plus they’ve got breakfast covered for you.

It’s also a great option if you’re planning a shopping trip and just need a convenient place to store your bags and sleep between mall visits. While it’s not a luxury stay, it does exactly what it needs to do.

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