This 11-story Holiday Inn Express is housed in a beige box typical for the chain, with a large parking lot out front and a covered entrance. Guests enter through sliding glass doors. The lobby is spacious and light-filled, with a tile floor at the entrance and leaf-patterned carpeting in the back. The check-in desk is off to the right. Two-toned vinyl chairs in blue and green shades provide seating for guests in the lobby, and there are additional spots to relax next to the floor-to-ceiling windows at the back of the space, with nice views of the pool and beach beyond. Vending machines provide quick snacks. The sharp breakfast room is off to the side and has large windows looking out onto the beach. The hotel is popular with families and couples alike.

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites is right on the beach along South Atlantic Avenue. It is surrounded by shops and restaurants, with everything from pizzas by the slice to sandwiches to pasta -- sidewalks make the area pedestrian friendly. The location is convenient for tourists, with many popular attractions within a short drive. Daytona International Speedway is 20 minutes away by car, and the Ponce de Leon Inlet and Lighthouse is about 15 minutes away. Main Street, a hot spot during Bike Week and Biketoberfest, is just over 10 minutes away by car. The popular Halifax River-side restaurant, Our Deck Down Under, is a 15-minute walk from the hotel. Daytona Beach International Airport is about 25 minutes away by car, and Orlando International Airport takes about one hour and 15 minutes to reach.

Decor throughout is chain-hotel plain, but modern, with basic two-tone wood furnishings, mustard walls and matching bed skirts and bed runners over white sheets. Emerald carpeting with a wavy pattern lines the floors and rooms have striped curtains in soft colors plus beach-centric artwork with blue and brown tones. Pillow cases reveal whether a pillow is "firm" or "soft" -- a nice touch for a hotel in this category. All rooms have one king or two queen-size beds, microwaves, mini-fridges, free Wi-Fi, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, and coffeemakers. Suites add a wet bar and a sofa bed with extra seating space. Bathrooms are tiny, but clean, and continue the color scheme from the main guest room. Balconies are small and furnished with cheap plastic chairs, but they offer spectacular views of the beach, especially from upper floors. 

The best feature here is the beach, and it's right outside the hotel, though the outdoor pool is also plenty popular with guests. Its rectangular shape makes it suitable for swimming laps, and there are strap lounge chairs and a couple of umbrellas available for poolside use. Lounge chairs and umbrellas on the beach must be rented, however. The Free Express Start Breakfast Bar includes eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, cinnamon rolls, biscuits, fruits, yogurt, cereal, juices, and coffee. The small 24/7 fitness center has two treadmills, an elliptical machine, and a stationary bike in front of a large flat-screen TV. Large windows allow natural light in. A small computer station by the front desk has two terminals and a printer for guests to use. Wi-Fi is free throughout and parking is also free.