HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS MASPETH BY IHG, New York

The hotel sits right off the Long Island Expressway in Maspeth, Queens, a 20-minute drive from LaGuardia Airport and about 40 minutes from JFK. Times Square is 13 km west, reachable in 30-40 minutes by car. The immediate area is industrial with a gas station and McDonald's next door; nearby dining options include Yummy Yummy Chinese Restaurant and Slide Bar-B-Q (1 km each). Public transport requires a bus or taxi ride to the nearest subway stations (Jefferson Ave, Forest Ave, or Metropolitan Ave, 1.5-3 km away) connecting to Manhattan. Woodside station (M and R trains) is accessible via a short drive. For those without a car, Uber/Lyft pickup is straightforward, and the complimentary LGA shuttle is a practical alternative.

The property has 115 rooms including 12 suites, all non-smoking and renovated in 2021. Each room features a work desk with lamp, flat-screen cable TV, free WiFi, ironing facilities, and a wardrobe. Bathrooms include a hairdryer, separate vanity area, and large towels. Rooms are clean and functional, but the highway location means road-facing rooms can be noisy; a room away from the expressway is advisable for light sleepers. Bed comfort is generally good, though some find mattresses firm. No rooms have balconies. Connecting rooms and wheelchair-accessible rooms (with grab bars, tall toilets, and turning space) are available. Paid cribs and rollaway beds can be requested.

Breakfast is included for all guests and features egg white omelets, Chobani yogurt, whole wheat English muffins, oatmeal, cereal, and a one-touch pancake machine. A 'Grab & Go' option is also available by ordering the night before. The breakfast area is well-maintained. There is no full restaurant or bar on site, but the lobby pantry offers snacks, frozen pizza, candy, chips, and beverages. External restaurant delivery can be arranged via the front desk. McDonald's and a BP gas station are adjacent for quick meals. Breakfast can be taken to the room, as room service is not provided.

The fitness center is available 24/7 and includes a treadmill, elliptical machines, free weights, and stationary bicycles. Equipment was updated in 2021, but the facility is compact. There is no pool, spa, or hot tub on the property.

Free high-speed WiFi is available throughout. The 24-hour business center provides a computer, printer, copier, and fax. A meeting room for up to 25 people offers a projector, 42" TV, and free high-speed internet. Daily housekeeping is provided, and a coin-operated laundry is in the C-level. Same-day dry cleaning can be arranged. Parking is free but first-come, first-served and limited; there is van-accessible parking with ramp access. The LGA shuttle runs hourly from 8 am to 6 pm and must be requested upon arrival via taxi service. Accessible self-parking and a flat terrain entrance are available. The front desk is staffed 24/7 by English, Hindi, Polish, and Spanish speakers.