Review of Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Foley, an IHG Hotel 2*

VERY NICE CLEAN HOTEL! The accommodations were very nice the beds are so comfortable!. Soft white cotton sheets and comforter, exceptional! The pool and Hot Tub area nice, clean and accessible. The Staff are very friendly. Breakfast is served from 6:30-9:30am. The location is great for shopping the awesome for the HUGE "Tanger Outlet Stores". And so many other places. We were there (primarily) to enjoy the annual Hot Air Ballon Festival. I was very disappointed! It was NOT well organized!, so as to gain optimum exposure of ballons. When tickets were purchased (on-line) we could have been advised of the weekend's COMPLETE Schedule, and planned our trip to better accommodate, the whole event. Saturday Night, final (& only) time we saw the ballons it was a nightmare getting to the event. Leaving was worse! We sat in "a field" for more than an hour and half, GRID-LOCKED — Couldn't get out. Finally we called the local police! (Many other complaints had also been received). Another 45 min until we could move! The event needs to review protocol and adjust for LARGE CROWDS, and advertise the events schedule for travelers such as us, who drove 3.5 hours to attend. I've been to Foley to shop the Outlets before, stayed at same Hotel! Enjoyed our visit. This time the visit not as pleasurable! The Festival needs to get a NEW Planning committee. The current one is lousy and absolutely the worst planning of the worst of all committees! THEY DID NOT HAVE THEIR ACT TOGETHER — If I lived there, I would be embarrassed to admit it to anyone! We WON'T EVER GO TO THAT EVENT AGAIN! (EXTREMELY ENJOYED the HOTEL) HATED THE HORRIBLY 1/2 PLANNED EVENT!