CR
Chad Rodick
Oct 27, 2025
After my disastrous experience at the Aquarius Hotel Casino in Laughlin, I desperately needed alternative accommodations on October 25th. The Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Bullhead City had availability at $152 per night for two nights—significantly more than my original budget, especially since I was already being charged for one night at the Aquarius. However, what felt like an expensive inconvenience became a masterclass in genuine hospitality.
The contrast was immediate. The front desk agent greeted me with authentic warmth and handled check-in efficiently without any forced upgrades or complications. She went beyond the basics, welcoming me to Bullhead City, providing information about breakfast, pool, and gym hours, and even mentioning a fair happening down the road until 9pm. These thoughtful touches showed she cared about enhancing my stay, not just processing a transaction.
I was assigned room 308, a handicap-accessible room—all they had available due to my last-minute booking. I didn’t mind at all. The room was immaculate, fresh-smelling, and well-maintained with crisp linens and a sparkling bathroom. It was everything a hotel room should be and everything the Aquarius wasn’t.
At 10pm, I discovered the shower head hose was malfunctioning, spraying water into the bathroom, and the TV wouldn’t turn on. After my earlier experience, I approached the front desk anxiously. The same agent immediately apologized, saying “Oh, we will get that fixed immediately.” With maintenance gone for the day, she offered to switch me to room 315, a 2 Queen non-accessible room on the same floor, and told me to take my time moving with no rush. This is true hospitality—acknowledging problems and providing immediate solutions without making guests feel like inconveniences. Within minutes, I was settled in room 315, where everything worked perfectly.
The next morning, I enjoyed an excellent complimentary breakfast at 7am before my ride-along with Bullhead City Police. The spread included scrambled eggs, pork sausage links, pancakes, cereal, yogurt, toast, bagels, and those famous Holiday Inn cinnamon rolls—which I loved so much I took extras back to my room for after my 2pm-midnight shift. The breakfast area was clean, well-stocked, and constantly replenished, all at no additional charge unlike the resort fees I’d paid at the Aquarius for unused amenities.
Checkout on October 27th was smooth and hassle-free—no surprise charges, no arguments, just quick and professional service. After the Aquarius nightmare, this seamless process was refreshing.
The $304 total was more than I’d budgeted, and paying for two properties the same night stung. But value isn’t just about price—it’s what you receive. At the Holiday Inn Express, I got spotlessly clean rooms, genuinely responsive service, generous breakfast, and peace of mind that problems would be handled professionally. The staff understood that hospitality means making guests feel valued and comfortable, solving problems rather than creating them.
For anyone visiting the Bullhead City-Laughlin area, I highly recommend the Holiday Inn Express & Suites. While it costs slightly more than casino hotels across the river, the difference in quality, cleanliness, and service is absolutely worth it. My experience perfectly illustrated that in hospitality, you truly get what you pay for.