Welcome! Stay Smart with us at the Holiday Inn Express® Hotel Durham - UNH.
The Holiday Inn Express-Durham/UNH is conveniently located in Southern NH. We are within walking distance to the University of New Hampshire as well as historic downtown Durham.
Business guests appreciate the Durham, NH hotel's location at the UNH campus as well as our proximity to area companies. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Liberty Mutual and Goss International are just a short drive away. Phillips Exeter Academy and other schools are nearby as well. We offer free high-speed, Wi-Fi access in all of our smoke free guest rooms, as well as complimentary use of our business center to help make your hotel stay convenient. This location makes us a part of the UNH community, so we're the ideal accommodations for prospective students and parents. The Whittemore Arena, home of the UNH Wildcat hockey team, is just moments up the road. You can take a tour of Redhook Brewery or search for great deals at the Kittery Outlets. We're close to Portsmouth, Rochester, Exeter and Dover for fun filled day trips. We offer terrific facilities like our fitness center which has a TV to make those miles fly by. Join us for a free, daily breakfast buffet. Our hotel’s amenities and unbeatable location next to UNH, and in the heart of NH’s Seacoast, makes us the best choice for business and leisure travel.
Feedback on staff is mixed; while some guests praised individual staff members for their helpfulness, many reported rude and unprofessional behavior from front desk staff.
Cleanliness Issues
Numerous reviews highlighted cleanliness problems, including dirty rooms, bathrooms, and common areas, with some guests finding hair and unclean items in their rooms.
Parking Problems
Guests frequently mentioned limited parking availability and issues with unauthorized vehicles taking up hotel spaces, leading to frustration.
Breakfast Quality
While some guests enjoyed the breakfast offerings, others found them lacking in variety and freshness, with complaints about cold food and limited options.
Location
The hotel is well-located near UNH and downtown Durham, making it convenient for visitors, but noise from nearby college activities was a common complaint.
CS
cheryl shkliew
Nov 17, 2025
1.0
To echo Brian Moynihan’s review from two weeks ago — do not stay here, especially if you don’t want your car to be towed. My husband and I checked into the hotel last weekend around 9pm. The very unpleasant (and seemingly very bothered to have to do his job) front desk agent issued a flimsy piece of paper that was supposed to be a “parking pass.” My husband drove around the VERY dimly lit parking lot in the rain for more than 10 minutes. Given those conditions, navigating the area was extremely difficult but we finally found a spot and the “parking pass” was placed on the dashboard, as advised. Not 12 hours later, we came to find our car gone. The very same miserable man at the front desk basically shrugged and said we had been towed for parking “in the wrong spot.” The wrong spot? It was the only spot available. How can a hotel not be equipped with adequate parking for guests? And if you direct complaining guests to signs in the lot, would you not think it wise to at least have that lot well lit at night, especially in the rain?
Ever so conveniently, the tow yard was right across the street and $250 later we got our car back. Scam much?
Clearly this is an ongoing issue as evidenced in other reviews below. If you’re going to operate a hotel, there should be enough parking spots for the amount of guests the hotel can accommodate. Not just a bunch of “no parking” signs around other spots with a tow yard conveniently across the street. And seeing how you’ve responded to other unfavorable reviews, we look forward to how you’ll passive aggressively utilize quotations of your own and try to gaslight us. We’ll never be back and hopefully others will seek out other options after reading this review and ones below.
KC
kristen coutoulakis
Nov 9, 2025
4.0
10:50 rude housekeeper knocking on our door... it wasn't 11, he was not friendly at all
BM
brian moynihan
Oct 28, 2025
1.0
Steer clear of this hotel. Criminal operation with Smitty’s towing service. Limited parking. Hotel takes advantage of its customers and will tow your car even if it is registered with the hotel. Car will be towed without warning if you forget to place flimsy parking pass on dashboard or if it falls off dashboard (when car door is opened or closed). No phone call to warn you that your car is about to be towed, even though car is registered to hotel with car make/model and license plate number. Staff has no remorse whatsoever. No sympathy. Pay them hundreds of dollars to stay there and they will take your car as an added bonus. In addition, hundreds of dollars to get your car back from the towing service that is conveniently located across the street. I have never heard of a hotel with a worse reputation than this one.
Lastly, toilet and phone in room were broken during our stay.
One exception, Angel was fantastic to deal with.
LN
Lisa N.
Sep 20, 2025
5.0
Great hotel. Upgraded to suite that was really SWEET!!!
MM
Mark Murphy
Jul 15, 2025
1.0
The night manager, Leo, literally told us he was charging us over the normal rate because it was late, we looked tired, and he didn't think we had any other options for lodging for the night. He is literally the embodiment of what's wrong with capitalism in this country today.
If you want to know who this hotel really is, read their atrocious response to Patrick C's review. Or the rude response they will undoubtedly leave for me as well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Inn Express Durham - (Unh) by IHG
What are the check-in and check-out times at Holiday Inn Express Durham - (Unh)?
Check-in time is from 3:00 PM and check-out time is until 11:00 AM.
Does the hotel provide free breakfast?
Yes, a free daily breakfast buffet is available to all guests.
Is the hotel accessible for guests with mobility challenges?
Yes, the hotel is mobility accessible and offers accessible parking and an elevator.
Are pets allowed at Holiday Inn Express Durham - (Unh)?
No, pets including cats and dogs are not allowed at the hotel.
Does the hotel offer Wi-Fi and business center facilities?
Yes, free Wi-Fi is available in public areas and the hotel has a business center for guest use.
What fitness amenities does the hotel offer?
The hotel has a free fitness center equipped with elliptical machines, free weights, and treadmills.
What are some nearby places of interest around Holiday Inn Express Durham - (Unh)?
Nearby points of interest include Durham Rec gym, Durham Circle-K Irving convenience store, Moe's Italian Sandwiches, and the Durham Historic Association Museum.
Where can I find food and dining options near the hotel?
Nearby dining options include Moe's Italian Sandwiches, Subway, HotMess Poutine food truck, DAHAB Falafel Co., and Tideline Public House pub and restaurant.
Are there convenient places nearby for gas or convenience shopping?
Yes, nearby options include Durham Circle-K Irving, Circle K, Irving Oil, Mobil, and Phillips 66 Gas stations which also offer convenience stores and coffee shops.
How can nearby places help me during my stay at Holiday Inn Express Durham - (Unh)?
You can visit Durham Rec for fitness activities, enjoy local dining at Moe's Italian Sandwiches, and stop at Circle K or Durham Circle-K Irving for quick snacks or fuel while exploring the Durham area.