Holiday Inn Express Hotels in Pasadena

Should have taken other reviews a bit more serious when planning our stay, so this is a long one and I hope everyone takes the time to read it and consider staying elsewhere. Check in experience was great, very friendly and pleasant gentleman. The rest was down hill. While rooms are extremely spacious and at first glance appear to be clean, that was not the case. Upon taking our showers, shampoo and conditioner was out, found nice stiff dirty wash cloth hanging over shower curtain and another extremely stained towel folded up with clean towels. I walked down to front desk as it was late, and I asked for some new bottles of shampoo and conditioner. The woman working this overnight shift asked me if I could bring down the bottles and she would fill them up. I explained they are locked in the device on the wall, but she said well the housekeeping just refills them. I said okay and my husband used two luggage keys to open the holder up. I then went back down to lobby again and Got my refills. When time came to pump my conditioner I got a nice mixture of water and conditioner. We had to relocate to another room at 1am our first night due to roaches. We should have checked out but at 1am, and a wedding to attend the next day, that was not an option. Once the roaches scurried in the dark, I took a better look at the room and found toenail clippings, food, more bugs, and just random ick. There was mold on top of shower and something nasty splattered on the AC. I went down to the lobby for the third time now and explained the situation. I was met with ”I can change your room if you want”. That's it. No apology, empathy, remorse, it was basically like she was numb to the situation. I got the new room, checked top to bottom, ever crack and crevice. I then went back to our room, helped my husband pack mine, his and our 8 years olds clothes up to move from floor 2 to 3. Once we were done I took keys back down to lobby and the woman did say ”I hope you have a better night.” Breakfast was basically survival of the fittest. We and many other guests for that matter, had to ask each day for food to be replenished. Saturday and Sunday the pancake machine was closed. I asked if they were restocking the mix and they flat out said they keep it off on weekends due to it being so busy and it ”malfunctions”. I explained it worked fine Friday, but it was clear the 3 ladies behind the desk really didn't have the energy or work ethic to do their jobs. Bagels were typically frozen, cereal was empty twice, eggs were basically water and you were lucky to get both biscuits and gravy at the same time. Coffee was removed from breakfast area well before 930 and two mornings ran out and never refilled before just taking the pots away. This was a very disappointing stay. We've stayed at many brands and properties and tend to appreciate the quality for the cost at this chain. However this particular property needs major help. They should start with their staff because they really app