I arrived in Buenos Aires by ferry from Montevideo, Uruguay, and was looking for a hotel close to the center of the city and the ferry terminal. I was also looking to collect some nights for an IHG Rewards Promotion, so the Holiday Inn Express Puerto Madero became my first choice. Read on to find out whether this would be a fit for you!
Location: The HIX Puerto Madero is just two blocks from the ferry terminal for Buquebus, my ride from Montevideo. It’s only 5 minutes walk to the Puerto Madero neighborhood on the waterfront and 15 minutes to the Plaza de Mayo. There are several subway stations for different lines within 5-10 minutes walk, making it a good (but not great) location to explore the city by public transport. Jorge Newbery Airport for domestic and regional flights is 15 minutes by taxi and Ezeiza International Airport is about 40 minutes away.
Service: My check-in was quick and without issues. Staff spoke good English and provided information about town and a map on request, but wasn’t especially friendly – I’d say average for the region. My IHG Rewards Club Platinum status was not recognized and no status benefits were offered. Housekeeping was thorough and quick, leaving the room well prepared each day. The restaurant staff kept the breakfast buffet stocked and tables cleared without issues. For a Holiday Inn Express, there was a lot of front desk staff available to assist with questions, luggage or requests.
Room: The main reason why I like Holiday Inn Express and stay frequently at the chain are that most hotels are new built, closely following the chain’s formula, so you usually get a modern, new room. Unfortunately, the HIX Puerto Madero seemed to be a conversion of an older hotel to the brand and that showed in the room – it wasn’t nearly as nice and modern as I’ve come to expect from the chain. It reminded me of an older Holiday Inn hotel, held in brown and red tones with basic and old fashioned furniture. There was a comfortable, queen-size bed, a desk with a less comfortable chair,, a nightstand with a safe and a fluffy, big chair in the corner. There was a large TV and coffee/tea facilities as well. While it was all clean and well maintained, I wasn’t impressed.
The bathroom was similar in style, with beige-brown tiles and marble. It was split in a small room with the sink and a glass door to a separate room with the toilet, bidet and shower-over-tub with a curtain. Everything was clean and standard towels and amenities were provided.
The free wifi was very fast at 25.2Mbps and reliable throughout my stay!
Restaurant/Amenities: The hotel has a small gym with four cardio machines – just what you see in the photo – enough for a cardio workout.
The restaurant for the free breakfast was located on the mezzanine. The small, open space is crammed with basic tables and chairs, making it feel like a low-end cafeteria. 
The buffet offered a good selection of cereal, yogurt, whole fruit, pastries and bread and some cold cuts – very typical for a Holiday Inn Express
Conclusion: While the HIX Puerto Madero checks all the boxes for a hotel of this category on paper, this older conversion property was disappointing, especially considering the price of $84/night. My second hotel on this trip, the NH Latino offered a lot more for less money. The IHG Rewards price of 25,000point/nights is even more expensive, making it difficult to recommend. If you are planning to ferry trip, are an IHG fan or don’t care about the style of the hotel and can get a good deal, the HIX Puerto Madero will be fine. Given the great selection of better hotels at lower prices, I recommend to check for better deals elsewhere.