Traveling without reservations is a new thing for my wife and I. We leave in the morning and by early or mid-afternoon we start to decide how far we're going to drive each day (i.e. how far we're going to push it). Then we start scoping out Holiday Inn Express locations in the area we think we're going to end the day.
My wife tends to rely on her AAA Tour Book while I tend to use YELP. Well, today, her Tour Book didn't list any Holiday Inn Express locations close to I-77 in the northern part of South Carolina. But --- I found a YELP listing with a single review. This was an indication to me that this was probably a NEW or NEWER location. We called and it was a relatively new (less than a year old) location. The gentleman on the phone said we wouldn't need a reservation - that he had plenty of rooms. We arrived several hours later and he remembered talking to my wife on the phone.
The facility is beautiful - and, of course, it's new. Very clean, modern decor - a bit different than I've seen in other Holiday Inn Express locations. If this is their newest decorating scheme -- I approve. It's very welcoming / very comfortable.
The hotel was extremely quiet and there are numerous dining and shopping options very convenient to the hotel.
And, of course, your stay includes the traditional Holiday Inn Express free hot breakfast.