I spent 3 nights at the Holiday Inn - Capitol Plaza. They recently updated the room I was in with flat panel LCD TV, new bathroom, and a "signature bed". This made the usual 3 star Holiday Inn experience more like a 4 star hotel.

Parking was extremely limited so I elected to pay the valet rather than deal with self-parking (which wasn't free either). The "free high speed internet" ran at dial up speeds, so anyone who really needs high speed access is forced to pay for the upgraded service they offer.

Excellent downtown location, with easy walking access to Old Sacramento, the Railroad Museum and the bike trail that runs along the American River.

I've stayed in 4 star hotels that weren't this nice. The front desk staff didn't bat an eye when I asked to be moved to a room farther away from the football team that was staying nearby.

I'd stay here any time I was in Sacramento.

Whenever I travel to Sacramento, which is at least a few times per year, I opt for the Capitol Plaza Holiday Inn. Forget the Sheraton, the Hyatt, etc. - this is the place. Ask for a room AWAY from the freeway, and you'll have blissful quiet (okay, maybe a light traffic hum). I have never had a problem here, and the staff has been very accomodating. Try the tortilla soup in the Cypress Grill Restaurant off the lobby - it's unspeakably good. Great location, walking distance to downtown, with a pleasant mall, the Downtown Plaza, right outside your door - movies, Macy's, a Doubleday Bookstore, etc. are all there. Clean, updated, friendly -and a good deal (especially if you can get the gov't rate!)! I've been going there for years and can't remember a single bad experience. Oh yeah - the old clock radios with their absurdly complicated controls have been replaced and are now much easier to set. A nice touch!

The hotel is your typical Holiday Inn. However, the hotel gets five stars for 1) location and 2) its staff. As other reviewers have noted, you have direct access to the tunnel to Old Town and the Westfield Shopping Center (Starbucks, Macy's, etc). 5 Blocks away, you have the CA capitol at your feet, which is nice this time of year because the Christmas Tree. However, don't be walking around downtown at night by yourself. It's pretty desolate.

Now, if you are here the first weekend of December, most likely you are in town to run the CIM (California International Marathon). There are other hotels that are Marathon hotels; however, I recommend the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza. First, they asked at check-in if I would need a late-check out (for a four hour long-distance runner this is awesome). I really just needed about 45 minutes, but they gave me 2 hours. Nice. My friend who stayed at the headquarter hotel told me her hotel was charging $25/hour for a late check out. Not so nice. The bus shuttle to the start was perfect from this hotel. I got on the bus quickly. My friend at the other hotel had to wait 20 minutes outside in the cold and dark before getting on a bus. Lastly, the staff were overall accommodating and making sure that my stay was a restful one. For the amount I paid for that night, I got away with a great deal.