Holiday Inn Express in Kriens or Hotel Stern in Luzern? Family of Four

No personal experience with either hotel, but in terms of location, I would choose Hotel Stern.

I have been to Hotel Stern, and it was perfectly fine. Our room in the main building got a bit warm under the roof in July (top floor, no A/C) and lacked charm, my mother in law's room in the annex was better (and I do not remember it being more expensive). Breakfast was good, as it often is in Switzerland, and location was ideal. Far, far better than Kriens!

I am a little concerned about not having air-conditioning at the end of July. I just came across Hotel Central Luzern too that looks lovely...just no a/c either. Thank you for the help!

Depends on what you are used to. I live in Paris without A/C (well, just a mediocre mobile unit that I've only had for the past year), and I get by OK with fans. When I was in Luzern, it was warmer than average (over 30C), and the room did get warm, but opening the window and using the provided fan made things really bearable. And it was top floor, so probably the worst case.
Personally I'd rather have a warm (hot?) room in the middle of town than an A/C room in the suburbs.

I haven't stayed at either of your choices, but I have stayed near the Holiday Inn Express in Kriens. I was on the other side of the roundabout at the Ibis which shared its underground parking with the MediaMarkt. I didn't enjoy the Ibis as much as I usually do primarily because I hated the rubber flooring instead of carpet. I was in heaven though because like a guy who can spend all day in a hardware store after going in for one washer, I could spend the rest of my life in MediaMarkts (ask my wife, she probably thinks I do already - some people bring back the usual souvenirs when they travel; we bring back coffee machines, vacuum cleaners, computer accessories and most recently a really cheap and really useful LED work light with magnets and hooks - I know, I know).

Kriens is a busy commercial area and certainly doesn't go in the cute category. On the other hand there is a McDonalds practically next door to the Holiday Inn Express, and like HIEs throughout Europe it provides a decent if slightly generic breakfast included (if you are lucky the guest operated pancake machine is back after covid) and the rooms are serviceable with everything you'll need. As a new build I'm sure there will be lots of plug sockets and probably several USB sockets next to the bed. I'd stay there in a New York minute. Especially as the bus, tram and train are next door and a 5 minute ride to the main station.

But you will need to use that transport (using the free ticket from the hotel) to get into the old town.

Thank you! I can appreciate your souvenir choices! Very cool! :)

Yes, as much as we would like to be near the old town, it appears that it’s going to be almost twice as expensive to do so with air conditioning. It says the HIE are “cooled rooms” and the extra funds will probably allow us to splurge on another excursion or activity. With the kids, we find we spend very little time in our hotel room anyhow.

Thank you, again for the advice!

yes, the HIE has what they call "ecological, air cooled rooms". It looks like the windows don't open. Be sure to close the curtains when you leave if you are on or will be on the sunny side. I think you'll be fine...