What are Holiday Inn Expresses like these days?

colmil

Anywhere is better than Travelodge!

getmore4less

If budget is tight.

The HIE we use a bit also allows you to use the fridge in the kitchen to store food and will provide plates etc. Takeaways also OK.

pompeyrich

Another positive here, if you can get a 2-4-1 even better. We often use the HIEx at Stoke for Alton Towers trips, usually around £27 a night, for the 4 of us, 2Ads + 2 teenagers, up to 18. So under £7 a night each inc a breakfast. Stayed at the Park Royal one and one in Spain too both excellent value. Watch out for possible parking fees in City Centre ones though.

ElleR

We stayed in an HIE in Edinburgh. The room was lovely, I know what you mean about the strange door for the shower/toilet, it ammused me a lot!

We weren't too keen on the breakfast. The toaster didn't work very well and one day my toast vanished down the back, never to be seen again! Also it always seemed really crowded whatever time we went (a good sign I suppose!) but because of the layout there was no room too move with your breakky to find a table.

So apart from that I would recommend. Definitely better than Travel lodge but I did love the Premier Inn we stayed in once.

DCFC79

ElleR wrote: »

We stayed in an HIE in Edinburgh. The room was lovely, I know what you mean about the strange door for the shower/toilet, it ammused me a lot!

We weren't too keen on the breakfast. The toaster didn't work very well and one day my toast vanished down the back, never to be seen again! Also it always seemed really crowded whatever time we went (a good sign I suppose!) but because of the layout there was no room too move with your breakky to find a table.

So apart from that I would recommend. Definitely better than Travel lodge but I did love the Premier Inn we stayed in once.

but the then TL ive stayed in have all been ok,

luminated

As an update.

A week or so ago we stayed in a TL.

Reception staff excellent, room looked clean but felt very grubby, old CRT on surface to one side of bed meaning it was a real strain to watch anything, few channels, bathroom had lots of mouldy areas, shower curtain very short and water covered the floor after showering, shower mixer tap had the two push in bits missing so hard to control the temperature. The bed was very very very soft meaning the two of us kept rolling to the middle. BUT at £15 PN in the sale I am not complaining but feel that would be perhaps the last time we will stay in one.

HIExpress in Exeter was immaculately clean in every area including the bedroom, all staff including the cleaners looked immaculately dressed and they were very attentive. The room was in superb condition with many thoughtful touches. Alas no bath but a shower but no mould anywhere. The aircon was a good feature once I realised it had a delayed response to any changes to the controls. The bed was excellent and choices of either hard or soft pillows.

However the breakfast was a let down with a continental style plus sausages, baked beans and scrambled eggs. This latter aspect really does need sorting out as I, like many, would rather have a traditional English start to the day especially when away from home. So must have bacon, fried egg and such.

BUT the HI was a lot more money that the TL so providing the customer knows what they are going to get each are good in their own rights.

DCFC79

luminated wrote: »

As an update.

A week or so ago we stayed in a TL.

Reception staff excellent, room looked clean but felt very grubby, old CRT on surface to one side of bed meaning it was a real strain to watch anything, few channels, bathroom had lots of mouldy areas, shower curtain very short and water covered the floor after showering, shower mixer tap had the two push in bits missing so hard to control the temperature. The bed was very very very soft meaning the two of us kept rolling to the middle. BUT at £15 PN in the sale I am not complaining but feel that would be perhaps the last time we will stay in one.

HIExpress in Exeter was immaculately clean in every area including the bedroom, all staff including the cleaners looked immaculately dressed and they were very attentive. The room was in superb condition with many thoughtful touches. Alas no bath but a shower but no mould anywhere. The aircon was a good feature once I realised it had a delayed response to any changes to the controls. The bed was excellent and choices of either hard or soft pillows.

However the breakfast was a let down with a continental style plus sausages, baked beans and scrambled eggs. This latter aspect really does need sorting out as I, like many, would rather have a traditional English start to the day especially when away from home. So must have bacon, fried egg and such.

BUT the HI was a lot more money that the TL so providing the customer knows what they are going to get each are good in their own rights.

1 thing about the TL i stayed in at blackpool was the pillows, they just werent thick enough for me but that was 1 of the points on a review on trip advisor website,

luminated

DCFC79 wrote: »

1 thing about the TL i stayed in at blackpool was the pillows, they just werent thick enough for me but that was 1 of the points on a review on trip advisor website,

In the past few years we have been on dozens of TL sale breaks. Usually maximum £9 per night and have got round to areas we hadn't seen before. In the early stages we used to ask/beg for an extra pillow as there were only three (yes very thin) in the room. But then we started taking our own pillows ands even our own duvet as theirs is OK in the cold months but too warm at other times.

spaceman5

luminated wrote: »

The reviews on Trip Advisor are good 4.5 out of 5 which is reassuring.

Because of my health issues I need to spend more time than the average person in the room and watching TV. Just thinking if I took a Freeview box whether I could rig it up??? Mmm I wonder.

if the hotel is in a area that has already had digital switchover(i believe exeter probably has, as it is only 45 miles from us and we have had it) then if there is a tv in the room, then it will have freeview channels already on it, so no need to hook up a freeview box

EDIT: just realised i ahve replied to a thread where the op has already been to what she was asking about:o

luminated

spaceman5 wrote: »

if the hotel is in a area that has already had digital switchover(i believe exeter probably has, as it is only 45 miles from us and we have had it) then if there is a tv in the room, then it will have freeview channels already on it, so no need to hook up a freeview box

EDIT: just realised i ahve replied to a thread where the op has already been to what she was asking about:o

It did have Freeview and enough channels to keep me happy. And was able to get the TV at the end of the bed as there were extra long aerial and power cables.

Thanks for your reply though:beer: