Holiday Inn Express is a hotel brand, a subsidiary of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), known for offering simple, convenient and a budget friendly options for travellers. I have stayed in Holiday Inn Express in Hull quite a few times over the last couple of years and all of the stays have been so different so I thought I would write about them.
The first time we stayed in the Holiday Inn Express in Hull was as a family just over a year ago when we stayed for two nights. We found it so handy with it being right near the bus station, offering a free breakfast and of course it was reasonably priced. Since then Stu and I have stayed for a night, Becky and her friends have stayed and Becky and I have had a night there too.
Checking in has always been quick and easy. Say your name and they find you on the computer and then you can pay there and then or they will take the money later from the bank card that you booked with. I always find it so strange that they don't take the money when you book especially if you chose the non-refundable option which is always cheaper. The first time I was starting to panic why the payment hadn't been taken and gave them a ring, they said it was quite normal.
The rooms have everything you would expect and we love them. They are clean, simple but big enough to have everything that you need: A decent sized bed with extra pillows and bedding, a desk, chair, flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, hangers to hang clothes an en suite bathroom with power showers and fab mirrors with really good lighting and we have been lucky each time with a great view.
It took a couple of visits to get the hang of getting the heating/air conditioning just right. We went on a very hot weekend and left the air-con on and came back to the room and it was freezing and in the winter put the heating on and came back to the room and it was sweltering. We have found the best way to use it is just not touch the heating/air con at all.
The hotel offers free Wi-Fi and it is a decent speed. I have never had any issues with it or getting connected. The only thing I am not keen on is that there are no plugs or anywhere to charge your phone next to the beds. It means if I have to charge my phone during the night I never know what time it is if I wake up as the curtains are so good, the room is dark when they are closed and it is so confusing if my alarm clock goes off and it's at the other side of the room.
The idea of a free breakfast sounds amazing but in my experience it hasn't always been great. The only time we've enjoyed it is when we were there just after they started serving breakfast.
Later on during the breakfast serving time the food looks past it's best. I usually make do with toast and jam. They stop serving breakfast at half past 10 on a weekend but on our last stay we got downstairs just before 10am where they had stopped refilling the food and bringing out clean cutlery and glasses so we couldn't even butter our toast or get a glass of juice. So if you do want a breakfast you need to go early. What made it worse that morning was that people were filling bags with muffins, fruit and anything they could to take away and leaving nothing for people who were wanting to eat there.
This hotel doesn't serve food during the day or on an evening but people do order in from apps like Uber Eats and the hotel does supply plastic plates and cutlery which I thought was brilliant of them.
The Holiday Inn Express in Hull has a good bar and a roof terrace and it was wonderful to sit outside on a summers evening. The drinks were not overpriced and the views are beautiful when the sun is setting.
The staff are lovely! The same staff have been there each time I have visited and they are cheerful, helpful and go above and beyond even if they are rushed off their feet sometimes.
You would expect a hotel being so close to town you would hear a lot of noise but you really don't, the windows don't open but you can see all sorts of vehicles going past but not a sound from them. Sometimes you will hear people coming in, walking down the corridor and doors banging but it is not enough to keep you awake on an evening!
Prices do vary depending on what night you stay. I have paid as little as £48 per night for two of us and up to £100 per night. I think it really depends on the time of year and what is going on in town for the prices that they charge.
Have you stayed in a Holiday Inn before? What did you think?
