Holiday Inn Express Campo De Gibraltar - Barrios by IHG

The bathroom was a problem: its glass wall let light through when someone used it, so my partner couldn't sleep. The toilet uses recycled water, and with the bathroom door open the room smelled awful. There was also a musty smell, a dark rug, and mold creeping up in the shower. It looked clean at first, but didn't feel that way. The hotel is surrounded by factories in a rough part of town. I left as quickly as I could. This is somewhere I'd only pick for a desperate one-night stop while on the road.

We had a good two-night stay, with friendly, helpful staff and plenty of parking. Breakfast had lots of variety, and dinner was very good too, with options like fish and chips, spare ribs, paella, and burgers. The only downside was the carpet, which smelled of cigarettes.

After visiting Gibraltar, we stayed here and found the shopping area just a five-minute walk away. The reception staff were nice, the rooms spacious, and the beds comfortable. Breakfast was good too.

Getting checked in was quick, and the room was good, with a comfortable bed and enough air-conditioning. The pillows weren't to my taste. The bathroom was clean, but I spotted ants along the corners. We stayed for two nights and two days. They told us at check-in there was no room service, though there's an in-room menu for reasons I don't know. The room had a tea set and kettle, but no water bottles, minibar, or fridge. When I asked about water, reception said they don't provide it, and the staff weren't friendly or focused on customer service. Breakfast had some variety and was good, but management was poor. I waited about 20 minutes in line for plates. They hadn't set up another counter despite the crowd, and stewards were too busy to answer questions. Lunch and dinner had very limited choices for a vegan, so I ate the same thing for three of my four meals. The waiters didn't seem interested in what guests could eat or in their work. The check-in slip said lunch ran until 1415 hrs. When I went down at 1400 hrs, reception said the restaurant had already closed. He sent me to a restaurant 100 meters away, but they couldn't offer me a vegan lunch. I came back and was told it wasn't their problem if I couldn't get lunch. That felt far from hospitable. The hotel is a long way from the main city, though there's a McDonald's and some shops nearby to pass the time. I hope IHG ends its association with this property. Stay if you want, but I found the hospitality lacking.