Holiday Inn Express Birmingham Airport NEC by IHG

The staff were friendly and helpful, and the rooms were clean and practical. The aircon wouldn't stay on, which made it hard to sleep on a warm evening. I also found the pillows very hard, though that may suit some people.

The main reason we chose this hotel was its location, just 10 minutes from the NEC Crufts exhibition. We brought our dog and stayed for two nights. For a three-star place, the rooms were functional and clean, but looked tired. Some table lights didn't work, and the air con kept resetting to a lower, cooler temperature, so we eventually turned it off before we got too cold. The bathroom had Dove products, though the bodywash seemed watered down. The mattress was very firm, which suited me but not my other half. Our Yorkshire terrier slept soundly. The TV worked, and the blackout curtains did their job. Breakfast was also about what you'd expect at a three-star hotel, with eggs, sausage, bacon, beans, cereal and fruit. The small containers kept running out, so we had to ask staff to refill them. We'd asked and emailed about a takeaway breakfast for Saturday, since we were leaving for Crufts around 6:30am and would miss the breakfast we'd paid for. In theory, that was fine, but the staff didn't know how to arrange it on the day. The manager was called and sorted it out. The evening menu was limited. Saturday was fine, but on the second evening we arrived to eat at 6:30pm and were told that, although the restaurant opened then, food would be prepared at 7pm and should reach us around 7:30pm. We were a bit amused. There were no chicken or pizza dishes available and very little staff, so about 60% of the menu was off limits. We all settled on fish and chips, which I have to say was delicious. The team were young and helpful, but we could have used someone to give directions, answer guest questions and make sure people were having a good experience. This is a basic three-star hotel without airs or graces, but I felt they took advantage of our need to stay near the NEC and charged four- or five-star prices. Two rooms for two nights cost over £1,000 including breakfast. Parking was £60, reduced to £30, and the pet charge was £30 a night. It's expensive. They could have included a complimentary dog bag with a training pad, a small sachet of food, treats and a toy. Just an idea. Would I return? It would have to be a last resort after this experience.

The rooms are a little dated and scuffed, but fine for somewhere to get your head down. Staff were excellent and breakfast was good and free. It's well placed for the NEC and airport if you don't mind a 20 minute walk or a taxi ride of about £6.

The location works well for both the NEC and the airport, and there's on-site parking for an extra charge. Rooms were fine but a bit old, with some plugs that didn't work and a shower head that needed cleaning. Breakfast was okay, though the coffee was nothing special. The milk is sweetened, and the machines give you half a cup at best.