Britannia Hotel Manchester Airport

I only stayed one night before flying out of Manchester, and I knew from the reviews not to expect the Ritz Carlton. Still, I clearly overestimated how much roughing it I could handle. The strangest thing was the musty smell, like what I imagine an abandoned asylum might smell like. Even though the tiny bathroom had been cleaned, that odor made it feel grimy, and I wished I’d brought sliders. I also found a long black curly hair in the otherwise neatly made bed, and the room was quite cold. There was no drinking water in the room or a water fountain on the floor, despite the kettle, so you had to bring your own. The reception staff weren’t especially welcoming, though I can understand feeling down about working there. The best part was the kind minibus driver who took me to the airport. The shuttle costs £10.

We paid 120 for the stay, and it didn’t feel worth it. Breakfast was freezing, with all the windows open. The beans and tomatoes were cold, and the bacon was very fatty. We arrived at 3.20 this morning, checked straight into our room, and noticed a strange smell in the hallways on the way there. I slept well, then woke up at 8.20 this morning.

I had to book at the last minute, but there was a room available and the price wasn’t too bad. I stayed four nights and found the room nice, with plenty of parking. The staff were polite and helpful. The location worked well for me, with local shops nearby and a nice Thai place down the road.

There’s free off-road parking, and buses into town run fairly regularly, even late at night. Manchester City centre takes about 25 min by bus. The rooms are a decent size, and check-in was easy with a pre-booking. If you use self check-in, I’d get your room number by email first, since there’s no phone reception inside the hotel.