Holiday Inn Express Manchester - Trafford City by IHG

The location was the main reason we booked, and it's the hotel's strongest point. I've stayed in plenty of Holiday Inn and IHG hotels while travelling for work and leisure, and I try to review fairly. This one felt below par. It's functional, but the rooms are smaller than most Holiday Inns and the beds were very uncomfortable, with lumpy mattresses that weren't pocket sprung. Not a good night's sleep, especially for a couple with a weight difference. Breakfast was so busy that it was standing room only during our stay, and the quality was poor, though it is free. Parking costs extra, which seems a bit of a joke given the location, and the hotel faces an abandoned industrial car park. We were also asked for a £50 security deposit. They didn't ask for my membership number, so they wouldn't have known I'm a long-time loyal IHG customer, though membership doesn't seem to mean much here. If you get up after 10am, don't expect the room to be made up. I asked and they didn't clean it that day. When I asked again another day, they did clean it, but not to an acceptable standard. I'd suggest staying elsewhere if you can. The location is the only reason to choose it.

There's parking for £5 a night, the room was clean, and the staff were welcoming. The hotel is close to the big covered shopping mall, with lots of shops, around a 20-minute walk or five minutes by car; I think there's a tram too. I found the room comfortable and the hotel excellent overall. My only issue was breakfast: the type and quality weren't my concern, but the setup was chaotic and hard to navigate. Please organize it better. I'd recommend the hotel.

I left feeling really well looked after and appreciated. Jess, Mia, Susan and Chantelle each made the experience better in their own way: Jess was detail-oriented, Mia had a welcoming energy, Susan was professional, and Chantelle offered calm, confident support. They work together seamlessly, and the whole experience felt smooth, friendly and genuinely enjoyable. Highly recommended.

The room was huge, comfortable and beautifully presented, with a lovely bathroom and a massive shower. The bed was comfy, too. We had great service from someone I think was called Kelly. She greeted us by name, explained how everything worked, answered all our questions, and gave us a moment to collect ourselves after a hellish 2.5-hour journey. She was a star. The location is 5/5, right next to the Trafford centre and a 25-minute walk from the BEC arena. Parking was a great £5 a night. Breakfast wasn't great and they struggled to keep things stocked, so I only managed hash browns and beans. There was a big convention on and it was packed, though, and breakfast was free, so it doesn't affect my score. I'm sad we only stayed one night.