DoubleTree by Hilton Nottingham - Gateway

Parking was easy, with plenty of wide spaces, and we ate at the restaurant rather than go out looking for somewhere. The food was good and service quick. We were welcomed by a really friendly, polite staff member who did the hotel proud. Reception was first class, explained everything clearly, and even gave us a cookie. Our room was spacious and comfortable. Five stars all round. I'd recommend it to anyone after a clean, friendly, comfortable stay.

We had a calm, comfortable city break here. Watching the geese and fountains was fun, and there was even a little moat and bridge to cross. The room was clean and tidy, and the one we had, 304, looked to have been remodeled within the past year. I much preferred its blues, whites and golds to the red and grey decor I saw in some booking.com photos. The large toiletries bottles fixed to the wall seem like a better choice for the environment. We chose this place because it had parking, which hotels in town don't. It's spacious and easy to get around, and we got a free upgrade from a king to a superior king. Staff were polite and professional. The air conditioning and light switches were a bit confusing, though maybe that's just a standard hotel thing.

The evening meal and breakfast were enjoyable, and the price for three people, £165 for dinner, bed and breakfast, was great. We had three lovely mains and desserts, and breakfast was the usual buffet. The bathroom was nicely decorated and a good size, with a hot shower. Our room was spacious, had a fridge and complimentary water, a large bed and a sofa bed. The TV was a good size and the bed comfortable. We could open a window for fresh air. There was free parking, and we were allowed to park early. The tram stop into the city centre was close by, and check-in came with free cookies. But the sofa bed was very dusty and made my lad sneeze a lot. The bedside lights didn't work, and the metal light wouldn't stay in place. At dinner the staff didn't know how the meal deal worked, so I checked with reception and confirmed it included £26.95 per person credit. I chose an emailed receipt at checkout, then got home and saw I'd been charged extra for the meal. I'm still waiting for a refund. Staff need more training. They shouldn't offer a dinner, bed and breakfast rate if the team doesn't know how it works. Sadly, that took away from our visit.

The restaurant food was tasty and, for a hotel, quite reasonably priced. Reception and restaurant service were both excellent, friendly and personal. We felt listened to. The hotel was really well managed, with great staff. Our room was huge but still cosy and homely, and I wish we could have stayed longer. Free parking was a nice change. I wish I had more reason to come back.