Holiday Inn Rotherham Sheffield, an IHG Hotel

We chose Holiday Inn Rotherham-Sheffield M1, Jct.33 for its convenient location before visiting Magna Science Adventure Centre, and the spa was a nice way to unwind after a long day. The suite was very large, but felt empty and short on the extras you might expect from an upgraded room. I joked about bringing the sofa and table from beside the lobby lift up to our room. During the 30°C spell, the air conditioning didn't work properly and the room was uncomfortable at times. The food was decent, although pricey compared with similar hotels. The location and spa were good, but the suite and ineffective air conditioning fell short of expectations.

We were pleasantly surprised by how spacious the family room was. It had two queen beds, a double sofa bed already made up, a dining table with four chairs and a smaller table with two, so all five of us had space to move around and the children could play. The bathroom gels and body lotion were premium quality. Parking was easy and plentiful, and Meadowhall was only 10 minutes away for a shopping trip with the kids. The food also made a great impression on us as a vegan family of two adults and three children. The menu had plenty of choices and clear dietary information, and the staff were always friendly and happy to help. We gave our dinner waitress a complicated order because of fussy kids and allergies, and everything arrived fresh and exactly as requested. It was refreshing to have so many options when eating out. We chose the hotel partly for the pool, spa and gym. It's unusual for a budget hotel to have a sauna and jacuzzi, so we were pleased. We took turns using the relaxing spa while the other adult stayed with the children in the pool. Very family friendly, and I'd recommend it to anyone looking to stay near Sheffield.

The desk staff were especially kind. When we left early because my daughter felt unwell overnight, the woman at reception offered supplies for our two-hour drive home. The person who checked us in had also been super friendly, and check-in was easy. We had stayed after an event at the Sheffield arena, and getting to the hotel was a simple drive, which helped with the terrible weather that day. The room was reasonably priced and had everything we needed. We didn't get to use the pool, but we'll definitely stay again on our next visit to Sheffield.

Easy to drive to and from the M1 and Sheffield City Centre, and the hotel has free parking. The rooms are a good size, breakfast was excellent and the customer service was great. There’s also a heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room and a nice gym on site. We had a great stay.