Holiday Inn Washington by IHG

The room was nice, check-in went smoothly, and the price was reasonable, especially with free parking this time. The hotel is quite isolated, so it may suit you if you don't plan to go elsewhere during your stay. But I've never had to go hungry at another Holiday Inn. I'm wheat intolerant, and there wasn't any gluten-free food. Other Holiday Inns I've stayed at had a few choices, and in Derby and Chester the staff even brought gluten-free toast to my breakfast table. When I asked here, the waiter's reaction made it feel as if I'd told him I had leprosy, Ebola and rabies. I went without an evening meal, and after that I didn't feel comfortable asking again. It's a medical condition, and I'm not sure the staff understood that.

The bar man was really friendly and helpful, and the location made the hotel useful for what we needed. The room itself was basic, and the sofa bed wasn't great, though it was probably okay for a short stay. It was winter, so some warmth was welcome, but the room was far too hot to be comfortable. The TV kept cutting out too. After it was supposedly fixed, it ran for about ten minutes, then switched off; unplugging and resetting it got us another ten minutes before we had to do it all over again. There's room for improvement.

The staff and the room arrangements made this a frustrating stay, and I wouldn't recommend it. When I called to say two people would be staying instead of the one originally booked, they said it was no problem. At breakfast, though, we were told only one breakfast was included. I didn't mind paying for another, but they could have mentioned the cost when I called or at check-in. They also handed me a family member's paperwork to fill out; once I noticed, they scribbled over it instead of printing a new copy. The hotel held £60 on my credit card even though I'd paid for the room in full when booking, and took a copy of the card details too. I had to go to reception at checkout to make sure I wasn't charged, which slowed things down. It was cheap, but the bar and food prices made the overall stay expensive. The place looks worn and needs updating. Only one tiny lift seemed to be working, and walking down from the fourth floor was quicker. Staff could use better training.

Housekeeping changed the bedding, brought clean towels and vacuumed, which was all we could ask for. They seemed a little hesitant to move things around much, but that wasn't a problem. Everyone we met was lovely, and it made even the harder days easier. I stayed for three weeks with my three spirited, loud and mischievous girls. I worried they'd be seen as a bother, but nobody made us feel that way. Paul, Oana and Reji made us feel welcome, offered advice and guidance, and even helped with the children at times. Breakfast staff were wonderful too, though the dinner team really stood out. Katie looked after us so well and made my girls feel special. I'm grateful for how well everyone took care of us. They really did go above and beyond. I'd happily come back, and hopefully for dinner. Thank you all!