ibis Coventry Centre

A simple, comfortable room with a surprisingly good bed, plus a powerful shower in a slightly cramped bathroom. Breakfast was fine for the price, and the staff were attentive when needed. It’s just a short walk into town. For a budget hotel in the city centre, you get a fair deal, with parking available for an extra £6.

The location is handy, within walking distance of the city centre and near some parts of Coventry University. Staff were pleasant and did their best to help, bringing extra hangers and toilet paper promptly. Still, I’d only consider it for one night, not a longer stay. The rooms are basic, which didn’t bother me, but the upkeep did. I found stickers under the blanket that weren’t mine, and wondered if the room had been cleaned properly. The key cards kept failing, although staff kindly reactivated them each time. Wi-Fi was poor, so I ended up using mobile data. I expected rooms to be cleaned unless a “skip the clean” or “please clean the room” sign was put out, as happens in many hotels. This place only had the former, and cleaning actually had to be requested through an online portal and booked for a specific time. That wasn’t the hotel’s fault, but it’s useful to know. After I scheduled a clean, someone arrived about three hours early while we were still in the room. We asked them to come back at the right time, but the room never got cleaned.

The room felt uncomfortable and unclean. There were stains and cracks on the walls, the sink smelled strongly of rotten eggs, and I found stains and hair on the mattress and pillows. It wasn’t properly maintained. Breakfast was even more troubling. While I sat working and having coffee, I saw the staff member responsible for preparing and serving it go outside several times. I assumed she was taking smoke breaks. Each time she came back, she went straight to handling plates, clearing tables and bringing out food without washing her hands. I also clearly smelled alcohol on her when she passed me a few times. Her appearance and behaviour didn’t seem professional or welcoming, and the whole thing made me uncomfortable and put me off eating. I went into town for breakfast for the rest of my stay. I hope management takes this seriously and improves cleanliness and staff professionalism. The experience fell short of basic hospitality expectations.

Every staff member I dealt with was really kind and helpful. They even brought an extra cover on a cold night, and I’d go back for the people alone. The rooms are pretty standard. I couldn’t switch off the electrical equipment at night, which made it harder to sleep deeply.