Holiday Inn Express London Gatwick Crawley

For a 3* hotel, it pleasantly surprised me. The room was clean and spacious, with a huge comfortable bed and a powerful shower. There were tea and coffee facilities, and breakfast came included. The breakfast room gets very busy, though, so it pays to be quick before some items run out. I’d recommend it for a short stay.

We booked the park and sleep option so we could leave our car in the secure car park and collect it when we returned. Once I’d worked through the flights and connections, this made everything much easier to arrange and was very comfortable too. The hotel was clean and the staff welcoming, and it’s a really good stop for a Gatwick flight. Breakfast was very good and ample for what we needed. The coffee could be better, but that was my only gripe. The taxi cost a bit more than expected, though it’s an airport trip. The bus service seemed good enough, but we didn’t have time to use it. After travelling for nearly 24 hours on the return, we took the easy taxi option back to the car. We’d certainly use it again.

The staff were extremely friendly and helpful, and the bedroom was clean and nice. As part of a stay and park package, the hotel was good value for what I paid. The breakfast area felt like a 70s greasy cafe, and you have to make your own table. There was something for everyone to eat, though. The shower pressure was like drip irrigation, and the soap dispenser wasn’t clever, so I was glad I’d brought my own soap. I’ve stayed in nicer budget hotels.

The room was ultra clean, with a great comfortable bed and very good shower. The location is good too, with a Harvester restaurant right next door. I must have missed the parking charge online when I booked, so be aware it’s £7 for overnight parking. I’m not sure whether that’s per night, so it’s worth checking. Breakfast is help yourself and can get a bit manic when it’s busy, since the serving area is small for the number of people. The ordinary domestic toaster wasn’t ideal for that volume. Still, it was a pleasant stay and I’d use the hotel again.