BLOC Hotel Gatwick

The day-rate option has been really handy for me. You can keep a room until 16:00, which worked well when I needed a proper rest during a long airport wait. I’ve also stayed overnight at Bloc Hotel at Gatwick Airport, and both kinds of stay went very well. It’s a practical place for short stays, with location and efficiency taking priority over luxury. The rooms are tiny, but laid out thoughtfully, and they were clean, quiet, and comfortable. The bed was genuinely comfortable too. Some rooms look out over the airport, while the cheaper ones have no windows. Bloc Hotel is straightforward and does what it promises. I’d happily stay there again when flying through Gatwick.

The room was gorgeous and really spacious, with stunning pink lighting. It was also super convenient, and the hosts deserve a compliment. I stayed for five nights over the Christmas break. A quirky feature, if you wanted to try it, was being able to shower and sit on the toilet at the same time. Just keep in mind the hotel is quite close to an airport, so plane noise could be an issue if you’re sensitive to it.

Being able to drop my bag for my BA flight was such a nice touch, and getting up and heading out in the morning made the whole flight experience much easier. The room has no windows and is small, but I arrived on a winter evening when it was already dark, and it was fine for me on my own in the bottom bunk. The top one looked very cramped, though, and I’m not sure I’d have liked it. It was my first hotel like this, so the practical plastic floor instead of carpet felt strange. The bathroom was fine, and the soaps and body wash smelled lovely. It’s a wet room, so plan your showers carefully unless you want to soak the bathroom. I got a discount for nearby food places, though I picked the wrong one. With the right expectations, it should be a good stay.

The hotel is located in terimal 2, so getting through security, wandering around the duty free and shops, and heading to the gate was hassle free and relaxed. I slept well, and the smart room was great, especially the lighting and blackout blind. Reception gave me a warm welcome, check-in went smoothly, and I was told they were available 24 hours if I needed anything. The directions to the room and to the area for making hot drinks were clear. There were discounts at a few restaurants too. I’d book again and highly recommend it.