Holiday Inn Gloucester-Cheltenham

The spa access was a great bonus, and there was plenty to choose from at breakfast. The food and dining area were in good order, clean and tidy. My room was clean, with a comfortable, massive bed and awesome pillows. I slept like a log. Reception was welcoming and answered all our questions, and the housekeeping staff were extremely friendly and polite. It’s marked as 3 star, but I reckon it should be 4. The M5 is just a short hop away, so it’s well placed.

I can’t have dairy, so I told the lovely staff member who asked about dietary needs at our company team briefing. She said she’d look after me and really did. She brought banana chips with the pastry, then a huge bowl of fresh fruit when she brought out yoghurt and fruit. At lunch she got me steak pies and chips, and it was delicious. Thanks for being so thoughtful and taking such good care of me. You deserve a medal.

We stopped for one night on a road trip and really enjoyed the brief stay. We were exhausted, so having a bar and restaurant in the full hotel meant we didn’t have to go back out. Dinner there was pretty good. The room was nice and clean, though the shower pressure wasn’t great. Great value, too.

Once you find the hotel, the staff are amazing, helpful and have a good sense of humour. Breakfast was amazing too, with all the cooked food hot and the bread, fruit, cereal and milk regularly checked and topped up. It’s £5 for overnight parking, and remember to enter your vehicle on the reception tablet or you’ll get a fixed penalty letter. Finding the place can be tricky, even with satnav, and the roadside signs are sparse and hidden by shrubs, but don’t let that put you off.