Da Vinci's Hotel

Breakfast was super, with plenty of choices and cereals. The pastries were excellent and the full English was complete. It was totally worth the price, and booking directly on the hotel site is cheaper. The hotel is being renovated, but that didn’t affect the service. It was quite noisy, and we could hear a lot from the room next door. A group of young lads were laughing and talking loudly, so at 11pm we called reception after a long day of adventure, with another one ahead of us. Staff went straight over, and the noise stopped. Credit to them and to the lads for respecting quiet time. I just needed a proper sleep.

The staff were very nice, and the food was good, with a good range at breakfast. We had to fiddle around a bit to get our prime stick working on the TV. The location is really good, about a 5 minute drive into the town centre. I’d definitely stay again. The hotel is being refurbished at the moment, so it should be even better next year.

The bar was a lively place to spend the evening, with live music, a good crowd and a heated smoking area. We had a great stay in Derry, and this is one of the better places we’ve stayed on our frequent trips. I’m looking forward to returning once construction is finished and staying in a suite. There were a few check-in problems, but they were sorted quickly. Hotel manager Glenn was helpful and accommodating. The hotel is under construction, so only double rooms were available during our stay. They were large and well finished, though the TV was a bit small. We didn’t eat in the bar or restaurant except for breakfast, which was very good, with cereals, pastries and hot items, plus good, strong coffee. It’s an excellent location, with plenty of parking and several local shops and restaurants within walking distance. Brunswick moviebowl is about a 10 minute walk away.

I’d give the hotel itself three stars rather than four, though I’m rating this review four stars. We only stayed one night, so the issues didn’t matter much to us. Reception staff were very nice and helpful, access was easy, and there was plenty of parking. Breakfast service was excellent and the food was lovely. The room was spacious and tidy, and the hotel wasn’t dirty, but the furniture and equipment looked dated, as did the interior. The room had no AC, and our key cards didn’t always work. The carpet on the third floor also needs replacing.