Holiday Inn Express Manchester East

The staff were the best part of our stay. Everyone was kind, welcoming, and friendly, and checkout was easy. Based on that service alone, I’d book here again if I return to Manchester. It was also a reliable, good-value base for getting to Co-op Live, about 3.3 miles away, and the City Centre, a quick 4.3-mile drive. McDonald's is right on the same road, about 450 feet away and open 24 hours. I needed a break from McDonald's on this trip, but it’s handy for a quick or late meal. The room was clean and functional, but the hotel feels dated and due for a major update. It seemed like the last refresh was around 2013. The sofa had noticeable stains, the bedding was basic and not very comfortable, and the old TV had lines across the screen and only outdated basic channels. It was fine for passing through, though a modern update would make the room more comfortable. The complimentary breakfast was enough to fill up, but short on flavor. The sausages were the best thing in the selection.

For the price and location, this hotel is amazing, and nearly everything else about the stay was close to perfect. The problem was a receptionist knocking on our door at 11pm and blaming us for noise made by another family in a different room. I told her respectfully that she had disturbed us and gave her a piece of my mind. Staff should investigate first before confronting an innocent guest. Apart from that rude staff member, the experience was almost perfect, so perhaps I’ve been generous with four stars. Thank you.

The lift is the one thing that might make me take the stairs next time. It feels like it’s on its last legs: it jolts when you step in, staggers down, and opens while moving between floors. The hallways are musty too, though that happens in a lot of chain hotels. Aside from that, it’s a great hotel. The staff were friendly, helpful, and quick, and check-in and checkout were easy. The clean rooms have kettles for tea and coffee, and they’ll offer extra toiletries if you’ve forgotten something or need more, which is a nice touch. Breakfast had loads of options. I’d stay again.

I had a very enjoyable stay and everything we needed was there. The location loses a star because it was a bit away from the excellent tram network. We might have worked out other public transport options besides taxis if we’d had more time.