Holiday Inn Oxford

The breakfast team made a great start to every morning. They were friendly and attentive, kept the food fresh and created a welcoming atmosphere. Everyone had that lovely nothing-is-too-much-trouble attitude, and the experience was far better than we expected. George at the front desk deserves a special mention. He was professional and welcoming, and surprised us with an upgrade to an immaculate Executive Suite. It added a real sense of luxury and made an already lovely trip unforgettable. The team’s kindness made us feel genuinely cared for throughout our stay. We’ll definitely return, and highly recommend this Holiday Inn for five-star service in a friendly atmosphere.

Room service was excellent, quick and tasty, and we didn’t try breakfast. We were in room 331, with a comfortable super king bed, but the bathroom was very dated. Check-in was fine, though slow, with the desk sometimes unmanned and a queue that moved slowly. The room wasn’t especially clean, and after the first day housekeeping only remade the bed. The hotel was easy to find, and parking costs £6 a day. Dining guests can stay up to three hours free, but remember to enter your number plate on the iPad. The ground floor was always busy with football matches and large groups, and smokers gathered outside the entrance, making it unpleasant to walk through. I wouldn’t choose to stay here again.

We had a lovely weekend, and the hotel’s location was brilliant, just a three minute walk from the Peartree P&R. The place was buzzing with an early Burns Night celebration, and we were invited to watch the address to the haggis and have a taste. Dinner in the restaurant on our first evening was delicious, well above the usual hotel fodder. I’ve never felt this positive about a chain hotel. Every team member gave outstanding service, and the GM was a complete star who clearly values his brilliant staff. Thank you all.

The breakfast was excellent, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Staff were friendly, and the hotel is very well placed for Oxford park and ride. But room service really let it down. After walking miles, we came back tired and ordered two tuna and cucumber sandwiches. They took 45 minutes, arrived hot, mine was crispy on top, and there was no cucumber. It was just a sandwich and a bag of crisps, with absolutely no presentation. Definitely not worth the money or the wait.