Holiday Inn Express London - Stansted Airport

The bed wheels were not locked properly, so the beds slid across the floor when leaned on, creating a serious risk of falling. In several rooms, the air conditioning was broken. Reception also made borrowing a power adapter feel like a huge burden and allowed it for exactly five minutes. During breakfast, staff objected to guests wanting takeaway food, called us "animals," and made insulting remarks. We felt watched, and were blamed for food shortages just because someone asked for a bag. We were here for a Ryanair training session, and staff seemed overwhelmed by the group and were very rude. The service was a joke. This hotel doesn't seem able to cope with high occupancy or provide basic hospitality. Its 3.9 Google rating feels overrated. I strongly advise against staying, especially with an organized group.

The room and beds were good, dinner was included, and the price was fantastic. They also lent me a socket converter for free so I could charge my phone. The stay was great. There's not much space to rest in the lobby, though, and getting there on foot is difficult. The bus transfer costs 6€, which is overpriced. If you don't pay for it, you have to cross roads and mud.

The price was great and breakfast was decent and included. It's also a good spot, just five minutes from Stansted airport by shuttle bus, which costs £4 each way. There's a McDonald's and an M&S petrol station next door. A comfortable stay, recommended.

The team at Express Café & Bar were genuinely friendly, and we got a warm welcome on both stays, on October 22nd and 25th. But the room from the 22nd didn't seem properly cleaned: the couch smelled, the table was sticky, the bedside surfaces were dusty, and there was what looked like a stain in the bathroom. We checked out early on the 26th and appreciated being able to take breakfast items with us. One apple we took was rotten inside, which was unpleasant. It may help if the hotel warns guests that airport buses don't allow drinks onboard, since people end up throwing away full cups outside. We felt welcome, but cleanliness and the takeaway breakfast setup could be better.