Holiday Inn Washington

The setting is isolated, so it could suit you if you don't need to go anywhere else. Check-in was good, the room was nice, and the price was reasonable, with free parking on this occasion. The food was the problem. I'm wheat intolerant, which is a medical condition, and there were no gluten-free options. Other Holiday Inns I've stayed at had a few choices, and in Derby and Chester staff even brought gluten-free toast to my table at breakfast. Here, asking the waiter about it felt like I was telling him I had leprosy, Ebola, and rabies. I ended up going without an evening meal, and after that experience I wouldn't ask again. The staff didn't seem to understand the condition, which was surprising.

The hotel is a bit dated, but it's kept clean and in good condition. The housekeeping team are pleasant and happy to handle requests, and the front desk staff are consistently welcoming. This was our third stay. The location, accommodation, and price work well for us, so we'll be back.

We had a very happy stay, and it's great to find a chain hotel that accepts dogs. The rooms were clean and comfortable, with especially roomy beds that work well for tall people. Breakfast is usually self-serve, though some days you can order. There's a good choice, and dogs can join you in the lobby or stay in the room during breakfast if they're fine on their own. The hotel has good motorway access, but we couldn't hear the traffic from our room. There's a quiet estate nearby, a corner shop about a 15-minute walk away, an entertainment venue five minutes away, and one or two similar hotels close by. In the evening, the breakfast room turns into a bar and grill. Call ahead if you'll be arriving early, since check-in isn't until 3pm. The TV in room 319 wouldn't connect to Freeview. It didn't bother us much since we were rarely in the hotel and only wanted some background noise, so we didn't report it.

The location made this room serve its purpose for a short stay, and the barman was friendly and helpful. But the room itself was basic, and the sofa bed wasn't great. It was winter and warmth was welcome, but the room was far too hot to be comfortable. The TV failed at first, then apparently got fixed, but only stayed on for about 10 minutes before switching off. I had to unplug it and reset it to get another 10 minutes of viewing, then repeat the whole thing. Things could use improvement.