Holiday Inn Express Burton Upon Trent by IHG — Hotel in East Staffordshire

We have never felt more relaxed thanks to staff attitudes and the informal way that everything outside the bedroom doors felt. The reception area actually felt more like a relaxed community place than the usual sterile, charmless experience one often expects.

We were given room one. We had a large dog with us. I don't know if this played a part in room selection, but we were on the quiet side of the hotel as opposed to the side nearest the busy A38. And we had no bedrooms to either side of us.

Being on the ground floor, and quite close to the easy going reception area and lounge, I actually toddled out to the milk urn a number of times in my socks, to get milk for the coffee I brought along to make in the room.

There is even an ice dispensing machine in the reception area, for guests to enjoy. And on this hot weekend, didn't we just. Walking the few feet from our room to it was a journey often made.

Speaking of hot weekends, what a blessed relief it was to find very efficient air conditioning, able to instantly cool the room. Our big golden doodle really appreciated it too. He spent most of the time smiling because the room was nice and cool.

The big, modern, walk-in shower is magnificent. Water-pressure-wise it was ideal. Holiday Inn have obviously put previous lessons learned into practice, to the benefit of their guests, because the water pressure was optimal, with the shower heads being detachable so that proper, uninhibited cleansing can be enjoyed.

Incidentally, the water felt super-soft on the skin.

Just a couple of pieces of minor, constructive feedback:

One: The choices for breakfast are very limited and what hot food was available was actually little more than cold on the second morning's breakfast. I should add, in fairness, the three hot items available (scrambled eggs, baked beans and sausages) were good quality, nicely cooked and nicely seasoned. Just a little more diligence is required in terms of ensuring it is kept hot.

As far as other options go, specifically where fruit is concerned, there was just grapefruit. Not ideal if one needs to fall back on fruit, and the acquired taste of grapefruit is not a feasible choice.

Two: the duvet on the king size bed we slept in was inadequate for the job; it was too small; barely covering the width of the bed when not occupied; when occupied it simply would not cover us both.

These two minor things were more than offset by the all-round superb experience we enjoyed...

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Burton-upon-Trent during July 2014 on our way to the Lake District. Having stayed at this venue before we knew what to expect (or so we thought) and were looking forward to a comfortable break in our journey.

Our stay coincided with one of the hottest days of the year and consequently our room was stiflingly hot and stuffy. The guest rooms have no air conditioning (only air circulation). Clearly we can't complain about the weather, but having a top floor room facing the sun meant that with no air-con and all the fans in the hotel having been loaned to other residents - we didn't have a comfortable night.

Otherwise the hotel was clean, well maintained, with polite staff and a fair breakfast (not quite as well stocked as other HI Expresses we have stayed at in the UK).

The sting in the tail with this hotel is the HIDDEN parking charges. Since last we stayed the hotel has secured their car park, presumably to avoid non-residents using it for free parking. The additional security is welcome but nowhere does the hotel indicate that there are any parking charges as you enter the car park, neither is this mentioned in the reception area or during check-in. The first indication of a parking charge is a laminated sign in the elevator to the guest rooms.

Whilst Holiday Inn have every right to charge for parking, I consider it very poor that they keep the charge a secret until after you have driven in to their car park (for which exit is only possible through a security barrier), and no mention of charges is made until after check-in. This behaviour is bad practice, ill conceived and only serves to irritate.

I raised the matter with the duty manager and would expect that at a minimum the charging structure is clearly stated and declared BEFORE you enter...

Our stay could have been better. I stayed as an IHG employee and Club Member and I feel I did not get the recognition I deserved. On arrival I mentioned to staff at reception that I was an employee for the brand and they said nothing, no mention of me being a member either or an employee. No welcome letter or mention of points for stay. I found the staff to be quite rude at times and not all that helpful. The room itself was fine the rooms are much nicer since being refurbished and staff were happy to give us toothpaste and extra milk for the room which was great and the breakfast was lovely we enjoyed that aspect of our stay. Only area I would say that needs work is the attitude of the staff. I work for an IHG hotel and I always recognize staff and members and I did not get that personal touch to my stay which was disappointing. also found the staff to be rude at times I requested a late check out for 12pm which I know is not always possible but the staff got moody about it. I ended up checking out at 11am anyway but upon check out again I was not asked how my stay was or if I enjoyed my stay, or anything just a quick goodbye. which again was disappointing. and also I want to add that I am an employee and I did not get my employee discount for my 2 night stay which was upsetting since I work for the brand and had to pay full price. not to sure I would stay at this hotel again...