Holiday Inn Manchester Airport by IHG — Hotel in Manchester

The location of the hotel, conveniently next to Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport, makes it the perfect choice for travellers. With easy access to other terminals and various modes of transport such as National Rail trains, Metrolink trams, National Express and Megabus coaches, getting to and from the hotel is a breeze thanks to the skylink walkway.

Upon entering the hotel, you are greeted by a spacious and welcoming open lobby. Whether you're in the mood for a refreshing drink or simply want to relax with a beverage, the open lobby provides the perfect setting. Its comfortable atmosphere allows you to unwind and enjoy some time before or after a flight. Getting to your room is made effortless thanks to the numerous lifts available at the lobby. This means that accessing your room is quick and convenient, eliminating any unnecessary hassle.

I was lucky enough to be allocated a premium room during my stay. The room was spacious and had all the amenities one could ask for. From a wardrobe to store your belongings, to an iron and ironing board for any last-minute touch-ups, the room was equipped with everything you may need. Additionally, a hair dryer, smart TV, kettle, safe, Nespresso machine, fridge, working desk with lamp and a sofa were all included to enhance the stay.

The bathroom was equally impressive, boasting a light and airy space. The highlight was the walk-in shower. Of course, a good night's sleep is crucial for any traveller. The bed in my room was no disappointment. It struck the perfect balance between softness and support, ensuring a comfortable sleep.

One cannot talk about this hotel without mentioning the breakfast buffet. As I indulged in this delectable spread, I couldn't help but appreciate the attentive staff who ensured that my dining experience was perfect. The buffet offered a wide selection of hot and cold items, catering to many tastes and preferences. This fulfilling breakfast provided the ideal start to my day, setting me up for the adventures that lay ahead.

Overall, I cannot recommend this hotel enough. Its prime location, excellent amenities and exceptional service make it the perfect choice for any traveller. I am already looking forward to my next visit, as I am certain it will be just as enjoyable...

First impressions: This hotel is extremely busy and crowded. The entryway is really cramped and loud. There are only two carts for the whole hotel for moving luggage.

Cleanliness: Unfortunately our room was really dirty. There was wet candy on the floor, dust on the lampshades and around the edges of the room, and the floors didn't look clean. I requested them to clean a bit more and they gave us a drink voucher but I kept finding spots here and there that were dirty. The inside of the coffee mugs had coffee lines in them.

Room quality: The craftsmanship of the room was poor. Parts of the rooms were unfinished or just poor quality, e.g. exposed wires, broken toilet seat, messy caulking. For the price we paid, this was unacceptable.

Amenities: The on-site restaurant is overpriced (£25pp) and mediocre. It's also kind of a trap because unfortunately, they hotel doesn't have any snacks or bottled drinks available to buy. There is also no concierge, which was disappointing as we wanted to hire a van because we had a lot of luggage.

Pets: They charged us extra fees for our pets but provide zero amenities for them. There isn't even a trash can outside of the building to throw out doggy bags.

Loading: If someone comes to drop you off or pick you up, they have to register with the front desk to not get a £100 fine.

Location: Good location with easy access to the airport, although walkability of the area could be greatly improved. No restaurants nearby so be prepared to get delivery.

Breakfast: About as lackluster as you would expect for hotel bar breakfast food. No fresh fruit or healthy options.

Accessibility: Only one automatic door. Lots of tight, sharp corners in the building. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS HOTEL FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS. Sensory overload in the lobby floor that's just as exhausting as an airport. Lobby floor also kept triggering my allergies.

Staff: They all seemed extremely stressed and overwhelmed. I felt sorry for them. Many seemed poorly informed or untrained, which isn't...

Overall the hotel itself was great. Room was excellent, beds were comfy, shower was great and powerful, reception was great but it was just lacking a few things that should be expected of an airport hotel.

1. the “grab and go” breakfast was very far from it. No take away bags, nothing easy to “grab” except pastries, extremely disappointing considering this was the main reason for us booking here (4am departure). It is a buffet breakfast with no easy options for take away. Some rolls to make up a sandwich, some ready made sandwiches, take away yoghurts etc would have been great, instead you are presented with the normal buffet breakfast and nothing to take it away in.

2. The family room (in our case we booked a Superior Queen with sofa bed) is possibly the furthest room away from the lifts. Normally not an issue at all but when travelling with an 11 month old and 3 suitcases, it would be nice to at least be close to the lifts and not the very end of the corridor. If there was a hotel trolley to put your bags in it would have been easier, however the 1 trolley I borrowed had a flat tyre which made it impossible to push.

3. Airport trolleys to hand would be a great addition. I understand people leave them strewn everywhere, they can be problematic and not easy to maintain but having them available and close by the international terminal would really help. Yes, it’s only a few minutes walk to the terminal to grab one and not overly a problem, but travelling alone as a single parent meant either leaving my son to grab one or struggling with everything.

Positives;

Staff were fantastic, food was great, room was clean, shower was powerful, drop off was easy, location was excellent, check in was seamless, beds were comfy.

Just a few, what some what consider small improvements, would really top it off and make some peoples stay a little more...