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Summary of reviewsThe Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG, generally garners favorable reviews from guests, making it a popular choice for a variety of travelers. Situated conveniently near key routes like the A12 and close to the Harwich ferry, the hotel offers easy access to tourist attractions such as Dedham and Colchester Zoo. The ample, free parking further enhances its appeal. While some guests find the location a bit tricky to navigate due to poor signage and ongoing construction, the overall setting is quiet and family-friendly.
A high point of the guest experience is the cleanliness of the hotel. Rooms and public spaces are consistently praised for their immaculate condition, modern design and upkeep. The friendly and helpful staff also contribute significantly to a pleasant stay, showing a keen dedication to guest satisfaction. Clean and comfortable primary beds, although the sofa beds often receive criticism for being uncomfortable.
Guests generally find the breakfast to be satisfactory with a variety of options available from 6:30 AM. Though some items could use improvement, the breakfast offerings often exceed expectations in quantity and variety. On the other hand, dinner receives mixed reviews with many guests finding the menu limited and the food quality below par.
The hotel proves favorable for business travelers, who appreciate its convenience, value and comfortable sleeping arrangements. However, guests note sporadic issues with room sizes and climate control and some areas of the hotel may benefit from minor maintenance to address dated decor and occasional odors.
Free and reliable wifi, despite some intermittent issues, adds to the overall positive experience, although a lack of mobile signal in the hotel can be a drawback for some.
Overall, the Holiday Inn Express Colchester provides a practical, clean and welcoming environment, ideal for families, tourists and business travelers alike with areas for improvement primarily in dinner offerings and signage for easier access. Show more
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Categories
Hotel with Parking
This hotel has an on-site car park that is free of charge for guest visitors. This provides convenient parking directly at the hotel.
3-Star Hotel
Located in Colchester, this hotel provides a dependable experience with included breakfast. The hotel is known for its consistent quality and practical amenities.
Family Friendly Hotel
Business Hotel
Cheap Hotel
Accessible Hotel
Room Types
Double Room with Free Hot Breakfast - AccessibleRooms have satellite TV and facilities for making tea and coffee. Each also comes with its own bathroom and a hairdryer.
Standard Room with Free Hot BreakfastRooms have satellite TV and facilities for making tea and coffee. Each also comes with its own bathroom and a hairdryer.
Standard Double Room with Sofa Bed and Free Hot BreakfastRooms have satellite TV and facilities for making tea and coffee. Each also comes with its own bathroom and a hairdryer.
Standard Twin Room with Free Hot BreakfastThis room has a flat-screen TV with pay movies and satellite channels, an adjustable desk, tea/coffee making facilities and a pillow menu.
Guest Reviews
7.3
Good
Location
The Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG, receives varied feedback regarding its location. Many guests find the hotel's location very convenient, noting its proximity to key routes such as the A12, which allows easy access to the motorway and surrounding areas without the noise typically associated with such roads. The hotel is also near the Stena Line ferry at Harwich, making it a strategic choice for those traveling by sea.
Visitors highlight that the hotel is ideally situated for exploring tourist destinations like the Dedham area and Colchester Zoo. Additionally, it's close to park-and-ride services, enhancing its convenience for guests needing easy access to town or local attractions by car. The ample and free parking is a recurring positive, contributing to the overall favorable impression of the hotel's practicality and quiet surroundings.
However, some reviews mention challenges in finding the hotel due to poor signage from the motorway and its somewhat hidden location behind a building site. This has led to mixed feelings about its accessibility with some guests considering it a bit isolated or awkwardly placed. Despite these concerns, the general consensus remains that for many, the location served their needs well, providing a peaceful and family-friendly environment coupled with good value for money.
The hotel is noted for its cleanliness and the friendliness of its staff, though there are remarks about limited dining options, especially for children. This suggests that while the hotel is a suitable base for specific itineraries and preferences, some guests may find certain aspects lacking depending on their expectations and travel purposes.
Breakfast
The breakfast at Holiday Inn Express Colchester generally receives positive remarks from guests. Commended for its variety and abundance, the buffet breakfast offers guests a good selection of items, including fresh fruit and the option to make a takeaway. The convenience of starting breakfast at 6:30 AM is appreciated, catering well to early risers. The breakfast area is kept clean with friendly and helpful staff ensuring an uncomplicated experience.
The offerings are varied, from a full English to simpler options and are regularly restocked. Many guests describe the breakfast as more than satisfactory with some noting it exceeded their expectations in terms of quantity and variety. However, a few guests felt the quality was not up to par, mentioning that some items, particularly sausages and hot food, could be improved.
Despite occasional critiques of limited choices and specific items being overcooked or underwhelming, the overall consensus is that the breakfast is good and provides a convenient, enjoyable start to the day.
Dinner
Guest reviews of the dinner experience at the Holiday Inn Express Colchester paint a mixed picture. On the positive side, some guests found both dinner and breakfast to be excellent with evening meals described as nice. However, many reviewers expressed dissatisfaction with the dinner options, citing a very limited and unappealing menu. The food quality received harsh criticism with terms like inedible and beyond awful being used. There were also complaints about the portion sizes and the accuracy of the menu descriptions. Additionally, the lack of vegetarian options and the high prices relative to the quality of the food were points of concern. Overall, while there are some positives, the majority of reviews indicate that the hotel could significantly improve its dining offerings.
Rooms
The rooms at Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG, earn praise for their cleanliness, modern design and overall comfort. Guests frequently compliment the cleanliness standards, noting that the rooms, bathrooms and common areas are well-maintained. Blackout curtains and friendly staff add to the positive experience. Comfortable beds in the main sleeping areas are commonly mentioned, contributing to a restful stay.
However, some issues were reported with the sofa beds, which many guests found uncomfortable, particularly for adults and children. Room sizes received mixed reviews; while some found the rooms spacious and suitable for families, others felt they were on the smaller side. Climate control also posed challenges with several guests noting that the air conditioning struggled to cool the rooms effectively.
In terms of facilities, the showers garnered positive feedback for good water pressure and cleanliness. Yet, some areas of the hotel show signs of wear with mentions of dated decor, lingering odors and occasional maintenance issues such as torn carpets and problematic mattresses.
Overall, while the primary beds and cleanliness make for a generally pleasant stay, there are some areas where improvements could enhance the guest experience further.
Beds
At the Holiday Inn Express Colchester, the reviews about the beds are a mixed bag. Many guests appreciated the comfort of the double beds, describing them as comfy, very comfortable and even extremely comfy along with the pillows. However, a significant number of guests found issues with the softness, springiness or overall quality of the beds. Complaints varied from beds being too soft, hard, bouncy or incredibly uncomfortable. Particularly, the sofa beds received substantial negative feedback; guests highlighted issues like poor quality, broken frames and protruding springs, making them especially unsuitable for both adults and children. Some reviewers even reported lumpy mattresses and uncomfortable pull-out beds. The notable disparity in bed comfort suggests inconsistency, indicating that some rooms may offer a better sleeping experience than others.
Cleanliness
Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG, receives high marks for cleanliness from its guests. Most reviewers highlight the spotless condition of the rooms, describing them as nice, modern and spacious. Many guests appreciate the cleanliness of the hotel in general, noting that it extends to all areas, including public spaces and facilities. Additionally, staff members are frequently mentioned as friendly and helpful, which contributes to a welcoming atmosphere.
Guests are particularly impressed with the immaculate condition of the rooms with comments focusing on the cleanliness of the bathroom, sheets and towels. The facility overall is described as extremely clean and well-kept, aligning well with the online photos.
However, a few reviews point to areas that require improvement. Some guests encountered issues such as stained carpets, dirty en-suite showers and an occasional smell of raw sewage around the building. Complaints also mention unclean floors and bathrooms, as well as occasional intrusive housekeeping.
Despite these sporadic negative experiences, the general consensus is that Holiday Inn Express Colchester maintains a high standard of cleanliness, providing a comfortable and pleasant stay for its guests.
Staff
The reviews for the Holiday Inn Express Colchester overwhelmingly speak to the outstanding quality of the hotel staff. Words like friendly, helpful and welcoming are recurring themes, painting a picture of a team dedicated to creating a pleasant stay for guests. Despite one isolated mention of rudeness, the vast majority of feedback highlights the staff's politeness and readiness to assist with any needs or issues.
The staff’s efficiency and prompt problem-solving skills are noted with several guests commending the immediate efforts of both the staff and the manager to ensure guest satisfaction. From check-in experiences to meal times, the interactions with staff were described as fantastic, greatly enhancing the overall guest experience. The cleanliness of the hotel further complements the excellence in service, contributing to an environment where guests feel comfortable and well cared for.
Moreover, the staff’s ability to go the extra mile, such as informing guests about events like the World Cup final, showcases their commitment to guest engagement and satisfaction. Overall, the positive feedback paints a vivid picture of a hotel where customer service is clearly a priority, ensuring that guests feel welcome and valued throughout their stay.
Wi-Fi
The wifi at Holiday Inn Express Colchester receives mixed feedback from guests, but mostly positive comments about its functionality. Many guests find the wifi to be reliable, describing it as great and working fine for general use. No password is required, which is a convenience for many. However, some reviews indicate that the connection can be intermittent, cutting out at times and not supporting more demanding activities like video calls. Despite the generally good wifi, guests consistently note a lack of mobile signal within the hotel, which may be a drawback for those relying on their phones for communication.
Parking
Holiday Inn Express Colchester offers a highly convenient accommodation option with its ample and free parking facilities. Guests appreciate the spacious parking lot that ensures there is always plenty of parking available. The hotel’s proximity to key areas makes it an ideal base for exploring Essex, further enhancing its appeal. Despite being located just off the A12, visitors find the location to be pleasant and quiet. The inclusion of free parking adds to the value with many highlighting this as a significant benefit. Some reviews do mention ongoing construction near the car park, which has slightly impacted the visible signage for the hotel. However, overall, the abundant, easily accessible parking is highlighted as a strong positive feature by many guests.
Family
Holiday Inn Express Colchester offers mixed experiences for families with children. While the hotel provides clean and well-maintained travel cots, the sofa beds for children have received some criticism for being uncomfortable and unstable with guests noting they could feel the springs. The lack of a bath in the rooms made it less convenient for families with younger kids who might prefer baths over showers. Despite these points, the size of the rooms was generally sufficient, except for some family rooms which were considered a bit small.
The location serves well as a stopover for travelers heading to the Harwich Ferry. Though not within walking distance to local attractions, the hotel itself met general expectations and contributed to an enjoyable stay for all. Notably, the whole family could enjoy their stay, thanks to small touches of hospitality and accommodation like providing adjacent rooms for extended family members.
Business
Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG, proves to be a commendable choice for business travelers, providing both convenience and value for money. Guests appreciate the hotel's strategic location, making it a practical base for reaching important destinations. The property is praised for offering great value with many finding it a good deal, particularly in terms of pricing and amenities.
The hotel facilitates restful sleep, which is crucial for business trips. Feedback highlights the comfort and quality of sleep experienced by guests, essential for a productive stay. Despite slight concerns over the need for fresh paint, the overall ambiance and experience at the hotel are positive with guests describing the property as nice and the food as delightful.
On the service front, while some guests had difficulty locating staff at the reception desk, the overall use of the hotel for business purposes remains highly recommended. The consistency of good experiences ensures that many business travelers plan to use the hotel again, recognizing it as a reliable option for future stays.
No, Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG.
No, Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG.
No, Holiday Inn Express Colchester by IHG doesn't have a gym.