GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK (Ibis Accor Hotels in general)

Member Name: snappy

Product:	Ibis Accor Hotels in general
Date:	02/02/02 (291 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: clean, comfortable, inexpensive and accessable

Disadvantages: currently only 30 in the UK

Last year, I wrote with glowing praise about the new chain of hotels being operated under the Holiday Inn banner as 'Holiday Inn Express'. They were brand new, inexpensive and situated within easy reach of a variety of City centres.

They were ideal for the Business traveller and for a family weekend break. So, imagine my surprise when during the Summer I needed to book a couple of nights stay in a hotel near to the Don Valley Stadium in Sheffield. The first place I looked for was the Holiday Inn Express in nearby Rotherham. We had stayed their in 2000 and found that it was closer to stay there than in Sheffield itself. But, when I went to book online at the company's website - there was NO Hotel in Sheffield.

Maybe they'd been 're-branded', as the Holiday Inn chain do call their hotels by different names, 'Garden Court' for example. Nope, nothing! I checked to see if another of their hotels we'd stayed at in Chesterfield still existed. That had 'disappeared' too.

Taking the bull by the horns, I telephoned Holiday Inn Head Office. "Did you know that you've lost some of your hotels?" I thoughtfully enquired. "Not 'lost' sir, SOLD" was the helpful reply.

Problem solved. I was beginning to doubt my own sanity there for a while. It turns out that Holiday Inn - part of the Bass chain - sold a number of their 'Express' hotels to the French Accor group who operate hotels in the UK under the 'Ibis' brand.

So, to cut a long story short, we telephone Ibis reservations and book our two nights in their now Ibis Rotherham and found that little had changed.

The price (£38 per room when we stayed) used to include a serve yourself continental breakfast when under the Holiday Inn banner. Now you will find that a small charge of £4.50 is made for breakfast. Excellent value and it saves you having to get in the car and look for somewher
e else, when you're still bleary eyed.

There are plenty of cereals, fruit, lashings of coffee, tea, fruit juices or hot chocolate. You can help yourself to toast and preserves, plus cheese and cold meats. Plenty indeed to set yourself up for the day in hand.

Situated on the outskirts of Rotherham, South Yorks, the IBIS 'ROTHERHAM' (in fact Bramley is it's true location) is an ideal place to stay if you are visiting any of the attractions in the Sheffield area - the Don Valley Stadium, Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Pond Forge Swimming Pool or Sheffield Arena. The hotel is situated just a stone's throw from Junction 1 of the M18. It is new, very smart without having the kind of amenities of a superior 'marque' hotel. But the Rooms are all reasonably sized, spotless and comfortable. All containing Double and/or twin beds, TV, Coffee maker and Telephone.

The Bar/Snack area is pleasant enough to sit and relax or do some work - if their on business - at a table. However, as these hotels are mainly used for 'stopovers' or weekend breaks, the Bar menu is basically snacks - eat elsewhere if you are looking for a decent meal.

Outside this particular hotel, which is on the edge of an expanding retail/leisure area is a Morrison Supermarket (ideal to stock up, if you are touring or just breaking a journey on your way to a holiday), the ubiquitous MacDonalds and a large Family Pub Restaurant with kids play area. Nearby there is a Multiplex cinema and of course the delights of Sheffield just 10 minutes away! So you have plenty of meal and entertainment options right on your doorstep, whether dining alone, as a couple or with your family.

We have also stayed at the Chesterfield hotel too, which is pretty much a 'clone' of the one at Rotherham. I would guess, much as when branded as 'Holiday Inn', the aim is not to provide individuality, but a uniform standard of quality.

Ro
oms in the Ibis are pretty much the same. They are all double rooms, with TV And Coffee/Tea making facilities. Very clean with a comfortable bed and smart bathrroms with shower. For Business travellers - in this computer mad world of ours - as well as the usual telephone, rooms also have a separate phone socket for you to plug your modem into, if your need to!

Although not having stayed in the hotel, I am also very familiar with the Ibis in Stevenage, Herts. This hotel has changed hands several times in the past six years, and having been a visitor in the past for functions, dinners and similar, I noticed that a great deal of refurbishment has taken place since the hotel has carried the Ibis brand. The hotel itself carries a fairly meagre two star rating - in common with many of their UK Hotels according to the company's guide. But, for the price you pay and bearing in mind they are competing with the Travelodge, Premier Lodge and Travel Inn's rather than hotels with plusher facilities, I would definitely suggest that the Ibis range ranks very high on my list of comfy accommodation.

The Ibis chain now operate around 30 - at the last count - hotels in the UK. Several are situated within hailing distance of some of out Regional airports. I know there is one just outside Luton Airport, for example. I would certainly suggest that these are the absolute ideal place to book into if you have to drive - or be driven - to the airport before going on holiday. Or, of course, if you are tired after a flight and can't face a late night/early morning trek back home. Give yourselves a deserved break before setting off again. The cost is minimal after all.

As well as the two hotels that I have stayed in, Ibis would seem to be one of the up and coming names in the Business. Already established as a quality hotel operator throughout Europe, their expansion programme into the UK, means only good news for the traveller.

~~~ You can fi
nd Ibis hotels all over the UK - Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bradford, Preston, Manchester, Rotherham, Birmingham, Liverpool, Chesterfield, Sheffield, Lincoln, Leicester, Coventry, Cardiff, Wellingborough, Luton, Stevenage, London, Portsmouth, Southampton and Plymouth. For more information check out their website at www.ibishotel.com

STOP PRESS : Current Special Weekend Rates on offer at Ibis hotels. Check out the website given above - example £35 per room Glasgow.

Summary: