Great value hotel in a great location. (Express by Holiday Inn Strathclyde Park)

Member Name: jeffjen

Product:	Express by Holiday Inn Strathclyde Park
Date:	22/04/09 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Close to country and theme park.

Disadvantages: None

I have stayed at this Express by Holiday Inn hotel, at Strathclyde Park many times now on my frequent visits to Scotland with my partner.
It is very easy to get to, just turn off the M74 at Junction 5, and it's literally just off the roundabout.

The hotel has 120 rooms and 120 free parking spaces, so no worries about parking your car.
We have always been given a warm welcome and found the staff helpful and friendly. The hotel itself is clean, modern and comfortable, with a bar downstairs with large TV where you can relax with a drink. the bar is open from 11am - 3am.
There are also some vending machines selling Toasties, chocolate, crisps, drinks and ice lollies. An ice machine is also available. There is no restaurant in the hotel but take-away menu's are available, so that if you wish you can have a take-away delivered to the hotel. The receptionist will ring your room when it arrives, and you go to reception to collect it.

All rooms have en suite bathroom with power shower, TV, hairdryer,and tea & coffee making facilities. I find the rooms are spacious and always clean. The beds are very comfortable and there are always plenty of pillows and towels, but if you wanted any more, then just ask reception and it is no problem.

Breakfast is included in the price of the room. This is a serve yourself continental breakfast buffet consisting of a large selection of cereals, toast, croissants, pastries, fresh fruit, yoghurts, cheese and jams, as well as tea/ coffee and fruit juice.
You can eat this in the large dining area next to the bar, or take it back to your room on a tray if you wish.


Check- in is at 3pm and check-out at 12pm, though if you are a member of the Priority Club Rewards scheme you can request earlier check-in or later check-out at no extra charge.
Full details are available on the website of the Priority Club Rewards, visit HIEXPRESS.CO.UK. It is worth joining this if you frequently stay at any hotels in the group (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza to name a couple, are included) as it is free to join, and you collect points for every stay which can be redeemed for free nights.
There are often bonus points offers which you will be sent via email, so your points can quickly build up. I have had quite a few free nights over the last five years, and your points never expire so you can save them for as long as you wish.

Adjacent to the hotel is a Toby Carvery and bar with a beer garden. The carvery is really nice and I would recommend it to anyone. Prices vary depending on the time of day but a carvery will cost around £5 - £8 per person, and it is well worth the money. You can help yourself to as much veg and yorkshire puddings as you wish, after choosing which meat you would like.

One of the reasons we choose to visit this hotel is because of it's location, as the back of the hotel faces out onto Strathclyde Country Park, with its large lake and watersports centre, country walks and also M&D's Theme Park, which I saw reviewed recently here on DooYoo.
It is free to enter, which is great if you don't wish to go on any rides, and just want to walk around. There are quite a few rides here, for kids and adults of all ages, and places to eat. We have often sat outside a large bar which also serves meals and had a couple of drinks in the sunshine, overlooking the park and lake.
M&D's is a great day out for families and always seems very popular.

If this is too noisy or you prefer something more peaceful, you can always go for a walk along the lake or around the park. There are plenty of grassed areas where you can have a picnic or play ball games etc.

Glasgow is only around 20 mins drive from the hotel, if you fancy a day exploring the big city and maybe do some shopping. Likewise Hamilton and Motherwell are only 5 mins drive from the hotel also.

You can book a room online via the website for as little as £49.95. Sometimes there are offers available from £39- £45 per room, per night. Taking into account that this price includes breakfast, I think this offers real value for money, when compared to Premier Inn where rooms are over £50 per night and you would be charged extra for breakfast!

This is a great hotel in a lovely location. One of my favourites!

Summary: A great value hotel in a great location