For those of you who have read a few of my ops you will probably have guessed by now, that two of my favourite hobbies are travelling and eating. I have seen the inside of many hotel rooms both for business and pleasure, as long as it is en-suite, all the hotel rooms start to blend into one, it is the facilities, location and food whch distinguishes them.

We chose the Novotel based solely on price for a visit to the NEC a few years ago.

LOCATION
The hotel is situated at Junction 3 of the M6, and has 98 en-suite rooms. Mid-week charges vary, but we paid £110 for two nights bed and breakfast (I believe this has now risen to £150). Despite being underneath an M6 motorway bridge and thus having a birds-eye view of the lorries trundling across it, the rooms were surprisingly quiet, due to effectively fitted double glazing. If you want to socialise outside the hotel, there are a few pubs and a chip shop within about 15 minutes walk, but for a more scintilating evening you will need to get a bus from the Foleshille Road adjacent to the hotel to get a bus into town, they run fairly regularly and the charges aren't too bad. The other alternative is drive of get a taxi. There is a bar at the hotel, but not too many guests appeared to use it when we were there. The restaurant apparently serves food up to midnight, although we gave this a miss, preferring the charges of the local chippie.

THE ROOM
The room was of standard fayre (I am begining to think the only difference between these hotels is the size) en-suite, with telephone, satellite TV, and tea and coffee making facilities.

THE FACILITIES
It has a large car-park, Conference facilities, air-conditioning, bar restuarant, garden and 'outdoor swimming pool' - (November in Coventry? - NO - we didn't try it).

BREAKFAST
This is the main reason I would go back to this hotel, It has not been surpassed anywhere. All food was available on a self
serve basis, and provided coffee/tea, a wide range of rolls, croissants and pastries, cereals, fresh fruit, fruit juices of all descriptions, full english, bacon, sausage, black pudding, hash browns, scrambled & fried egg, mushrooms, beans and tomatoes, and a do it yourself rotating toaster. During the first day of my visit, I managed to develop a tooth abscess and could hardly eat anything, (still I got one day in before it started) but I will return there one day, just to make sure it hasn't changed

SERVICE
Was polite and helpful, but felt like I was under scrutiny as we didn't book in as Mr and Mrs.

SUMMARY
A hotel pretty much the same as any other, but with the best breakfast I have ever had -yes, even better than the Little Chef and don't know why they have a swimming pool.

Contact details:
Wilsons Lane, COVENTRY, CV6 6HL
Tel: 024 7636 5000 Fax: 024 7636 2422
E-Mail: h0506@accor-hotels.com