I've stayed at this hotel 3 times now over the last 3 years. My friend and I usually stay here for a night or two each May or June just as a short cheap break in Portsmouth.

Prior to finding this hotel I stayed in the Travelodge as it was cheap too but the Travelodge is in North End which is not such a nice place to be and is also not walking distance really to any of the sights or attractions in Portsmouth so what you save on staying in the room you spend on parking.

When we first found the Ibis it was £50 for a room and it was free parking. It is very central and if you are not worried about walking up to a mile or so then you can walk to both Gunwharf Quay's in one direction and Southsea beach and castle in the other direction. It is also only about 2 minutes walk from Portsmouth Guildhall where were have seen a few concerts which is the reason we generally go! In fact we were "lucky" enough last year to have Shayan Italia staying in the hotel and sitting in the bar with us hoping to be recognised! (Go on Google him you know you want to! He's barely famous but was the support act for G4 at the Guildhall who we went to see! Nonetheless we were still suprised that a "star" would be staying at the Ibis!)

We last stayed there in May of this year (2008) and the price had gone up to £59 for a room (still good value!) Also they neglected to say on the website that parking is now not free. It is £6 per day. You still save money by parking in the car park and walking everywhere especially to Gunwharf Quays as the car parking there is extortionate (think it's something like £9 for 4 hours!) but it was a shame they didn't put it on the website just so that you knew before booking, especially as it had been free all the times we had visited before.

The Ibis is a generally well run and clean but basic hotel. The bathroom's are absolutely tiny and have a little port hole type window. The beds are not the most comfortable in the world as i think they have foam mattresses rather than sprung and to be honest i couldn't stay there happily more than about 2 or 3 nights. However if you are looking for a cheap and cheerful hotel either for a seaside break or to go shopping or see a concert in the Guildhall then i would say this would be the best place to stay.

The hotel does offer breakfast I think for about £4 or £4.50 extra charge but there is a great cafe a couple of minutes walk away. Sadly i can't remember what it is called but if you walk out of the hotel and past Subway and keep walking it is a big blue cafe on your right with lots of chairs outside on the pavement. It is hugely popular with a wide range of people - business men to students and they do great breakfasts! Better stop there otherwise this will become a review of the unnamed cafe rather than the Ibis in Portsmouth!