Cracking Location (Travelodge Manchester Ancoats Hotel (Manchester))

Member Name: flodombey

Product:	Travelodge Manchester Ancoats Hotel (Manchester)
Date:	16/06/09 (51 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Central location, great value for money

Disadvantages: No car park, can be noisy

I have stayed in this particular Travelodge a number of times, always for just one night when I have been in need of a city centre place to stay on a budget.

For a central Manchester crash pad you could do a lot worse, the location is excellent and despite the fact it is very centrally located I have driven straight to it a number of times (aided by sat nav!) and find it easy enough to park on the NCP which is virtually right next door - there is no allocated parking for the hotel iteself but this seems a reasonable trade off to have everything on your doorstep.

Literally a 10 minute walk to Picadilly and Victoria stations, a few minutes from Deansgate and the main shopping areas. Sweet for a night out on the town.

In the main lobby area downstairs (which still feels fairly shiny and new) there is a bar and restaurant area to your right as you walk in, the wide reception desk is in front of you and to the left are lifts and a number of vending machines selling everything from the requisite cold drinks and snacks to those cosmetic and toiletry items you may have forgotten.

The rooms - well they are typical Travelodge, clean but basic, no hair dryers (although you can borrow one from reception), bathrooms have always had reliable showers in my experience but they arent particularly generous with towels and if, like me, you need one to wrap wet hair in its best to take your own as a spare. This branch has 6 floors as its a biggish one and the rooms all look out onto main roads and cityscape. Lifts are all fairly large and efficient.

I have stayed in family rooms here a couple of times which seem quite generously proportioned, I have shared one of these with 3 other people (on a hen night!) quite easily. On the upper floors the windows do not open very far and it can be stuffy in the middle of summer.

I would say that in my experience this hotel is mainly used at weekends by people out in Manchester for the clubs and for group nights out (such as hen and stag groups) this is no doubt because rooms can be acquired quite cheaply and it is so centrally located. This has a flip side that it can be noisy through the night with people coming in at all hours. The bar downstairs tends to be very lively and a meeting place prior to about 10pm which is for the same reasons.

Personally I have never had too much trouble sleeping (although this could be relative to alcohol consumption!) but if you are a light sleeper I would recommend taking ear plugs with you just in case.

I stayed here mid-week whilst on a conference recently and it was an entirely different atmosphere, mainly business people, very quiet and sociable. The hotel has wi-fi and a lot of people in the bar and lobby were working on laptops. I logged on fine in my room on the first floor on this occasion.

Food in the cafe bar is ok and not too highly priced but drinks are a little on the expensive side, fine if you are claiming back on expenses but if its your own cash I would recommend you venture into town for much better quality and value of food.

All in all this is a great location budget hotel with all that you need for a short stay. Be aware that at weekends it can be noisy and remember to take your earplugs if you want an early night. Great value for a city centre stop over.

Summary: Great value city centre location, everything you need for a comfy nights sleep