I'm not sure I've ever stayed at a Holiday Inn before, and so, when I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, NEC for 2 nights, I was a little unsure of what to expect. Obviously, I'd checked out the hotel website and the Trip Advisor reviews, but trying to determine how accessible a place is, can be pretty tricky online. But I knew I'd be going with other people, and as they're both able-bodied, I knew that whatever the situation, I should be able to manage for a couple of days.
Image Description: Nash is in his manual wheelchair, with his black and red Phoenix Instinct suitcase attached to his chair. He is pushing underneath a redbrick arch with the 'Holiday Inn' sign above him. He is smiling at the camera.
Booking
Normally, I'd make hotel bookings online, but I'd heard about Holiday Inn's complimentary carers rooms and as I couldn't see an option for this on the website, I decided to call them. The whole process took between 30 and 45 minutes, which is obviously longer than a website booking takes, but I didn't find it too bad. The phone lines are also open pretty late, so for anyone who works better at night, this is really great! (In fact, I think the booking line is open 24/7). After this, I was sent 2 email confirmations that the rooms were booked, and was assured that by the time I was checking in and paying for the stay, the free carer's room will have been arranged.
Check-In
After a long 2-hour journey, of which most was spent driving boring motorway miles, we were exhausted. All we wanted was to quickly check in to the hotel and head up to our rooms, however, the process wasn't going to be as simple as we'd hoped.
When we checked in, the staff member at reception, found our reservation on the system; however, she told us that the second room wasn't a carer's room and we would have to pay full price for it. I asked her the obvious question "Can't you change the room type on the system?", but she said she couldn't because she needed to see proof that it was a carer's room. It seemed pretty ridiculous considering I didn't need any proof when I booked the rooms, plus I was literally sitting in my wheelchair during this conversation.
She told us that we needed to get IHG (who own Holiday Inn) to send the hotel an email, which really felt like something she could do quicker, considering she works for IHG. So I asked her to call them, to which she replied that she couldn't and it had to be me that spoke to them - at this point, I think she was making up rules. But I told her I wasn't ringing the number online because it was showing up as a chargeable call. Anyway, she finally picked up the reception phone and called to speak to whoever she needed to get confirmation from.
By the end of the phone call, she still hadn't received the email she needed, but IHG had told her not to charge me for the carer's room. So, she changed the room rates on the system and handed us our room keys.
The whole ordeal seemed to have been made a lot more complicated than necessary. But we were finally checked in, so I was more concerned with getting to lie down and stretch out.
Parking
The hotel has a large car park in front of it, with plenty of accessible parking bays.
For hotel guests, parking is £12 per car, for every 24 hours. This has to be paid for on arrival and can be done in a few different ways: via the machine outside the hotel entrance, via the app, or using the website/QR code.
We paid on the website, using the hotel's QR code to ensure we got the hotel guest rates - the app said we would need to pay £25 a night!
Bedroom
Unfortunately, we weren't allocated interconnecting rooms, despite the accessible room having an interconnecting door. However, our 2 rooms were just 3 doors away from each other, which was a decent alternative and we made it work. Initially, we were only given one room key per room, but after I requested a second key so that someone could let themselves in if I needed help, the reception staff were happy to help.
The bedroom was basic but comfortable enough for a couple of nights. There was a TV, full-length mirror, desk, iron/ironing board and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Image Description: There is a pine desk in front of a window, the dark blue curtains are open and the sunlight is glowing. There is a flatscreen TV on one part of the desk and below it is a bin. The black office chair is tucked under the desk, in the corner.
I needed to do some work while we were staying at the hotel, so having a desk in my room, that I could get my wheelchair under, was great. The view from the window was only of the car park, but it was nice to get some natural light and fresh air, even when I was sitting at the computer.
Image Description: There is a double bed with a pine headboard and two pine bedside tables. The bedding is plain white and the carpet is blue/brown/cream striped. There are two red emergency cords hanging from the ceiling (one on each side of the bed).
The bed was a standard double, which was fine for me, and it was a great height for an easy transfer between my wheelchair and the bed. There were also two different types of pillow (one firmer and one softer) so you can pick whichever one you like best - or just use both! I didn't find the bed that comfortable, so it took a while to get comfy and ready to go to sleep. But I managed to get some sleep regardless, so it wasn't too bad.
Image Description: This photo shows the storage space in the accessible bedroom. It is a pine wardrobe that is fitted to the wall and has no doors. On the left is a hanging rail and an ironing board, and on the right, there are 5 shelves (there is an iron on one of the shelves).
If you're anything like me, you'll be living out of your suitcase rather than unpacking your bags. But for those longer stays, or people who have the motivation to unpack their clothes, having storage space that can be easily reached by wheelchair users, is essential.
Bathroom
The bathroom was pretty spacious, with a toilet, roll-in shower and roll-under sink; I could easily get around in both my manual and my power chair. there were grab bars fitted in the toilet area, the shower, and on the bathroom door.
Image Description: The bathroom door has a while horizontal grab bar along the inside. The bathroom is generally white, with a small, fold-down shower seat fitted to the wall, along with various silver grab bars. The shower shelf fitted in the corner, is lowered which was a bonus, as lots of places forget about this.
There was a roll-in shower, with a plastic fold-down shower seat fitted to the wall. The shower seat was, quite possibly, one of the smallest and most unsupportive seats I've ever seen; it looked like it was designed for a child and was definitely a box-ticking addition. Simply transferring onto the seat would have been a nightmare, and then trying not to slide off the seat, if it even held my weight at all, would have been a dangerous challenge. So, there was no way I was getting a shower during my stay.
Image Description: The sink is on a blue, roll-under counter, installed in the corner with a corner mirror fitted to the wall.
Restaurant
The hotel offers a free buffet breakfast with all rooms, but I was a little worried that due to the carers' rooms being complimentary, the breakfast wouldn't be available for guests in that room. However, it turned out that there was no need for me to worry, as breakfast was provided for every guest.
Breakfast times were advertised throughout the hotel and the staff were available to ask when the busier or quieter times generally were.
The breakfast was filling, with both cooked and continental options. Plus the fact that it was included in the room price made it all the more delicious!
Image Description: A white plate filled with sausages, bacon, scrambled egg and baked beans.
Lifts
There are 2 lifts in the building, that are to the right of reception, as you come through the main entrance. Neither of the lifts was particularly great, as they were really narrow and the doors would close ridiculously quick.
One of the two lifts should have been out of order, to be honest! When this lift reached the ground floor (although it occasionally happened on other floors too), it would drop about 3", creating a step when you enter/leave the elevator. My power chair struggled to get up the step, so much so that I couldn't use the lift alone, because I needed someone to help tip my chair to get out.
Every time we pressed the 'lift call' button, I had my fingers crossed, for it not to be that one.
Image Description: It was difficult to get a clear photo of the 'step' that I had to navigate when using the lift. But this photo shows a floor-level difference of a few inches between the inside of the lift and the hotel lobby.
Would I Stay There Again?
Our stay at the Holiday Inn Express NEC, wasn't particularly bad, but equally, I can't say it was the best. I think I'd try to avoid staying here again unless it was the only option for me. Given our stressful experience checking in, and the fact that I couldn't use the lift alone or have a shower because of the lack of a sturdy seat, I think a different hotel might have been more accessible. Obviously, there are good points, including the complimentary carer's room and free breakfast, but these don't cancel out the issues.
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