A welcome respite after a flight delay
by TripAdvisor Member aafolk
I stayed in the Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport on August 2-3, 2006 with 30 others in my touring choir group. We were put up in the hotel by US Airways after mechanical problems caused our flight back to the U.S. to be cancelled.
After 11 hours of sitting in the airport and hearing delay after delay, we were grateful to arrive at the Crowne Plaza. (The alternative was being bussed to Edinburgh, Scotland.) Check-in was well-organized. They had room keys ready for all of us "FDs" (Flight Delays) and the process of getting to our rooms was easy.
Obviously we arrived after the renovations that other reviewers have mentioned were completed. Our room and bath were very clean, and while not spacious, were certainly adequate for our needs. And, joy oh joy, the room had air conditioning! (We had been in Ireland and Wales for 10 days with no a/c. We are from South Carolina, and we like our a/c.) So we were very comfortable.
The common areas in the hotel were pleasant. There was an open lounge area in between the check-in desk and the room corridors that our group just sort of took over. I found the staff to be VERY cordial, particularly in the restaurant. I did not visit the oriental restaurant, so I can't comment on that. The food was buffet-style. The breads and desserts were particularly good, with the remainder of the items a bit institutional. But since US Airways was paying for it, I couldn't complain. The concierge was helpful in providing visitor information about Manchester, and assisted several of my friends in securing spa appointments at another hotel near the airport.
Internet access was available, though it wasn't made clear that you had to go to the front desk to pay for your time, and I recall that it was a bit pricey. Some signage is needed to clarify how that works.
The hotel shuttle was available to us free of charge, and several of us used it to access the train station to check out Manchester City Center.
My biggest complaint was that at the end of the first day, all our our room keys went dead and everyone in my group had to go to the front desk to have their rooms re-keyed.
All in all, considering the circumstances, and the fact that we were REALLY ready to go home, we had a pleasant stay at the Crowne Plaze Manchester. We were cool, comfortable and well-fed - you can't ask for much more!
Very helpful staff!
by TripAdvisor Member Fairy_Legs
We stayed in this hotel in June 2004 for one night before our flight to Florida. We had booked a double room for my parents and a family room for me, my fiance and my sister. My parents room was near the lifts and was nice our family room however was a long way down a corridor which was very run down. The room was cold, damp and dusty. There was crayon on the walls and the furniture was chipped. I went down to the front desk and complained about the room. The staffs response was excellent they were very apologetic and exchanged our room for a refurbished family room on the ground floor which can be seen in the photos I have posted (I didn't however get any pics of the horrible room or i would have posted those too). We also recieved a drinks coupon for the bar.
What started out as a very bad experience was soon turned around by the very helpfull staff.
'Crowne'-ing Glory
by TripAdvisor Member Mrhreid
I've read some of the reviews for this hotel and can see where people are coming from but the hotel are pretty clear that its going under a major renovation. It's always good to see that the management read reviews and comment on them. It means that at least they're attempting to listen.
Anyway to our stay - reception was quick, efficient and friendly. We got assigned a room that when we arrived was full of blankets, duvets etc which was a bit of shock but it was quickly sorted when we went back to reception (although would've been good to get a wee upgrade out of it!!!)
Room we eventually got was a good size, clean and had all basic requirements (incl safe).
Pool was fine - a reasonable size and the changing rooms were nice and the staff helpful. Never understand why there are separate sauna's though.
We ate in the Asian restaurant in the hotel and the food and service were excellent - some of the best hotel food i've had for a long time. Would recommend it.
We were up early the next day to catch our flight and the shuttle bus was ready and waiting for us and similarly when we arrived back they were there in 5 minutes to come and take us back for the car.
I thought this hotel was great and just what we needed the night before our hols.
Great value stopover
by TripAdvisor Member andy5546
first Class hotel. Brilliant pool and very quiet. Stayed the night before an early morning flight, some renovation work going on during day but not a problem at night when going to sleep.
Staff very helpful particularly the lady in the lounge bar in the evening. she was very friendly. reccommend the chicken caesar salad off the lunch menu in the bar.
Cheapest offer of all airport hotels when booking on Intercontinental Hotels website.
Poor overnight stay - choose elsewhere
by TripAdvisor Member Holliday
Stayed for a one-night stay at the beginning of November. The welcome at reception was warm and friendly which gave me hope that all would be good. On the way to the room, the corridor was dirty and the carpet heavily worned. The room was also old and uninteresting, it seemed dirty though wasn't really. It was a standard room, the hotel does have some new Club rooms and a Club lounge which looked good. But our room was disappointing, the bathroom was bright white and looked old-fashioned and was tiny with limited towels and bottled bathroom products.
We ate at the Irish Bar at the hotel which by far the best eating option - huge portions but not that good value. The drinks too were expensive.
Room-service breakfast the next day was terrible. It was cold and did not cover everything we had ordered, because we were dashing to the airport, we could not wait for the items to be replaced. A very disappointing hotel - the rooms just not nice enought, the prices just not right enough and the service overall very poor.
I won't be staying here again - very disappointing.
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