Comfort Inn, Birmingham

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Located next to New Street Station, Helpful staff, Nice rooms, Close to shopping centres
Disadvantages:	None .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I have stayed in this hotel a few times when I have needed to be in Birmingham for events at the NEC.

The hotel is more or less next door to New Street Station. In fact when you exit the station you can see the sign for the hotel over the wall on your right, and there is access via a stairway onto Station street which takes you more or less outside the door. The other alternative (maybe if you have a lot of luggage) is to walk around which is probably a five minute walk, maximum depending on your speed etc.

The check-in process for me has always been trouble free. I usually make my booking through Active Hotels as it tends to be quite a bit cheaper than booking directly with the hotel itself. The staff are always very polite and helpful and willing to assist you in any way they can. There is a smallish lift available for guest use if you don't fancy taking the stairs. I'm not sure how easy it would be for wheelchair users, but my friend was easily able to fit herself and one of those three wheel pushchairs in, as well as a suitcase.

The rooms are all ensuite as far as I am aware (well the ones I've stayed in have been) are clean and nicely presented. In the past I have stayed in both single and double rooms. I would recommend going for the double option (which has been at no extra cost for a single person usage when I've booked through Active Hotels) as it does give you that bit extra space. The rooms have all the usual stuff you'd expect from a hotel room, TV (TV/DVD combi in some cases), complimetary tea/coffee tray, dressing table, wardrobe, local information pack, telephone etc.

My only word of warning would be to double check whether or not you've paid for your room including breakfast or room only or otherwise you could find yourself paying nearly £10 for scrambled eggs on toast. To be honest it's much cheaper and just as easy to have breakfast out as there are many places along New Street (including a Tesco with cafe) which will be serving food in the morning.

You may be wondering why I choose to stay here when I mentioned at the start of this review that I am normally in Birmingham for events at the NEC which is some miles out of the city centre. Well it is because I usually have maybe a day or so to kill before I need to head over to the NEC. I find that by staying at this hotel I am pretty much central for everything I need whilst in the city. There are shopping centres all within a stones throw (including the famous Bullring) or if you fancy a bit of a walk there is Brindley Place where you can find trendy bars and restaurants as well as the National Sealife Centre. Also the hotel being right next door to New Street station means that rail links to other parts of the city (including Birmingham International for the NEC) and beyond are all close by.

Not only would I recommend this hotel to others wanting a conveniently located hotel on a budget, but I would definitely stay here again myself. It might not be the height of luxury but it's not the pits either.