I have stayed at this hotel numerous times over the past few years, most recently for a long weekend in October 2009.
The Hotel
The hotel is just off the A34 approximately 15 minutes outside the City Centre of Oxford, and is easily accessible whether you are approaching from the north or the south.
The hotel is large and modern. There is a large reception area as you enter the hotel. To the right of the reception is a sizeble bar area, and the restaurant sits just off the bar in a separate room.
The staff are always extremely friendly and welcoming and work to ensure that you are checked in efficiently. Each time you pass reception they make a point of greeting you.
There is a pool which is available to residents free of charge.
Standard Rooms
The rooms are a good size and are always clean. Each room includes an open wardrobe and a fridge. The fridges used to be used as minibars, but since the hotel stopped offering this service , they have left the fridges for guests to use. There is a desk and chair, along with a separate coffee table with either two sitting chairs or one sofa in front of the windows. As you are next to the dual carriageway there isn't much of a view, but the traffic noise does not get through the double glazed windows.
There is a trouser press in each room, but you have to call to reception for an ironing board. The TV offers a fair range of terrestrial and freeview channels, plus Sky 1, and films are available to "rent". Films are quite expensive - approximately £7, but a good range of latest releases are offered, so are useful if you want a quiet night in.
The bathrooms are also always clean and include a shower /bath. There are dispensers on the wall next to the sink and over the bath/shower which have a hand/body/hair soap, but small soaps and bottles of bath foam and shampoo are provided also.
Executive/Deluxe Rooms
I stayed in a Deluxe room in my most recent visit (October 2009). The room is slightly larger than the family rooms that I have stayed in previously. The room is decorated differently too - a red and beige colour scheme, two comfortable chairs, more stylish table and floor lamps, a curved styled headboard and leather desk chair. A bathrobe is provided as standard, along with some bottled water and chocolate in addition to the standard tea/coffee making facilities. The room also includes a trouser press and ironing board, which avoid the need to call down to reception for one.
The bathroom includes premium toiletries - two soaps, bottles of shampoo, bath foam/shower gel and body cream, a shower cap, nail file, sewing kit and shoe shine.
The main feature of the rooms is that they include wooden shutters instead of curtains which are extremely effective at blacking out the room.
Internet Access
High-speed Internet access is available in all rooms. It costs £14.99 for 24 hours or £75.00 for a week.
Price
The hotel can be very expensive if you just turn up and ask for a room so it is best to pre-book or keep an eye out for the many deals that Holiday Inn offers on its website or in the national press. I usually pay between £50 and £75 per room per night which includes a substantial breakfast, although the hotel regularly offers a deal over a weekend where you get two nights bed and breakfast and one dinner for two people for approximately £99 per room per night.
Having stayed in both standard and executive/deluxe rooms, I would not recommend paying a lot more than the standard room rate just to experience the better rooms, as the improvements are not overly significant. However, if it is possible to get an executive/deluxe room for a small fee or as part of an all inclusive deal, it is well worth trying at least once.
The Bar
The bar is open throughout the day to residents and non-residents alike and tend to get rather busy on the weekends. Residents from the Travelodge can often be found in the bar - but at 11pm each night you have to charge drinks to your room number so they leave soon after. Even at its busiest there is always space to sit and the place has a nice relaxing buzz to it.
During the day the bar offers a wide selection of snacks and hot food which are no more expensive that you would pay in the city centre.
Dining
The hotel offers a buffet style breakfast each morning and the generous selection on offer is always fresh. You are able to choose whatever you want from the cooked food station and white and brown bread is available for you to toast. There is a selection of continental meats and cheeses, fresh fruit, yogurt and compote, and a wide choice of cereals available for those who do not want to have a full cooked breakfast. There is also a wide selection of pastries, conserves and cakes available each day. The waiting staff bring tea and coffee on request, and willingly take orders for poached eggs, porridge and kippers. Orange juice and apple juice are also available.
I would highlight that if you book a stay at this hotel you should ensure that breakfast is included - if not the hotel will charge approximately £14-15 per person, per day.
The restaurant is also open for evening meals. The waiting staff are always exceptionally attentive and service is very quick. The menus change often but there is guaranteed to be something to everyone's taste. The food is always well cooked and delicious. Again, prices are comparable to restaurants in the City Centre, but you have the benefit of not having to travel.
Parking and Travel into the City Centre
The hotel offers free parking - unlike the Travelodge next door which charges per car per day - and there are always plenty of spaces. At night the car park is well lit and feels secure.
The hotel is a five minute walk from the Peartree Park and Ride. The double decker buses are very regular and will drop you right in the centre of Oxford, just off Cornmarket. Parking in Oxford itself, if you can find a space (which is not always possible), is very expensive and the one-way system throughout the city centre makes it that much more difficult to get about, so this is a definite plus!
This Oxford hotel is a purpose-built, air conditioned Holiday Inn, situated on the north ... more
side of the historic university city.The hotel is ideally located next to the A34 trunk road, with easy access to the M40, Silverstone and M4 motorway. The hotel o...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
This Oxford hotel is a purpose built Holiday Inn 154 bedroomed hotel WIFI and broadband ... more
situated on the north side of this historic University City The Hotel is ideally located next to the A34 trunk road with easy access to the M40 Silverstone and...
Information:
Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
Advantages: Great Price. Good location for roads. Next to park and ride, cheaper than paying for parking! Disadvantages: Another Holiday Inn, nothing that unique about it. Surly reception staff.
atlantis140 30.10.2009 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Holiday Inn, Oxford
Advantages: Great Price. Good location for roads. Next to park and ride, cheaper than paying for parking! Disadvantages: Another Holiday Inn, nothing that unique about it. Surly reception staff.
atlantis140 30.10.2009 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Holiday Inn, Oxford
Advantages: Very clean, excellent value for money, breakfast provided. Disadvantages: A few more nearby dining options would make it a perfect place to stay.
Advantages: Close to city centre, cheap compared with other hotels Disadvantages: Thin walls, poor/no service, no cleaning, cold shower, paltry breakfast
Dec 7th, 2008
(Oct 24th, 2009)
very helpful by (100%):
