TonyHancock
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2010
- Posts
- 5,645
The Holiday Inn, Dunstall Park, Wolverhampton
First up an update on the Minox NVD mini night vision device. (I know you are eager to find out more.) Last night I manage to remain awake past 10:30 PM and it actually got dark. Lo and behold the Minox NVD night vision device did exactly what it said it would do on the label. I could see in the dark! Still not quite so sure why I bought it though???? :?:
OK housekeeping sorted, hopefully you are already for the next stage of my shambolic journey?
It would be easy for me to write lots of cynical, mickey taking drivel about the Holiday Inn Garden Court in Wolverhampton. The list of things that aren’t quite right and the list of improvements required would span at least a page, probably more. On a good day I could probably produce a tome. :shock::shock:
It has, however, a place in my affection. After my home I sleep in this Holiday Inn more times in a year than anywhere else, this year It will be 18 nights.
Dunstall Park is, perhaps, not as attractive as it’s name sounds. (Does the name sound attractive? I always think of a large grassy leafy park.) It is in a not overly pleasant part of Wolverhampton, and the hotel is attached to the grandstand of an all weather horse racing track. It has a lovely 1500 space car park.
I’m not sure what IHG is doing with the Garden Court brand it seems to be disappearing, but you’ll be pleased to know it is alive and well in Wolverhampton.
The lift has more quirks than an episode of Doctor Who. If it is on the ground floor and you press the call button it goes up to the first floor. You then have to press the button again and wait........and wait...and wait....... On a good day you could fit two people and a suitcase into it. Pressing the floor number button, once inside, is really only a basis for negotiation, there is a need for persistence......but ultimately it gets you to your floor. (One of the three available.)
As an IHG platinum member I normally receive an in room free movie, which I never use, and a free daily newspaper. If I’m lucky I’ll get “upgraded” to a room with a view of the winners circle, rather than the car park. Alas this time I didn’t (Yes I can hear you, I know I promised not to be cynical and take the mickey!)
So why do I stay there? For one thing the staff are alway very warm and very welcoming. I’d go as far as to say they are the biggest asset of the hotel. (QF you need to find out how this hotel gets it’s staff in this frame of mind consistently.) They know they are not on the front desk of The Ritz and don’t pretend to be. It does feel homely and not just another chain hotel. The rooms are quite small and basic, no air-conditioning and no fridge, but I rarely take advantage of hotel room amenities. I just want somewhere to sleep, room service of some kind, and a TV. The latter is a flat screen and has the full digital free to air service. There is a great selection of channels and I can always find something to watch.
I’ve been drawn into the ICH loyalty program, and whilst many members here have commented how easy it is to earn points, and it really is, it is also quite easy to use points. As a rule of thumb if I stay for three or four nights at a HI I basically earn one night “free”. This is done through registering for every promotion going. Lots of good info on this here.
The hotel is about 10-15 minutes away from where I need to be for work so it is convenient. (There are closer hotels though!)
The restaurant is average, even breakfast feels a bit like a chore. It is 100% serve yourself, even tea and coffee. (I can hear you all saying what is the problem you could do with the exercise?
) That said the chef is always friendly and helpful. I usually order room service at least one night, and it is invariably the “Mucho Nachos”, nachos with chili con carne, cheese and dipping sauces. It is alright, what can I say, I prefer simple food.
Overall the hotel is a bit like me. It is a bit worn around the edges, has a few quirks, and is nothing fancy. I like to think of it having a sense of humour too, why else would it make those funny noises when you flush the toilet. It doesn’t try to be something it is not, and the staff just want to make you feel at home. Sometimes there are things way more important in life than swish rooms and extensive menus. It is like putting on a pair of your favourite slippers!
My affection for this hotel is a little bit like my affection for QF, I can bash it and criticise it but woe betide the “outsider” that has a go at it! :shock::shock:
I already have forward bookings for October, December, and February, so it can’t be that bad. I just feel at home there.
The delights of Wolverhampton next......:shock:
First up an update on the Minox NVD mini night vision device. (I know you are eager to find out more.) Last night I manage to remain awake past 10:30 PM and it actually got dark. Lo and behold the Minox NVD night vision device did exactly what it said it would do on the label. I could see in the dark! Still not quite so sure why I bought it though???? :?:
OK housekeeping sorted, hopefully you are already for the next stage of my shambolic journey?
It would be easy for me to write lots of cynical, mickey taking drivel about the Holiday Inn Garden Court in Wolverhampton. The list of things that aren’t quite right and the list of improvements required would span at least a page, probably more. On a good day I could probably produce a tome. :shock::shock:
It has, however, a place in my affection. After my home I sleep in this Holiday Inn more times in a year than anywhere else, this year It will be 18 nights.
Dunstall Park is, perhaps, not as attractive as it’s name sounds. (Does the name sound attractive? I always think of a large grassy leafy park.) It is in a not overly pleasant part of Wolverhampton, and the hotel is attached to the grandstand of an all weather horse racing track. It has a lovely 1500 space car park.
I’m not sure what IHG is doing with the Garden Court brand it seems to be disappearing, but you’ll be pleased to know it is alive and well in Wolverhampton.
The lift has more quirks than an episode of Doctor Who. If it is on the ground floor and you press the call button it goes up to the first floor. You then have to press the button again and wait........and wait...and wait....... On a good day you could fit two people and a suitcase into it. Pressing the floor number button, once inside, is really only a basis for negotiation, there is a need for persistence......but ultimately it gets you to your floor. (One of the three available.)
As an IHG platinum member I normally receive an in room free movie, which I never use, and a free daily newspaper. If I’m lucky I’ll get “upgraded” to a room with a view of the winners circle, rather than the car park. Alas this time I didn’t (Yes I can hear you, I know I promised not to be cynical and take the mickey!)
So why do I stay there? For one thing the staff are alway very warm and very welcoming. I’d go as far as to say they are the biggest asset of the hotel. (QF you need to find out how this hotel gets it’s staff in this frame of mind consistently.) They know they are not on the front desk of The Ritz and don’t pretend to be. It does feel homely and not just another chain hotel. The rooms are quite small and basic, no air-conditioning and no fridge, but I rarely take advantage of hotel room amenities. I just want somewhere to sleep, room service of some kind, and a TV. The latter is a flat screen and has the full digital free to air service. There is a great selection of channels and I can always find something to watch.
I’ve been drawn into the ICH loyalty program, and whilst many members here have commented how easy it is to earn points, and it really is, it is also quite easy to use points. As a rule of thumb if I stay for three or four nights at a HI I basically earn one night “free”. This is done through registering for every promotion going. Lots of good info on this here.
The hotel is about 10-15 minutes away from where I need to be for work so it is convenient. (There are closer hotels though!)
The restaurant is average, even breakfast feels a bit like a chore. It is 100% serve yourself, even tea and coffee. (I can hear you all saying what is the problem you could do with the exercise?
) That said the chef is always friendly and helpful. I usually order room service at least one night, and it is invariably the “Mucho Nachos”, nachos with chili con carne, cheese and dipping sauces. It is alright, what can I say, I prefer simple food. Overall the hotel is a bit like me. It is a bit worn around the edges, has a few quirks, and is nothing fancy. I like to think of it having a sense of humour too, why else would it make those funny noises when you flush the toilet. It doesn’t try to be something it is not, and the staff just want to make you feel at home. Sometimes there are things way more important in life than swish rooms and extensive menus. It is like putting on a pair of your favourite slippers!
My affection for this hotel is a little bit like my affection for QF, I can bash it and criticise it but woe betide the “outsider” that has a go at it! :shock::shock:
I already have forward bookings for October, December, and February, so it can’t be that bad. I just feel at home there.
The delights of Wolverhampton next......:shock:
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(Norris Carter [He sounds like a character from a British soap opera!] still hasn't written to me yet though. (I do wonder why QF don't make a little more out of LTG. It would have been nice to receive a "thank you for your custom" email. It seems that QF misses a lot of opportunities to help itself by not making a few, almost cost free, gestures to let FF's feel valued.
