Holiday Inn Ipswich By Ihg

“Don't believe all you read”

So I booked this hotel last minute for an overnight stay, as we were attending a family member's birthday party a 4 hour drive from home. Upon booking, I typically only afterwards read the reviews, but it was booked within 6 hours of having to check in, so we just rolled with it. I actually couldn… more

So I booked this hotel last minute for an overnight stay, as we were attending a family member's birthday party a 4 hour drive from home. Upon booking, I typically only afterwards read the reviews, but it was booked within 6 hours of having to check in, so we just rolled with it. I actually couldn't fault the place at all! All the staff were probably the friendliest I've ever encountered, and I'm quite well travelled. The room was really clean, spacious and had everything we needed. The breakfast was plentiful and had everything anybody could possibly want for breakfast. I was a little gutted I only found out afterwards that you can request poached eggs and omelette, but that's my own fault for diving right in and not reading the menu beforehand. We went for a swim and sauna before breakfast, and the gent that greeted us was as equally as lovely and inviting as the lady we saw on reception in the evening and the morning that followed. I wouldn't hesitate to book this hotel again at all. I've even looked to book a Holiday Inn closer to home because we were impressed with the friendliness and incredible service. If you're in doubt due to the negative reviews, please don't be. Take the leap of faith that we did and I'm sure you'll have the same enjoyable experience that we've had.

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“Nice hotel fee improvements required”

3rd stop here as always staff were very friendly rooms clean and beds comfortable. Had issues with the room heating couldn’t get it below 19 degrees which isn’t good when you have issues that are made worse by hot rooms I’ve mentioned before about the beer service, £6 for a pint of flat beer again… more

3rd stop here as always staff were very friendly rooms clean and beds comfortable. Had issues with the room heating couldn’t get it below 19 degrees which isn’t good when you have issues that are made worse by hot rooms I’ve mentioned before about the beer service, £6 for a pint of flat beer again, when will you get some decent pint pots? Had two pints and they were both rubbish, same last time I stopped. Breakfast was good as always.

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“⭐️⭐️⭐️ Everything you need, but could do with a few improvements”

When I first arrived at the Holiday Inn Ipswich, the lobby was covered in Halloween decorations. It’s nice that they’ve made the effort to get into the festive spirit, but honestly, it felt a bit more like walking into a children’s party than a hotel reception. That said, families with kids would p… more

When I first arrived at the Holiday Inn Ipswich, the lobby was covered in Halloween decorations. It’s nice that they’ve made the effort to get into the festive spirit, but honestly, it felt a bit more like walking into a children’s party than a hotel reception. That said, families with kids would probably love it. The lady who checked me in was lovely. She explained everything clearly — from the restaurant opening times to the pool facilities — and when I asked about the gym, she gave me all the details and directions. So no complaints there — really friendly and helpful service. One of the first inconveniences I came across was that I couldn’t see a lift anywhere. There were no signs for one either, so I had to lug my suitcase up the stairs, which wasn’t ideal. As I walked through the hallways, I noticed that the walls had been touched up in random areas where they’d been scuffed by luggage, but the paintwork was patchy and uneven. It all looked a bit tired and could do with a full repaint to make it feel fresher. The room itself was cosy and had everything you’d need for a short stay. The air conditioning worked well, and the bed was comfortable, so no issues there at all. I checked out the gym, which is small but functional. It’s good for cardio — a few treadmills, cross trainers, and bikes — but the weights area is very limited. There’s one bench, a cable machine, a lat pulldown, and a set of dumbbells. When I went in, there were about five or six people already there, and it felt full, so not ideal if you’re into weight training. That said, there’s a Gym Group about ten minutes down the road that offers day passes, so that’s a good alternative. I didn’t use the pool, but I did head to the bar and restaurant in the evening. It was surprisingly busy for a midweek stay, so it must be a popular hotel. The bar staff were lovely and attentive. The food, on the other hand, was pretty average — not bad, but nothing particularly memorable either. One thing worth mentioning is the smoking area. It’s located right next to the hotel entrance, which as a smoker myself is convenient, but I can imagine it’s not very pleasant for non-smokers or families walking in and out of the hotel. You just get hit with a waft of smoke every time you go through the doors. It’s not ideal, and I think they should consider moving it a bit further away. Overall, it’s a decent hotel with friendly staff, comfortable rooms, and good facilities for a short stay, but it could definitely do with a few improvements. I’d probably give it around three stars overall.

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