Holiday Inn Express Manchester City Centre Arena

This Holiday Inn Express -- like all branches in the chain -- is best for people wanting a clean and attractive place to sleep, but little else. The style is sharp, with a polished, contemporary finish. Inside, blue mood lighting surrounds the front desk and is repeated in the breakfast area and bar. Contemporary blue sofas and black chairs provide seating for guests, and the block design on the wall mimics the blocks on the building's exterior. This is a no-frills, dependable hotel with reasonable rates, that -- when combined with its convenient city center location -- makes it a solid choice for all types of travelers.   

This hotel is situated in the Northern Quarter of Manchester's city center, within a 10-minute walk of a number of attractions, including the Manchester Arena, Arndale Shopping Centre, The Printworks, and the National Football Museum. Several restaurants and bars also are within walking distance, and hotel guests receive discounts at some nearby restaurants. The Shudehill tram stop is a few minutes away on foot, and the Manchester Victoria Train Station is a 10-minute walk away, next to the arena. Guests can reach the Palace Theatre in about 10 minutes by car or 20 minutes on foot. Manchester Airport is 20 to 30 minutes away by car, or about 35 minutes by public transportation. 

Rooms are compact, but modern and fresh, with blue patterned carpeting, blue accent walls, blue drapery, and blue bed toppers over white linens. Twin Rooms offer two twin beds, and Doubles have a queen bed and a sofa bed -- the pillow menus are a nice touch for a hotel of this caliber (and are offered at all brand outposts). Accessible rooms also are available. Standard amenities include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, electric kettles, and work desks with convenient outlets. Hairdryers hang on the wall beside a full-length mirror. Bathrooms are modern, with black-and-white tiling, above-counter sinks, stall showers, and hand soap and body wash in large eco-friendly containers. About half the rooms face an open courtyard, and others look toward the city center. Those facing the street will likely pick up a bit of street noise.

This hotel isn't packed with features, but it does offer the basics. A breakfast buffet with hot and cold items is served daily in a sleek, modern breakfast room. After breakfast, it serves as a bar, with cushy sofas and lounge chairs for relaxing. Flat-screen TVs keep guests up-to-date on the latest sports, news, and weather, and a computer is set up for guests to use. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out into a courtyard. In nice weather, guests can drink or eat breakfast alfresco on the patio. A meeting room can accommodate up to 10 people, and floor-to-ceiling windows provide plenty of natural light. Technical support is provided, and catering is available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, but there is no on-site parking.