sue51
Swansea, United Kingdom95%
A 930 start in Belper for a dog show, preceded by supper and a meeting in Chesterfield the previous evening were sufficient to send me off on the hunt for local accommodation that also allowed Pets. I took (for me) the unusual step of seeking advice from a local, and as a result booked myself into the IBIS Chesterfield.
WHO ARE THEY?
IBIS are part of the French owned Accor Hotel group who also own the Novotel, Sofitel, and Formula 1 outlets.
The IBIS outlets are branded by the AA as Budget Hotels, so level and pricewise on a par with Holiday Inn Express and Premier Travel Inns.
BOOKING
This was done on their website at http://www.ibishotel.com/ ibis/index.html. The site is very easy to use, you simply enter the name of the town / city you want to stay in, the date you want your stay to start, the number of nights you want to stay and press OK. The site is available in 5 languages including English, French, German, Portuguese and Italian.
If there is a hotel at your chosen destination, you will be presented with the hotel link to find out more about it, an interactive map of the area, and the rates / reservations. A word of caution is advised here, in keeping with their on-line Novotel bookings, you will typically find a number of different rates for the same room / time / date please ensure you read the cancellation policy in some instances if you cancel you will be charged for the stay.
The standard rate offers a cancellation window of 6pm if contacting the hotel, and 7pm if done on-line.
If your destination is not covered by an IBIS outlet, you will be advised accordingly, and invited to try searching their other brands to, or to change your preferred destination.
The IBIS website also carries a price promise whereby they will refund the difference if you find (After booking) that you can book one of their rooms on-line elsewhere for a lower prices. I did try out laterooms and bookings for prices and found no difference for the date of my stay.
IBIS also have a deals website with discounted rooms on offer at
www.ibishotdeals.com/
LOYALTY CARD
IBIS offer a loyalty card scheme if you stay more than twice a month, whereby guests receive an automatic 10% discount on all stays.
THE IBIS CHESTERFIELD
Very conveniently located, around 8 miles from Junction 29 of the M1, if you have a route to the hotel postcode you genuinely cannot fail to miss it. The IBIS Chesterfield is on a major roundabout literally on the edge of the city centre. It has ample on-site FREE parking, and if travelling with dogs, there is ample grassed area to take them. If travelling by public transport, the hotel is just 500 metres from the train station.
RECEPTION
This was a spacious brightly lit affair, leading off to bedrooms on one side, and a bar restaurant at the rear. There was no queue, although the hotel was particularly quiet when I stayed, so with 86 rooms, there is no guarantee others will have the same experience at busier times.
Check-in followed the same pattern as virtually every other hotel Ive stayed in, requiring my details, address, nationality and car registration number. A credit card swipe was provided to enable me to charge things to my room. Prospective customers should be aware that for certain types of payments (Cash / Cheque), identification is required, further information can be obtained on this through directly contacting the IBIS outlet you are staying at.
WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
On the IBIS Website, the hotel states that it offers wireless internet access for Business Travellers, but how they make the distinction between travellers unless you tell the, I am not sure.
Because I was travelling with a dog, I was initially offered a ground floor room, but declined this because I couldnt smoke in it, and I also have security concerns about staying on the ground floor when travelling alone, as I do tend to find that where there is no air conditioning, I need to keep the window open throughout my stay. Luckily there was a lift, or I would have been back to standing outside for a ciggie.
The receptionist now had to find me a smoking room with Wireless access, she allocated me the room directly opposite the lift but with no guarantee that it would work. It did with a full signal.
All public areas of the hotel are covered by wireless access, and the cost is 20 Euros for 24 hours. Why Euros I am not quite sure, but as the service is provided by Orange France, maybe this is why. A username and password are supplied for the period selected (which can also be 2 hours, or 7 days).
THE ROOM
Spacious, clean with a three quarter bed, work bench area, full length mirror, en-suite shower room, and cupboards. A TV (with limited Satellite channels), tea and coffee making facilities, telephone and hairdryer are also supplied. Unlike their more upmarket partners, the Novotel, power sockets were available in abundance in this room. There is also a small reading light over the work-bench area, and ample overhead and over-bed lighting, with controls in the head of the bed panel.
Both windows opened and had security buttons to stop them opening too far, however, as I discovered to my cost, the hotel overlooks a busy main dual carriageway, and despite being on the third floor, it was very noisy with the windows open.
The en-quite was compact, but did offer a double size shower unit, with a thermostatically controlled power shower. Towels were supplied, however, they were very MIDGET size, and if I was staying here again, I would most definitely take one of my own with me.
EATING & DRINKING
The integral bar is reportedly open 24 hours for drinks and snacks, however, you cannot get alcohol here after 12 midnight. Meals were fairly standard fayre for a budget outlet (pies, burgers, pastas) and were very reasonably priced. I didnt eat here on this occasion as I was visiting friends. I did however, sample a number of the bars wares, a ½ pint setting me back £1.30 and a G&T £5. The Bar offers just three draft beers, including one lager and one bitter, and has a nicely stocked back shelf of spirits, wines, snacks, soft drinks and bottled mixers and lagers.
I did ask at reception whether I could take the dog into the public areas and was told no, however, I had her with me while waiting for my friend, and was told by the bar man this was fine.
Breakfast if required is an additional £5.25 and consists of a full buffet cold platter including meats, cheeses, juices, fruits, yogurts, cereals, accompanied by a range of breads, DIY toast, and pastries. Hot beverages are also DIY. For the price, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and range on offer. Breakfast is served from 630 to 10am, before and after these times, customers can have a limited breakfast choice, great if you have a very early start.
MEETING FACILITIES
The hotel offers a four pre-bookable meeting rooms with Wireless Internet access available (for a charge)
MY VERDICT
This was my first experience of using the IBIS, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. I do know had I have been staying with my OH, then we would have struggled with the bed because of its size but for me on my own, you really could not fault it. The room was clean, spacious, not overly warm and staff were friendly and extremely helpful. My main gripe was the size of the towels (which would have been better as handkerchiefs, but at least now I know, and if staying again, would simply take my own.)
At £52 + £5.25 for breakfast (the room would have been £42 had I accepted the no cancellation deal), and no additional charge for the dog, I was more than happy with the overall service.
Reception do ask if you are intending to leave your pet alone at any time (luckily I wasnt) If you are, they will insist on you providing them with a mobile number in case the animal gets distressed in a strange environment.
