Holiday Inn Express Newcastle (Australia)

What is your IHG One Rewards status?
Platinum Ambassador

Which room did you book and which upgrade did you receive?
1 King Bed Standard Extra Floor Space, received 1 King Bed Standard Extra Floor Space (no higher room categories offered)

How are the rooms?
Basic, but clean and fine for a short stay.

How is the exec. lounge?
N/A

What was good and what was bad?
The Good

• Convenient location close to the Newcastle Interchange for trains, buses and light rail.
• Wide selection of complimentary teas/coffees.
• TV with Chromecast (even if it was a small screen and a bit unresponsive).
• Breakfast buffet was well patronised and had a decent variety. On the first day the hot items were beef sausages, herbed tomatoes, scrambled eggs and bacon then on the second day they replaced the sausages with hash browns.
• Staff at breakfast and check out were good.

The Bad

• Poor shower experience with woeful water pressure and inconsistent temperature.
• Poor noise insulation, could hear the elevators clearly from within the room.
• Unusually small pillows and towels.
• Perhaps more neutral than bad, but check in experience was a bit odd as the receptionist seemed new and not across the IHG brand standards around offering welcome amenity, quick run-through of Wi-Fi etc.

Value for $ or IHG One Rewards Points? Would you return?
AUD $210/night for two nights. Would be nice if IHG opened another property in Newcastle at the voco/CP/Indigo level, but for the time being the HIX does the job.

Pictures in the spoilers below!