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DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Milton Keynes {GBR}
I stayed here on Friday night.
First of all, this hotel is built into the western side of the stadium.mk, a football (soccer) stadium. If you are using Google Maps to plan your route, it will send you to the eastern side. You should instead plan a route to Grafton Street; you'll see the hotel from there. We arrived by train and walked from Bletchley station. Fenny Stratford is marginally nearer, but less convenient. The reception was unmanned, although someone came by a few minutes after we arrived. I was offered the option of whether to provide a credit card or not, as I had fully prepaid. Cookies were handed over as usual, and when I arrived up to my top floor room there was a fruit plate as well as quarter-bottles of red and white wine and two bottles of water. Internet is free to all guests (request the current access code at reception). There is a gym, although I didn't use it. The bar was closed for a private function, and we had already eaten so didn't call to the Pitchside restaurant. The bed was fine; the room also had a large wall-mounted TV, safe, air-conditioning, and window that opens. My view was onto the car park. Around half the rooms have a view onto the pitch; it's unclear exactly what happens with these rooms on matchdays. Breakfast in the morning was fine. I had a full breakfast included in the rate. The continental selection is a bit weaker than typical with only two types of cold meat and two types of cheese. There was also no bread other than regular sliced bread, and the selection of pastries was small. Normal hot breakfast items for the UK (sausages, bacon, fried and scrambled eggs, black pudding, mushrooms, baked beans, and hash browns). Very good value for what I paid (£47.50) although it was strictly a mattress run; I wouldn't see myself back here unless I had business in the area. There is an Asda/Wal*Mart hypermarket adjacent, as well as a few other shops and an Ikea. Feel free to ask if there's anything else you'd like to know. |
Hey, thanks for the report! I also booked this as a mattress run as I need one more stay for the Visa Signature deal. I didn't get the breakfast rate, do you have any idea if I'll be able to claim it as HH gold? Also, have you visited Bletchley park? I'm interested in this kind of things (cryptography) and the site seems to be very close, but I have no idea if the park is any good. Anyway, thanks again for the detailed report!
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I doubt you'll have any problem getting HH Gold complimentary breakfast; whether it'll be continental or full I can't say.
I've never been to Bletchley Park although I'm also interested in the idea. It's not too far away. |
I have yet to see a property in UK/Ireland that gives out separate continental BF to HHG/HHD and full breakfast for BF rates/other.
In the US it's another story. UTA |
They do exactly that at the Courthouse by Doubletree in London. I turned up for brekky one morning and was presented with a bill. When I explained that I was DDiamond HHonors they said that I was entitled to Continental and as I took a small scoop of (watery plastic) scrambled egg, then I had to pay (as far as I can remember) around £8 for the pleasure.
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Originally Posted by UTA_flyinghigh
(Post 16835646)
I have yet to see a property in UK/Ireland that gives out separate continental BF to HHG/HHD and full breakfast for BF rates/other.
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That's my patch!
Bletchley Park is well worth a visit - it's slightly run down as it doesn't get much funding, but what is there is fascinating to look round. Very convenient for a day trip by train, as it's pretty much directly opposite Bletchley station. Neil |
Originally Posted by bos2gla
(Post 16840319)
They do exactly that at the Courthouse by Doubletree in London. I turned up for brekky one morning and was presented with a bill. When I explained that I was DDiamond HHonors they said that I was entitled to Continental and as I took a small scoop of (watery plastic) scrambled egg, then I had to pay (as far as I can remember) around £8 for the pleasure.
UTA |
Originally Posted by stifle
(Post 16349850)
I stayed here on Friday night.
First of all, this hotel is built into the western side of the stadium.mk, a football (soccer) stadium. If you are using Google Maps to plan your route, it will send you to the eastern side. You should instead plan a route to Grafton Street; you'll see the hotel from there. We arrived by train and walked from Bletchley station. Fenny Stratford is marginally nearer, but less convenient. The reception was unmanned, although someone came by a few minutes after we arrived. I was offered the option of whether to provide a credit card or not, as I had fully prepaid. Cookies were handed over as usual, and when I arrived up to my top floor room there was a fruit plate as well as quarter-bottles of red and white wine and two bottles of water. Internet is free to all guests (request the current access code at reception). There is a gym, although I didn't use it. The bar was closed for a private function, and we had already eaten so didn't call to the Pitchside restaurant. The bed was fine; the room also had a large wall-mounted TV, safe, air-conditioning, and window that opens. My view was onto the car park. Around half the rooms have a view onto the pitch; it's unclear exactly what happens with these rooms on matchdays. Breakfast in the morning was fine. I had a full breakfast included in the rate. The continental selection is a bit weaker than typical with only two types of cold meat and two types of cheese. There was also no bread other than regular sliced bread, and the selection of pastries was small. Normal hot breakfast items for the UK (sausages, bacon, fried and scrambled eggs, black pudding, mushrooms, baked beans, and hash browns). Very good value for what I paid (£47.50) although it was strictly a mattress run; I wouldn't see myself back here unless I had business in the area. There is an Asda/Wal*Mart hypermarket adjacent, as well as a few other shops and an Ikea. Feel free to ask if there's anything else you'd like to know. - The stay was on a football matchday - a small separate area is coned off for hotel parking - just have your reservation print out with you to get through the matchday stewards - Upgraded to a top (4th) floor room with a pitch side view (odd numbered rooms) - the door to the balcony overlooking the pitch was locked - outside it had about 10 corporate hospitality type seats. Room similar to OP's description, although it did also include a fridge - Other rooms more towards the half way lines on this side of the 4th floor were used as hospitality suites for the games - The 2nd floor Pitchside Restaurant (where breakfast is served) is also used as a Hospitality Suite on matchdays - The 3rd floor odd numbered rooms are used for the Directors box hospitality areas - The Red Dot Bar on the ground floor was packed before and after the game - The gym is on the lower ground floor, situated right next to the Home and Away dressing rooms next to the entrance to pitch -it's open 24/7, but you have to sign up at Reception to have your room key updated for access. It was a large space with 9 cardios and some free weights and weights machine - assume it used by the teams before the match (there was also a warm up room next door that wasn't available for hotel guests) - Breakfast appears to have further improved since OP's visit, as they had a better selection of breads and cold items - Other away football fans said that it wasn't a very pleasant walk from the rail stations to the ground / hotel - a taxi was around 5GBP Overall, very good value for 40GBP rate Weekend Sale rate for a matchday. |
Mostly Pictorial review of DT Milton Keynes:
The reviews above are still very much valid…so mostly pics this review, hope they help.
Stayed here this week and was hoping to get a suite upgrade but they were already taken (in fairness, I didn’t arrive until 21:00) so I just received an upgrade from a deluxe room with view (which I had booked) to an exec room (which I assume is the 4th floor). There was still some parking available when I arrived but the next day it was full, however, it was a match day and they did have it roped off so depends on when you are staying I guess. Check in was quick and I was given the letter you see at the bottom explaining the benefits. Elevators are stupidly slow IMO, so I used the very nice wide stairs that are open and part of the front structure of the hotel as it only has 4 floors anyway. I originally was put in a lovely bigger room on the Southern end (4027 IIRC) which was very nice BUT it was an adjoining room and I could easily hear another person in the next room…I had been in another Hilton the night before with the same adjoining room and was woken up several times so needed a good nights sleep and therefore walked back out and requested another room. I was quickly given room 4225 (at the other end, likely due to my request away from elevators) and this was a bit smaller but otherwise the same. The internet worked fine but there are two logins (one for the DT and one for HHonors), I used HHonors and then you are greeted with three choices! two don’t work for free so finally managed to log in with the info they provide. No welcome gifts in the room other than the two bottles of water. As I changed rooms and arrived late, can’t say what the lounge is like unfortunately. The bar was busy and the restaurant that evening equally so. Both are on the pitch side of the building. As others have said, there are some other stores around the hotel and stadium, including some fast food places and the ASDA. For breakfast, I went to the restaurant and had a full English without any hassles about just being allowed the continental (as per the letter) so maybe they just print this but actually give everyone a full warm breakfast anyway as Diamond or Gold. I also ordered a cappuccino which was brought without any issue or extra charge, which was appreciated. There are now bagels, muffins (both American and English) and some other breads. Rooms were nice and modern, lots of hot water. I would visit again if no match was on and from what I can remember it is certainly better than the Hilton MK. (which I visited several years ago before I found FT). Anyway, hope the pics are of use… View to room from Entrance: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2931/...1a0064b2_c.jpg View back to Entrance (and adjoining room door): https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/...9e0369e5_c.jpg King Bed: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7257/...c72c612d_c.jpg View out to football pitch from room door (Locked): https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/...a22f417b_c.jpg Zoom view to pitch from inside room 4225: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/...dc008492_c.jpg Bathroom: Sink / Mirror area: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2888/...8a6e6a48_c.jpg Sink Pedestal area: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3745/...08455368_c.jpg Loo and Heater rail: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3733/...01d034b3_c.jpg Bath and shower (rain shower head): https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3755/...75a1af1b_c.jpg Standard UK DT amenities: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/...eba9a3c9_c.jpg 4th Floor plans (First South portion and then Northern Portion of Western side of stadium): (and no, I wasn’t ‘here’ in 4001 as the plan indicated…I assume they just photocopied the plan…) https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/...9bd5b5c7_c.jpg https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/...17a8d8a6_c.jpg Desk: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/...6a2963ff_c.jpg Wardrobe contents: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/...733f2648_c.jpg Interestingly, this was the first time in quite a while I have seen a stained ironing board cover at a Hilton in the UK/Europe…. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3776/...34548e70_c.jpg Once I changed rooms this is the cover I found in the new room (sunglasses needed): https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/...06ea39ca_c.jpg Fridge / Shelves: (only had one bottle of still and one of sparkling in room as diamond, no wine, no fruit, no nuts, etc…) https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2900/...2d7ffdeeb3.jpg Coffee/Tea service area: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7373/...bbde8507_c.jpg HVAC controls: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7243/...0ee9d82b29.jpg The Exec lounge entrance on level 3: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/...42b032d7_c.jpg Exec lounge hours and info: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/...86e069f7_c.jpg Welcome letter: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/...e4412250_z.jpg Hope this has been of use and interest and adds to the rest of the reviews above. |
Nice review botb.....I'm glad you enjoyed your stay.....bit worried about the new "no comp alcohol in lounge rule"... That better not become a Hilton standard!......are you in London at Easter?
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Staying here again tonight and I must say I'm a fan of the hotel. Booked a standard twin (no kings left) and have been upgraded to a lovely suite in a newly renovated area behind the goals, very nice room with a whirlpool bath and TV. Room is quite large and very quiet.
I'll post pics later but consider me a happy bunny :) |
Thanks for the reviews, glad to see the letter stating benefits now very clear, my previous stays have been a bit of a mixed bag.
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They have been opening up the exec lounge at weekends since mid December ........I like the place.....it's a huge lounge ( similar to Hilton Kensington ) but I think it's a bit cheeky to charge for a beer!
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Been staying here for couple of months now, between 1 to 4 nights per week, checked out this morning.
100% upgrade success to exec floor having booked cheapest room. Love the place, nice staff, usually have the lounge to myself (almost always for breakfast), just a shame there's no pool. It's expanding at quite a rate, will be a lot better when the second reception etc is all sorted. |
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