Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre (Master Thread)
Sep 21, 2007, 6:24 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: England
Programs: IHG
Posts: 526
Birmingham City Centre
Thanks for the information about the refurbishment.
I stayed there earlier in the year.
When I woke up I thought I was in 1975. Everything was old, stained and dusty.
The air conditioning unit (by the window) was bigger than my wifes car.
There is however something positive to report....
... as I was there for three days I had time to grow some cress in the mould by the toilet. This was very welcome with my late night sandwich.
I now stay at the Crowne Plaza NEC when travelling to Birmingham. Pleasant staff, spotless rooms and very quiet.
Happy travelling.
Midnight
I stayed there earlier in the year.
When I woke up I thought I was in 1975. Everything was old, stained and dusty.
The air conditioning unit (by the window) was bigger than my wifes car.
There is however something positive to report....
... as I was there for three days I had time to grow some cress in the mould by the toilet. This was very welcome with my late night sandwich.
I now stay at the Crowne Plaza NEC when travelling to Birmingham. Pleasant staff, spotless rooms and very quiet.
Happy travelling.
Midnight
Sep 22, 2007, 3:05 am
#17
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Sep 22, 2007, 5:36 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK
Posts: 982
It was my 4x starter.
I had Tuesday night in the HIE and then 2 nights at the CP. Convenient for the ICC where I was conferencing.
I'd have done it the other way round except that I like to soak in a bath with a book. That's my only problem with HIEs.
ps I had an exceptionally good meal in a newish Chinese restaurant called Shanghaiye on Holloway Head near the Mailbox.
I had Tuesday night in the HIE and then 2 nights at the CP. Convenient for the ICC where I was conferencing.
I'd have done it the other way round except that I like to soak in a bath with a book. That's my only problem with HIEs.
ps I had an exceptionally good meal in a newish Chinese restaurant called Shanghaiye on Holloway Head near the Mailbox.
Sep 22, 2007, 12:57 pm
#19
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I would second this, the CP is very poor. The regular HI in Brum isn't too bad either, but rooms are hardly much bigger than the HIE.
Sep 22, 2007, 4:15 pm
#20
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: PC, BA Low Rent Elite
Posts: 320
I've stayed at the CP over the last 8 yrs or so. They don't appear to have done any work on the rooms at all over that time. So now they are pretty old and naff. Generally the hotel has gone downhill; the last straw being when they closed the pool!! Having said that the rooms I've had were always clean and I've seen worse hotels to spend 1 night in.
I prefer the HIX over the CP now. The HIX bar is better than most HIXs but of course there is no restaurant if you want/need that.
Surprised to hear the CP is being refurbed... It looked about ready to be levelled and the whole area redeveloped last time I was there!
I prefer the HIX over the CP now. The HIX bar is better than most HIXs but of course there is no restaurant if you want/need that.
Surprised to hear the CP is being refurbed... It looked about ready to be levelled and the whole area redeveloped last time I was there!
Oct 5, 2007, 5:15 am
#21
Moderator: GLBT travelers, India-based Airlines and India; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Asia
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Posts: 15,512
Thanks god I searched here for Birmingham! I was just about to make a one-night booking in the city and was about to choose the CP as expecting it to be the default best option!
Oct 8, 2007, 2:14 am
#22
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I stayed at the HIE 10 days ago. Totally harmless and inoffensive - I've put a review on tripadvisor under the RJB handle. Totally fine for a 1-nighter, although if you've got other travel plans in hand remember that 'Faster Free Nights' is currently running with Hyatt.
Oct 8, 2007, 5:42 am
#23
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I'd totally forgotten there was a Hyatt in Birmingham too!
Feb 16, 2008, 4:06 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: YQR
Programs: AC-100k, MR LTT
Posts: 258
uh-oh...
I have a 2-night reward stay booked here for April. Has anyone had any recent experiences to share? Has the refurbishment mentioned above made an impact?
I snapped it up because of the Crowne Plaza brand and because there was a 2-Queen suite available at the 25k rate. Should I reconsider?
I snapped it up because of the Crowne Plaza brand and because there was a 2-Queen suite available at the 25k rate. Should I reconsider?
Feb 16, 2008, 4:18 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 421
Cant tell you about the refurbishment but this hotel is frequently on the BOGOF scheme using the link below, I would check it now and the few days before check in- sometimes as low as £25 a nite, better than 50000 points spent?
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/...r1-_-exclusive
dan
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/...r1-_-exclusive
dan
Feb 16, 2008, 6:14 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Programs: PC Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 151
Cant tell you about the refurbishment but this hotel is frequently on the BOGOF scheme using the link below, I would check it now and the few days before check in- sometimes as low as £25 a nite, better than 50000 points spent?
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/...r1-_-exclusive
dan
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/...r1-_-exclusive
dan
Feb 17, 2008, 2:37 am
#27
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The Hyatt is an excellent property. The best business class hotel I have stayed at in the UK outside London, although anyone who knows UK hotels knows that I damn with faint praise! You might want to try that instead.
If you do want to stay ICHG, the Holiday Inn Express is fine as I mentioned above. Perhaps 2 years old max. There is also a decent CP at the NEC / Airport. If the refurb is not done I'd avoid the town centre one.
The Malmaison is also very close and worth a look - a classy independent chain.
If you do want to stay ICHG, the Holiday Inn Express is fine as I mentioned above. Perhaps 2 years old max. There is also a decent CP at the NEC / Airport. If the refurb is not done I'd avoid the town centre one.
The Malmaison is also very close and worth a look - a classy independent chain.
Feb 17, 2008, 6:14 am
#28
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester UK
Programs: Priority Club Platinum Ambassador, Tesco Club Points, Avios
Posts: 85
I have a 2-night reward stay booked here for April. Has anyone had any recent experiences to share? Has the refurbishment mentioned above made an impact?
I snapped it up because of the Crowne Plaza brand and because there was a 2-Queen suite available at the 25k rate. Should I reconsider?
I snapped it up because of the Crowne Plaza brand and because there was a 2-Queen suite available at the 25k rate. Should I reconsider?
Feb 17, 2008, 11:43 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Programs: PC Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 151
The Hyatt is an excellent property. The best business class hotel I have stayed at in the UK outside London, although anyone who knows UK hotels knows that I damn with faint praise! You might want to try that instead.
If you do want to stay ICHG, the Holiday Inn Express is fine as I mentioned above. Perhaps 2 years old max. There is also a decent CP at the NEC / Airport. If the refurb is not done I'd avoid the town centre one.
The Malmaison is also very close and worth a look - a classy independent chain.
If you do want to stay ICHG, the Holiday Inn Express is fine as I mentioned above. Perhaps 2 years old max. There is also a decent CP at the NEC / Airport. If the refurb is not done I'd avoid the town centre one.
The Malmaison is also very close and worth a look - a classy independent chain.
CP does have a good position and is handy for Broad Street (main restaurants and bar area)
Mark
Feb 19, 2008, 6:23 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: YQR
Programs: AC-100k, MR LTT
Posts: 258
Cant tell you about the refurbishment but this hotel is frequently on the BOGOF scheme using the link below, I would check it now and the few days before check in- sometimes as low as £25 a nite, better than 50000 points spent?
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/...r1-_-exclusive
dan
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/6c/...r1-_-exclusive
dan