Holiday Inn Express Braintree, an IHG Hotel

Lovely hotel with an immediate feeling of “space” as soon as you entered through the glass doors. Very friendly and helpful staff (the receptionist even came up to my room the following day to help me zip up my outfit I was wearing for a wedding!). I really enjoyed my stay as I felt very comfortable, safe and welcome which is important being a solo traveller.

If I had travelled by car, the location would have been ideal as it is just off major roads however as I was on foot having got a bus to Braintree town centre, it was a bit of a trek to walk to but that’s probably my fault for not researching bus times etc. There is a Brewer’s Fayre restaurant next door to the hotel and a 24hr BP garage selling M&S Simply Food so it’s not as though I was stuck lol!

Breakfast was more than enough & excellent choice. My wife would have liked something fresh such as tomates, mushrooms or fruit also as an alternative. The bathroom was very good with plenty of shower gel, soap and clean towels. Nice firm bed, if a little high. Free parking was a deciding factor in choice of accomodation. Too many places are fleecing guests for parking charges this is not something you want to deal with after along journey.

They'd run out of orange juice at breakfast. The heating in the room was too high and kept switching on and off noisily through the night (main grumble). Toilet roll was very thin so you had to use more.

Greeted by friendly staff. Room was exceptional , very clean and modern with everything you need including Iron and Board and Hairdryer. Tv and coffee and tea facilities. Ate the first evening and food was good on site. Breakfast was good though I was in a hurry and only grabbed a couple of pastries so can't comment on the full English. Loved the air con, and this was essential as I sleep with a fan on at home so I settled to sleep easily. The beds are so comfortable as are the pillows, which was great as I normally have to travel with my own. The room was very spacious too, so I did not feel claustrophobic. Great shower with quality toiletries. Over all a great first experience.

Nothing as it was ideal

The location was easy to reach and useful for either heading into town or off in any direction by car - it’s conveniently close to the M11 but there’s no traffic noise indoors. There is plenty of lit parking, which is free for guests on registration. The atmosphere is really good and must be down to the staff - they were absolutely great (happy, kind and friendly). Sarah in particular was so welcoming on our arrival that we felt immediately relaxed. Even little touches like the foil-wrapped mints on the bed, with a smiley face drawn on them by Gabrielle, who had serviced the room, made you smile on arrival. The room was clean, really spacious and the beds comfy. The air conditioning/ hot air was easy to adjust, quick and efficient, and the facilities were excellent, including iron & ironing board, long desk, bucket chair, easy chair, desk/reading lamps, USB plugs everywhere - the only surprise was no safe for valuables but we didn’t need one so it didn’t bother us. Food and drink was excellent and reasonably priced. The Toby Carvery and M&S garage next door could be useful but we ate dinner in the hotel and it was delicious (with crispy fresh salads and hot, tasty choices). The breakfast selection was huge and plentiful - with no restriction. There was as much tea/coffee as you’d like - packets in the bedroom are both caf and decaf options of Twinings breakfast and Nescafe but you can help yourself to more from the dining area, where there was a vast range of different teas. The coffee machine we made good use of at breakfast offered multiple options including a lovely latte. The sign showed you could buy those coffees at other times but we didn’t, so I don’t know the cost. There was a small bar and good atmosphere for relaxing with friends. At the end of our first day, on returning to the hotel we gave a definite sigh of pleasure, like when you arrive home after a busy day. Can’t say more than that.

Reception staff was fab, up beat and extremely friendly and pleasant. Excellent welcome to stay! Breakfast was great, everything that I needed. Would have liked fresh water to have been available. There was plenty of seating available and breakfast staff couldn’t do enough for you, constantly checking the available food and there to hand for any questions. Bedding was fresh and clean and room warm with easy temperature adjustment. Iron, hairdryer and several usb ports in the room so we could charge our phones, iPads etc, clean white towels and toiletries available. Car parking easy, just had to register at reception.

Room are a little tired and and could maybe do with a little attention. Beds weren’t the comfiest but were ok. Worn furniture but everything that we needed in the room.

Room fine - just as expected Staff excellent - welcoming and very friendly and always helpful Self service Breakfast included and was very good with lots of choice and replaced with more food as necessary plenty of car parking

Food provision in evening if wanted not good - very basic and some things on menu offered unavailable. So ate out nearby instead. BUT recognise this is an "Express" hotel and as such, no restaurant. A prevailing damp smell in the otherwise spotless bathroom

The front of house staff were the friendliest I have come across. We were leaving at 4am, and they ensured that we had food and coffee prior to leaving. The place that we had been staying for the previous two nights cost more than twice as much, in a similar location, but was not anywhere near the standard of the Holiday Inn.

The best staff ever. The room was perfect, very clean, we even had chocolates on the bed. I will definitely recommend anyone else looking for accommodation in the area to look for availability.

The hotel room was good and surprisingly quiet considering we were near the main road etc etc......lovely hotel entrance feel and very dog freindly which was a massive bonus for us..Could not fault the staff at all...👍

I liked everything, maybe a fried egg option offerd for breakfast when checking in would be nice but food was excellent and scrambled eggs were good! ...and great value for money...was good that we could sit on the other side with the dog.....staff very helpful and loved our Yorkshire terrier Mitzi..

we stay hear every time we visit family near Colchester everything about the facility meets our needs, however the staff are the friendliest we have come across, there is nothing to much they can do to make our stay comfortable, they take into consideration if they can for a preference of a quiet room if one is available, i will always book this hotel as long as these standards maintain

something outside your control and obviously a council or highways issue is the surrounding roads and verges are strewn with rubbish and overgrown, so if you take a pet you have to walk a distance to find a nice walk

Super staff!! The ladies at reception which were also there at breakfast were incredibly warm, caring and cheerful! Room was spacious and disability inclusive, clean, comfortable - very nice natural soaps in the bathroom - breakfast a treat and with a variety of British and more sweet style continental which catered for our mixed family needs. You will feel welcome and enjoy that vibe typical of a smaller place where people have not lost the sense of hospitality and are genuine and helpful.

The location - a minor issue - it’s only a few minutes ride by taxi to Braintree town (but not on foot/by bus) which is rather cute and we were helped by reception with finding a local affordable taxi company however if you planned to have your stay centred around the hotel there is only an M&S attached to a petrol station and a carvery restaurant chain - you would stay here as a means to visit around and I would recommend that - it’s a lovely area with beautiful small towns and greenery. It’s also ideal if coming from the airport and just fancy a relaxing stop before continuing your journey.