My stay at the Holiday Inn, M6 J7

Advantages: Access to gym and pool, good breakfast
Disadvantages: Some noise from neighbours

...I stayed at the Holiday Inn Birmingham M6, Jct. 7 last weekend. I paid £54 for two people bed and breakfast. This was direct from the Holiday Inn website and was the best I could find. It was slightly cheaper because it was advance payment, although as it was on my credit card I've still not actually paid! It was very easy to find, literally 2 mins off the M6. While the exterior did have a slight council flat look to it, the reception area was lovely. Check in was smooth and speedy. We had a room that seemed to be miles away, although we found a slightly quicker route later! The room was clean and tidy. It had a desk and chair along with a small 'dining' table and chair. There was a 'room service' service although it did look rather expensive (to be expected I suppose!). The bathroom was on the compact side, but again it was clean...

lois22 21.01.2008 (06.02.2008) · Read review
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Review of Holiday Inn Birmingham M6, Jct. 7, Birmingham

The good old M6 at Christmas

Advantages: few
Disadvantages: cost

...The M6 is a complete nightmare for anyone not just for businesses but for people who want to travel down or up to holiday locations or for even simple things like going to see parents over the Christmas Holidays. The M6 goes through the West Midlands and is one of the busiest motorways in Great Britain. I live in Warrington, Cheshire and we are joined to the M6 here, my parents live in Worcester and grandparents who live in Birmingham, we have to go this route and it is a nightmare of a journey. I hate it when we get near to Birmingham as to be honest it would be much quicker to get out of the car and walk down the hard shoulder. (This is only a comments and not to be advised, just to give you an impression of how slow the traffic is). We also have the infamous Thelwall Viaduct which often gets closed to high winds and there have...

BUBBLES171 15.12.2003 · Read review
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Review of M6 Toll

Botanical Birmingham

Advantages: Plenty to see, a relaxing escape from the city.
Disadvantages: Expensive for a one-off visit. Disappointing restaurant.

...Every city need its green spaces. The architecture may be spectacular and the shops fantastic, but finding a place to escape the traffic and bustle is a necessity for most city dwellers. Picture Birmingham and what do you see? The Bullring, New Street Station and Spaghetti Junction would be the first things that come to my mind. Although I've never lived in Birmingham itself, I worked there for several years. During that time I went to the Botanical Gardens regularly, but for the purposes of this review I will focus on my most recent visit which was August 2008. A Brief History Celebrity gardeners are not a new phenomenon. In the nineteenth century J.C Loudon was an influential writer on gardening and became part of London's high society. He designed the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in 1830 to provide a place where keen...

JoannaPiano 31.10.2008 (02.11.2008) · Read review
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Review of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Birmingham's best radio station

Advantages: Eliott and Caroline
Disadvantages: Sometimes repeat songs throuout the day

...BRMB is the local radio station for Birmingham. For me this is one of the best radio stations there is. It keeps you up to date with the news stories from within the UK as well as the ones around Birmingham. Not only that but it also gives you the lastest gossip on the celebrities. I love the Big brum breakfast thats presented by Elliott and Caroline from 6.00am to 9.00am. They are both really funny and spend most of the time taking the mick out of each other! I find myself laughing out loud on the way to work with some of the things they come out with! Through out the day I listen to BRMB at work and they have a good mixture of DJs all are funny and it seems they find the main role of their job to be to make you laugh! They also play a vairety of songs anything from pop to rock, and most of the time you can phone up to request...

Gems87 19.02.2009 · Read review
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Review of Midlands Local Radio - BRMB 96.4FM

A place to rest when driving on the M6

Advantages: good place
Disadvantages: none

...We have often stopped at Tebay services both north and south heading back from Scotland at Easter we stopped at Tebay south. So this review is about Tebay southbound Tebay services are in Cumbria between j38 and j39 of the M6 In 1972 Tebay north opened it was not until 1993 that Tebay South bound opened. These service stations are owned by Westmorland Limited a company formed when two local Cumbrian families, the Dunnings and the Birketts joined together. These families were local bakers and Tebay is the only locally owned and run service station. This service station has been very successful winning many awards .In 2006 Tebay Services were voted the Best Motorway Services in Britain by 'Which Holiday' magazine. I would totally agree with this choice. Tebay north is a fairly attractive low building in a really attractive area...

mumsymary 28.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of Tebay Services Hotel

Birmingham International Airport - 2008

Advantages: Big enough to get the destinations, small enough to care
Disadvantages: Complex road system to get there

...and now I find it pretty nasty. Then I moved south and Stansted became a second home when I lived just 38 minutes drive away. But like Manchester, it slid downhill with the inexorable rise in passenger numbers brought by the growth of budget airlines. So today, if I have a choice and if it serves the destination I need, my first choice is always Birmingham. Birmingham Airport is situated to the East of Birmingham, close to the point where the M6, M42 and M6 Toll all intersect in a mess of complex roads. I live roughly 45 minutes from Birmingham International Airport, a few minutes more from Luton and maybe an hour from East Midlands. We've also got teensy Coventry Airport in the area though I've not yet found a chance to use that one. So you could say I have plenty of choice. So why is Birmingham number one for me? Size ****** Firstly...

koshkha 11.02.2008 · Read review
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Review of Birmingham (BHX)

Moto Services, Thurrock M25

Advantages: No other alternative!
Disadvantages: Just all round nasty

...- surely apples go brown if left when you slice them? Anyway, the only other option in these services to this extortionate place is Burger King - and let's just say I'm not a fan. There's also a fairly standard shop in the services, selling newspapers, magazines, sweets etc. That was OK - nothing worthy of comment really. There are also toilets and baby changing facilities, but we made the mistake of using these the ones at the petrol forecourt - more of which later. Next stop was the services' petrol station - again very expensive, but with the added attraction of the rudest staff I've ever encountered! When I asked for a receipt, I was glared at as though I was completely mad and had to repeat myself before I was given said receipt, accompanied by a sigh of derision. The worst bit of all though was the forecourt toilets - disgusting...

alleycat01 25.08.2006 · Read review
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Review of Moto Motorway Service Stations

A refuge from the M1..Woolley Edge services

Advantages: you know what to expect, somewhere to stop if you are tired
Disadvantages: expensive food

...We stopped here becasue we'd been stuck in traffic after a motorway accident on the intersection of M62 and M1, and we needed to take a break becasue we were frazzled- forgot I had air conditioning! I knew that there was a service station between junctions 39 and 38 southbound on the M1 so we headed there. Easy to follow signs to the car park- with words and symbols so you'd understand even if you didn't speak English. FACILITIES Shop- newspapers, sweets, books, music, drinks, sandwiches, greetings cards and gifts..they were selling the Harry Potter latest book on Saturday but I wouldn't pay £16.99 for it! Some people were, though. Food can be a bit expensive and so can the sweets but if you have to buy them, it serves you right for not planning in advance!!! T2 phone shop- selling mobile phones and accessories. Good value...

ginger59 23.06.2003 · Read review
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Review of Moto Motorway Service Stations

A bridge too far in Birmingham

Advantages: Now unique in the UK - the only representative of the Hyatt
Disadvantages: Very average compared against the standards of this chain

...) and the room charges were pre-paid by credit card at the time of booking. This was refundable up to 48 hours prior to arrival. They sent an immediate e-mail confirmation of the booking. TRAVEL We travelled to Birmingham from the North East by rail and arrived at Birmingham New Street Station. Although the hotel is within walking distance (about 10 minutes across the pedestrian centre), the weather was wet and we took advantage of a taxi from the station (£3.60). The hotel is also within easy reach of Birmingham International Airport (either by train to New Street) or by taxi. The hotel operates valet parking. There is a bus stop for local services into the City and out to the suburbs outside on Broad Street. CONCLUSIONS I have become a dedicated Hyatt user for over seven years ? staying at various of their hotels in Florida...

Newfloridian 14.09.2003 · Read review
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Review of Hyatt Regency, Birmingham

M1 Toddington Moto services - Southbound

Advantages: Great facilities for babies and kids
Disadvantages: High prices

...Had the pleasure of stopping at the Toddington services on the Southbound M1 on 18th May, 2004. It was about 1pm and the car park was around half full so no problems parking. Nice touch at the entrance to the building was the Pet Station with bowls of water and dog biscuits for the canine guests. Only guide dogs are allowed into the building but there was a small grassed area at the side where dogs could stretch their legs and do what dogs do best. Firstly and definitely most important - toilets. Can't speak for the gents but the ladies were spotless. I'd even be happy to take my granny in there. A lady was busy scrubbing the sinks while I was in there. Clean toilets, nice hot water, full soap dispensers and hand driers that worked. Thumbs up so far. Usual concessions in the building: a small Thorntons, a Birthday card shop...

dawn_ash 19.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Moto Motorway Service Stations