My thoughts on our recent stay at the Holiday Inn, Southampton

[Turtles06]

My wife and I have just returned from the Celebrity Silhouette's westbound TA, which embarked in Southampton.  After several fabulous days in London, we stayed one night prior to our cruise at the Holiday Inn in Southampton on Herbert Walker Avenue, right across from the City Cruise Terminal.  Since posters on this board are frequently asking about places to stay in Southampton, and since the Holiday Inn gets mentioned a great deal, I thought it might be helpful to put up my comments based on this very recent stay.   The bottom line is that the hotel was conveniently located, adequate for a night's stay, reasonably priced, and we'd probably stay here again if it were for a single night.

 

This was our second time staying in Southampton for one night prior to a cruise, but our first at the Holiday Inn.  We had reserved a room on a high floor, which enabled us to have this very wonderful view from our window early the next morning:

 

 

As the sun came up, our excitement grew:

 

As is often mentioned here, and as you can see from these photos, the Holiday Inn is a very walkable distance from the City Cruise Terminal (but only you can determine whether you are up to it with suitcases, or whether you want to do it if it's pouring rain). These views are looking from the back side of the hotel; you must exit from the front, walk around the hotel to your right, and pick up the path that takes you through Gate No. 8, in the lower left of these photos.  To drop off your checked luggage, you must keep walking all the way along the terminal buildings to about where I've placed the red arrow in the photo immediately above.  Since it was a beautiful day, we did plan to walk over with our luggage.  As we were waiting in the hotel lobby to go over, we lucked out -- I spotted a Cruise Terminal luggage cart that some disembarking passengers had brought over to the hotel with their bags.  So of course we performed our civic duty by putting our own luggage on the cart and returning it to the Cruise Terminal!   (I have to say, we had luggage for a trip of several weeks, and it made a really big difference to have that luggage cart.  Be on the lookout for a cart!  Or walk over and get one.  BTW, you have to show your boarding info and ID to get past the guard at the gate shortly after you enter the Terminal property.)

 

As for the hotel itself, our room was comfortable for a night. The hotel is old and a little musty smelling in the hallways (but not in our room).  Breakfast was not included in the room price; you can buy it for a reduced rate when you check in, which we did for the convenience.  It was your typical motel buffet breakfast, enough to tide you over till you get on the ship, where you will have more food available than any human needs.  🤣   

 

The two lifts/elevators in this hotel were the smallest I've ever seen, anywhere.   Barely room for a couple of people and their luggage.  If you stay here, keep that in mind and leave yourself enough time to get down to the lobby before your ship sails!   My one pet peeve about the hotel was that there were no ice machines, and that the ONLY way we could get any ice was to ask the bartender at the lobby bar for a glass of ice.  Well, the bartender was pretty busy serving drinks, and had zero time to be handing out glasses of ice.   

 

Besides being convenient to the City Cruise Terminal, the Holiday Inn is very close to the Old City Walls, and Old City Center.   Having been to Southampton before, we walked up to the Sea City Museum (about a mile or so away), which has an excellent exhibit about the Titanic and its impact on Southampton, home to so many of the ship's crew members, many of whom perished in the disaster. 

 

It was an easy walk from the hotel over to the High Street, where we wound up having dinner at The Standing Order, a large and friendly pub.  (We had originally planned to eat at the Duke of Wellington, where we ate the last time, but there was no room).  It was a Friday night,  and The Standing Order was busy in a very good way.   The food was adequate and nothing to write home about, but we enjoyed our evening, and that's all that mattered.  The next day were we boarding a beautiful ship!

 

 

 

(photos by turtles06)

Edited November 25, 2018 by Turtles06

[onefine89]

Thank you for posting info about your experience in Southampton and the Holiday Inn...............we'll be in Southampton in 2020 for the first time and board the Enchanted Princess for her maiden voyage from the port!  We'll come in a couple days early so not sure where we'll be staying!  Thanks again!

[bama4cruisin]

Thank you for the review.  We have reserved a room there for the night prior to boarding our ship next May.  Happy to have your tips!  

[geoherb]

Thanks for posting details. We stayed there in September before a Princess trans-Atlantic and enjoyed it. I was able to book our room with breakfast included for just a few dollars more than without breakfast. We ate dinner at the Duke of Wellington. I think we got food poisoning there. Fortunately, our symptoms subsided by breakfast time and Princess no longer has a health questionnaire. 

[John Bull]

Interesting posts about breakfast at Holiday Inn.

 

For decades it's been regarded as providing one of the best breakfasts in Southampton - and certainly worth more than a few dollars more than room-only.

 

The answer is that there are two options - the continental breakfast  or the proper "full English" breakfast.

Cheap and cheerful, or the full McCoy.

Their (quite expensive) full English is excellent - though with free tucker just a couple of hours & a few hundred yards away it's less-tempting.

 

But I'm surprised that Americans on this thread have been critical about its continental breakfast.

I've done a lot of missionary work in the USA - making long road-trips to preach to motel-keepers that "breakfast" isn't a polystyrene cup of luke-warm stewed coffee and a soggy and sticky wrapped "Danish" or a DIY waffle from a machine that's been buried under the gunge left on it by kids. 

 

(In jest, of course )

(or is it?  )

 

JB 

[Turtles06]

8 hours ago, John Bull said:

Interesting posts about breakfast at Holiday Inn.

 

For decades it's been regarded as providing one of the best breakfasts in Southampton - and certainly worth more than a few dollars more than room-only.

 

The answer is that there are two options - the continental breakfast  or the proper "full English" breakfast.

Cheap and cheerful, or the full McCoy.

Their (quite expensive) full English is excellent - though with free tucker just a couple of hours & a few hundred yards away it's less-tempting.

 

But I'm surprised that Americans on this thread have been critical about its continental breakfast.

I've done a lot of missionary work in the USA - making long road-trips to preach to motel-keepers that "breakfast" isn't a polystyrene cup of luke-warm stewed coffee and a soggy and sticky wrapped "Danish" or a DIY waffle from a machine that's been buried under the gunge left on it by kids. 

 

(In jest, of course )

(or is it?  )

 

JB 

Hmm, I don't think I was being critical, just observing that the breakfast was pretty typical of hotel buffet breakfasts for hotels in this class.  And it wasn't just a continental breakfast (as I would use that term in the U.S.) -- there was cooked food as well.    [I'm not usually a food porn person; I think I took this photo because of those eggs on the right, just staring up at everyone. 😜]

 

 

(photo by turtles06)

[sewgood]

Thanks OP for your review of the Holiday Inn.

I haven't been to Europe for 20 years and will be looking for pre-cruise accommodation for October next year.

[sddsddean]

Those eggs remind me of an incident when I was at school (40+ years ago!). I was talking to one of the dinnerladies and we were talking about how long food was kept in the warming trolleys...they served the food up from the top, but the inside was kept warm for food until it was needed...like a super sized hostess trolley. Anyway, she mentioned that she once worked at Butlins holiday camp at Skegness where breakfast for several hundred people started at 7am. Apparently the first lot of fried eggs went in the warming trolleys at (wait for it!)...4am! Hasn't put me off fried eggs though!!

 

Simon

[bclub]

Also stayed at the HI a few years ago before a Celebrity TA. Forget breakfast at the hotel, walk over the road to IKIA and go to their cafeteria and get the Full English. It's either £3 or 5 can't remember. A true bargain and a fun walk through the shopping area. Then go back to hotel. For luggage and check out.

[traveling psych nurse]

Thanks to all of you who have stayed there for your thoughts on the hotel and breakfast. I have booked the hotel for two nights before a cruise in July and added the breakfast. Easy to eat there before we set out to catch the train to Salisbury for the day.

 

[Diver2014]

I had already booked a room for 2 nights at the Holiday Inn for our Princess cruise in May but reading your post made me glad I did.  I added the full English breakfast to our room reservation just so DH doesn't have to starve for two mornings trying to find a place to eat.  He's a breakfast kind of guy.  I like the location as the main reason for booking Holiday Inn.  And thanks for the heads up about eating at the Standing Order.

Sounds fine to me. I've been all over England but never to Southampton.

Edited March 7, 2019 by Diver2014

[traveling psych nurse]

Thank you for the  review. We are booked there for two nights before our cruise in July. I also added the breakfast to our room reservation. As a retired nurse of over 40 years I'm happy if I get to sit to eat.

[Bloodgem]

We use to stay at the  Holiday Inn Southampton every time we cruised.  But have decided to try Holiday Inn Express Southampton - West. 

 

For us having to to wait 15- 20 minutes to get a lift, son is confined to a wheelchair, has made us find a different hotel.

This wait for a lift was not a one off. It has happen for the last four stays, we cruise twice a year, and has been getting worst each time we stay. The last time we stayed ( Sept 2018) we waited 15- 20 minutes so we could go to breakfast at approximately 8am. Then approximately 20 minutes to depart from the hotel. Every time we check out of the hotel we always mention the wait for the lifts and we always get the same answer ' they know there is an issues with the lifts and are looking at possible solution'.

 

When they get new lifts we will be back as we like the location of the hotel; next to the City Cruise Terminal and within easy walk of the Westquay Shopping Centre for dinner.       

[Highpeaklad]

I think the lack of ice machines is a cultural difference. There just isn’t the demand for it in the U.K.  

[John Bull]

On 3/24/2019 at 9:37 AM, Bloodgem said:

We use to stay at the  Holiday Inn Southampton every time we cruised.  But have decided to try Holiday Inn Express Southampton - West.        

 

Sorry to be negative, but if you don't have a car you'll be very disappointed with the location of HI Express Southampton West.

It's very convenient to the motorway system and the route to the cruise terminals is simple, but it's predominantly an industrial / commercial area.

There's nothing of interest in walking distance unless you're members of the David Lloyd fitness centres or you want to browse the big B&Q outlet.

And just two places in walking distance to eat or drink

- the Walnut Tree Farm pub, a 5-minute walk. Inexpensive family-orientated pub & restaurant (along the lines of Hungry Horse if you know that chain). Food is decent without being spectacular and the menu is fairly extensive. Perfectly satisfactory for one evening.

- The Saints pub, 10 minutes away. Known as a lively pub with lots of music nights and a young working-class (if you'll excuse the expression) clientele. I've never been to it, but it also offers inexpensive food & drink.

 

JB 

 

[Bloodgem]

3 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

Sorry to be negative, but if you don't have a car you'll be very disappointed with the location of HI Express Southampton West.

It's very convenient to the motorway system and the route to the cruise terminals is simple, but it's predominantly an industrial / commercial area.

There's nothing of interest in walking distance unless you're members of the David Lloyd fitness centres or you want to browse the big B&Q outlet.

And just two places in walking distance to eat or drink

- the Walnut Tree Farm pub, a 5-minute walk. Inexpensive family-orientated pub & restaurant (along the lines of Hungry Horse if you know that chain). Food is decent without being spectacular and the menu is fairly extensive. Perfectly satisfactory for one evening.

- The Saints pub, 10 minutes away. Known as a lively pub with lots of music nights and a young working-class (if you'll excuse the expression) clientele. I've never been to it, but it also offers inexpensive food & drink.

 

JB 

 

Thanks for info. I was going to research places to eat closer to the stay.  The reason we picked the HI Express Southampton West is because we drive past it driving to Southampton, we use the M27 & M271. So we thought we would try it. 

 

 

[Turtles06]

9 hours ago, Highpeaklad said:

I think the lack of ice machines is a cultural difference. There just isn’t the demand for it in the U.K.  

 

Yes, thanks, I appreciate that.   And you all drink warm beer, too.  😉

[fabnfortysomething]

3 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Yes, thanks, I appreciate that.   And you all drink warm beer, too.  😉

and don't forget tea made with boiling water

no iced tea thanks or trying to coax flavour out of a tea bag with not so hot water:}

 

[Dorset cruise fan]

It's not warm beer, it's beer at room temperature ie: not chilled. It's like the difference between eating cheese straight from the fridge and eating it at room temperature, you really can't get the full flavour when it's chilled.

[Turtles06]

2 hours ago, Dorset cruise fan said:

It's not warm beer, it's beer at room temperature ie: not chilled. It's like the difference between eating cheese straight from the fridge and eating it at room temperature, you really can't get the full flavour when it's chilled.

 

I was kidding you guys, you know.  🤣  But I totally agree about cheese.  And my fellow Americans are really bad about eating cheese straight from the fridge.  I try very hard to let it sit out for awhile.  

[LHT28]

Just now, Turtles06 said:

 

I was kidding you guys, you know.  🤣  But I totally agree about cheese.  And my fellow Americans are really bad about eating cheese straight from the fridge.  I try very hard to let it sit out for awhile.  

But  Kraft slices are fine from the fridge 🤣

[bama4cruisin]

Slight change of direction on this thread . . . We are staying at the Holiday Inn Southampton in May before boarding Crown Princess.  Any suggestions for a restaurant for dinner that is walkable?  

[John Bull]

4 hours ago, bama4cruisin said:

Slight change of direction on this thread . . . We are staying at the Holiday Inn Southampton in May before boarding Crown Princess.  Any suggestions for a restaurant for dinner that is walkable?  

 

Two restaurant areas......

 

Near the waterfront. In this direction check out Gatehouse 1833 (British) and Kuti's (Thai) both in the Royal Pier., the Dancing Man (pub), the Duke of Wellington (pub), Ennio's (Italian), La Regata (Spanish), Platform Tavern (spit-and-sawdust music pub), 

We've eaten at all of these. Zoom in for the locations of them and others.

Nearest are a 5 min walk, furthest is 10 mins.

https://goo.gl/maps/S8fJNhbTdKH2

 

Or West Quay / Forty-Steps. Between the big West Quay Mall and the city wall, a 5 min walk from HI.

This is a new leisure complex which includes about 20 evening restaurants, most with inside & outside seating.

A mix of cuisines, but most (all?) are national or international chains and a lot are up-market burger restaurants.

https://www.west-quay.co.uk/dining

https://goo.gl/maps/Bq5Nwub6un92

Zooming in will do you no good, googlemaps isn't up-to-date. They're all next to each-other facing the city wall.

 

I prefer the ones near the waterfront - owner-run, much more character and in more characterful settings.

 

JB 

[susancruzs]

John, thank you for all your posts, help and tips, much appreciated.  Through these posts I've learned about National Express, which I'll use again to get to Southampton.

 

I'm going to try one or two of these restaurants in Oct. as I'll be in Southampton for 3 nights.  Not my 1st visit, staying on High St. instead of Premier.  I enjoy older buildings, architecture get tired of new and shiny, o.k. for 1 night.  Staying at the Mercure Dolphin, which is exciting to me.  I do this in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, London, other places, rarely stay at chain hotels.  Thanks again!

[Turtles06]

2 hours ago, susancruzs said:

I enjoy older buildings, architecture get tired of new and shiny, o.k. for 1 night.  Staying at the Mercure Dolphin, which is exciting to me. 

 

I hope you like it.  We enjoy historic buildings as well, and so we stayed there several years ago.  To say that our room was past its prime would be an understatement.  There's historic and quaint, and then there's shabby (and, in fact, dangerous.  Our room had an unmarked step in the middle of it, which almost caused my wife serious injury).