To be nervous about staying in a 'proper' hotel?

[QuestionableMouse]

I'm booked into a holiday Inn in a few weeks and I'm feeling a bit nervous about it. I've only ever stayed in Travelodges or caravans. I know I'm being stupid but I can't help it. Any tips? (I have anxiety and it kicks off at the weirdest things.)

When you check in, ask reception to give you two key cards. That way, if you lose or forget one (which I do all the time!), you will have a spare.

If you forget anything, eg toothpaste, reception may have a stock of items to help you out, or they will be able to direct you to the nearest shop.

Holiday Inns are very ordinary places so you won't find it at all intimidating once you get there. Ask reception anything and everything you aren't sure about. They won't judge you and it's their job to help. if you run out of milk, tea or coffee in your room ask at reception and they will give you loads of replacements for free, that's my useful tip!

I’ve stayed at a Holiday Inn, although it was a good few years ago now, and I also thought it much the same as Travelodge and Premier Inn. I think it was a bit dearer though, so I was a bit disappointed it wasn’t any better!

If you're nervous then having breakfast in your room can help you feel less exposed.

I wouldn't hold your breath tbh........holiday inn is so so but it's not exactly Claridges! 😁 No formal attire needed for dinner!

Holiday inn is a fairly budget hotel, very similar to Travelodge.
You just have to check in and go to your room exactly the same as in Travelodge. There is nothing to worry about. The staff are there to make your stay comfortable and will answer any questions you have.
Once you've been there once, you'll feel more comfortable in the future.

My DH stays at them every week. He loves them. He shuts his eyes tightly and imagines he's in beautiful places.

I stay in a lot of hotels for work, travel lodge are no longer used by my company because the standard is unreliable, I stayed in one in central London for a last minute meeting when nothing else was available and it was grim. No double glazing, one floor above a main road, stains on carpet, bathroom was grotty, bed was hard, no working heater other than a plug in electric one that had exposed wires by the plug, breakfast was awful. Other than that the others are similar and of a good standard, comfy beds, clean and plenty of breakfast options, tv in room, room service rare, premier Inn (nice if a newer one with AC) , holiday Inn sometimes have a gym but not always, park Inn Radisson similar I stayed in one that had a pool which was nice. All of them are essentially self service you check in (desk or kiosk), take your bags up and get on with it, go down for breakfast if you want it and it's included if not it's sometimes cheaper to find a nice local place. You'll be fine OP

Thanks! There's a bath in the room which I'm excited for... Only have a shower at home. Planning a good soak on the night, along with some nice snacks!

I thought Holiday Inn was a budget chain like Travel Lodge?

The ones I have stayed in seemed basic and ordinary.

I remember the first time I spent a night away in a hotel on business. I'd NEVER stayed in any form of hotel before; our holidays were all camping holidays. I didn't have a clue what to do. No idea when or what to tip, what room service was, whether or not I could have anything from the breakfast buffet or would that mean there would be no sausages left for the people coming after me.... Daunting stuff!

I'd say Holiday Inn is a good few steps up from a Travel lodge and similar to a Premier Inn. Nicer toiletries maybe. Only advice I'd give is be nice to the staff because very few people are.

Enjoy!

If it makes you feel any better, I once arrived at what turned out to be a very posh "boutique" hotel covered in mud from my day trip en route. That was somewhat embarrassing. I'm sure you'll be fine!

Last time I stayed at a HI it had loads of building contractors staying there as their base. It was nice, but pretty relaxed. Don't stress it.

They definitely won’t take your bag off you, you will check in as you would in a travel lodge & they will give you a key card and tell you how to locate your room. The beds are really comfy & they all have air con that I’ve stayed in. They WiFi is really good, always plenty of towels/ tea/ coffee. Breakfast is usually a help yourself buffet affair. They just ask your room number when you enter the restaurant and show you to your table. Some take a tea/coffee order and bring that to your table but I haven’t been in one yet that you didn’t go up and grab fruit/ yogurt/ cereal and then go up to grab a plate and help yourself to hot items if you wish. Try not to stress about it.

DH Says take an eye mask, ear plugs, sense of humour, Imodium (if you're going to eat their sarnies). Seriously, he's fussy. If it was rubbish he wouldn't keep going back! 😁

Holiday Inns are much the same as Travelodges, but with a decent breakfast buffet and better showers.

I would also feel some trepidation about staying in a posh hotel (I so rarely do) but a Holiday Inn need hold no fear for you. They are my favourite of the budget chains actually.

HI in my experience is basically the same as a Travelodge in terms of everything. No need for tips. Enjoy, OP!

Holiday Inns are quite cheap and cheerful. I've stayed in one in Cardiff a few times this year. Room was tiny but clean with a really comfy bed and good towels, staff were without exception absolutely lovely, breakfast was decent. Earplugs are a godsend if it's on a busy road. You don't need to worry about it, it's all quite laid back.

but a holiday inn is not remotely 'upmarket ' is it?

It feels more upmarket for me lol! It's like 3x more expensive than the Travelodges I've stayed in.

I'm looking forward to it actually, just the stupid anxiety kicking in.

There is a massive difference between "Holiday Inn" and Holiday Inn Express. Generally the Holiday Inn's are better hotels, more along the lines of a Marriott Courtyard (not necessarily as upmarket as Marriott or Sofitel) but certainly not a Travelodge.

don't worry - it will be just fine...

tbh for me staying in a premier inn would be upmarket

"The original Holiday Inn Express properties were no-frills hotels offering only continental breakfast and an exercise room. However newer hotels do feature most amenities from the higher-end Holiday Inn brand, such a restaurant and bar, conference rooms, and even a full fitness center with a swimming pool. A major differentiation is location, with Express properties typically found in suburbs and besides freeways, while the upmarket Holiday Inn has been placed in urban areas (including downtown) and often near tourist attractions."

OP here's a couple of pictures from a recent stay in a HI for work (we'd not used that particular one before so our accommodation booker asked me what it was like)

2

Bathroom