I frequently travel around the UK for my work, and a couple of months ago, my travels took me to Liverpool in the West of England. If you’ve never been, Liverpool itself is quite a busy city, which is rich in culture and heritage. It was the birthplace of the Beatles, as well as being famous for many other things.
When I arrived in Liverpool, I had to find a hotel at short notice, as my company had only sent the assignment to me at the last minute, so I didn’t really have the time to search for somewhere before hand. I came across the Novotel, which was quite conveniently placed in the centre of the city, and for the most part, it seemed to have all the facilities I would need, as I anticipated that I would need to stay for at least three days. I was traveling to Liverpool by train, and so another thing that was convenient was the hotel’s close proximity to Liverpool’s Lime Street train station. In fact, it only took me 5 minutes to walk there.
When I walked through the doors, I received a friendly but polite greeting from the first staff member I saw, and the lady who was working on the check-in desk was very helpful and friendly too. Although I had not reservations, the lady was very accommodating, and I was checked in within about 10 minutes of arriving.
I had booked a large ensuite room, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much room I actually had. It was well lit, and the bed was nice and comfy. I had chosen a double bed room, as I hate single beds and I was pleased to find that I actually had a queen sized bed.
I cant fault the facilities in the room. I’m not a tea or coffee drinker, although I did observe that the tea and coffee making facilities were well stocked, and the cups and the kettle were all very clean. I loved that the TV was a flat screen because most of the hotels that I stay in still have the old style CRT TVs which make my eyes go a bit funny. Luckily for me, there was a hairdryer, which I hadn’t been able to pack in my suitcase before I left for Liverpool, and there was an ironing board, although I didn’t use this.
The ensuite had a bath with an integrated shower, which I had not problems with. Sometimes when I visit hotels, I notice that the showers are not hot enough or there is a problem with the pressure, but I found the bathroom at the Novotel to be very clean in general, and the water in the shower was just fine.
I enjoyed the buffet style breakfast that was provided each morning when I woke up. The restaurant at the Novotel is quite modern and clean. The breakfast itself was a full continental breakfast, and I even got pancakes, which I haven’t had before in a hotel.
All in all, this hotel is excellent. The facilities are great, and there is even a pool, which I made full use of during my stay. The staff are friendly and do all they can to make your stay as pleasant as possible and I think that if I am ever in the Liverpool area again, I will certainly book this hotel again.
