An early morning flight from Heathrow Terminal 2 meant leaving home at 3am and risking fatigue and the ensuing grumpiness caused by sleep deprivation. Nightmare.
Ibis Styles hotel on Bath Road offered a good value place to lay my head somewhere close to Heathrow airport the night before.
Ibis bar reception
Check-in – open 24 hours – was easy at the reception, which doubled as a bar and restaurant.
There is a car park for those with their own cars, and there is an extra fee for that. I didn’t have a car, so the following day, it was just a short 5-minute taxi ride to the Terminal 2 drop-off at Heathrow.
Who for
Ibis Styles would suit anyone needing an affordable place to stay close to Heathrow airport.
Accommodation
All 153 bedrooms are spacious with air conditioning, a hairdryer, a tv, tea and coffee-making facilities found in a cute aluminium cupboard shaped like a trolly they serve food and drinks from on a flight. Other than that it is rather basic in terms of furniture.
Mine was a Queen room, and though I didn’t find a fluffy dressing gown or mini bar, I did get to doze off on a Sweet Bed by Ibis Styles, which, they say, is designed, tested and perfected for the “ultimate sleep. A hand pull-over table stand means you can comfortably have dinner in bed.
There is a good ensuite shower with artwork of safari animals looking in through a port hole. I particularly liked the funky astronaut floating in space mural that was the backdrop to my bed. The room also had views over the airport worthy of any plane spotter, where we could watch as the planes were taking off.
Despite its proximity to the airport, there was, thankfully, no noise to keep us awake from passing planes or traffic.
Food and Drink
The Westcombe restaurant is pleasant enough serving traditional food such as pizza, fish fingers, pasta and salads and offers a kid’s menu. There is no room service, but you get a tray to carry your order to the bedroom.
Breakfast is a buffet or continental.
Facilities
The wi-fi was highly reliable, and I could finish off my online loose ends and finally finished watching Homeland without any streaming problems.
Service at reception was accommodating, and they ordered the taxi and gave us a couple of croissants to keep us going as the buffet was not open yet.
There is a car park to the rear of the hotel.
How much
Doubles are around £95 per room plus £13 for breakfast per person.
What’s Nearby?
Heathow airport, of course, and Legoland Windsor, Thorpe Park and Royal Ascot are within 13 miles of the hotel.
Verdict: At Ibis Styles, there are no frills, just a good night’s sleep in clean surroundings where you can wake up early and in time for that silly O’ clock flight.