CROWNE PLAZA LONDON-HEATHROW

LONDON, ENGLAND

4 STARS

IHG GROUP (INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP)

DESIGN ★★★
CLEANLINESS ★★★★
COMFORT ★★★★
TECHNOLOGY ★★★
SERVICE ★★★★
FACILITIES ★★★★
LOCATION ★★★

I booked a night at the Crowne Plaza London-Heathrow hotel as I had a layover between LA and Oslo. I didn’t really feel like making the haul into the center of London as the 11 hour flight had left me quite jet lagged. I chose this hotel for several reasons, firstly I remember the bed to be nice at the Crowne Plaza in Porto. Second, I remember they had a kit called “This Works”, containing sleep spray for the pillows and a roll for the pulse points. It really worked, I slept like a baby last time. Also I saw there was a big pool, the biggest one closest to the airport and a fitness center. Seemed nice to get moving a bit after sitting down for so many hours on the plane.

Upon entering the room, there were many features that resembled the Crowne Plaza in Porto. Very neutral and the decor was a bit bland. Haphazard art, but it was a very functional room. I booked an executive room that has a desk with sockets for English, European and American plugs so you don’t need your international adapter. There is a love seat with a table in the corner, a queen size bed it seems and a service station with kettle, complimentary water, tea and coffee. There is also a fully stocked mini bar and with the executive rooms you have access to the Club lounge which serves free food and drinks. We like that! Other than that, there are the necessary beauty products in the bathroom from Temple Spa and a bath tub.

As I am getting settled in the room, I receive free vouchers brought to the door for high speed internet. A few minutes later I hear a knock on the door and it’s a lady bringing a complimentary gift. A bottle of Merlot and a fruit plate with strawberries, grapes and the whole lot including a hand written note wishing me welcome from Mohammed the guest relations manager. What an incredibly warm welcome and sweet gesture. I am warming up to the hotel and can’t wait to try out the other facilities.

There is nothing more I love than a fitness space and especially a swimming pool with long hours and these are usually found next to airports. When I booked this hotel, I made sure it was the biggest swimming pool in the vicinity of Heathrow airport and that they had the longest hours. The fitness facilities are open from 5 am to 11 pm at night. So this morning at 8.30 am I decided to go take a dip. I always look for pools where I don’t have to have my brain squeezed, in other words swimming cap and goggles which make me look like a beat up raccoon for the rest of the day. This pool has no lanes, which I don’t mind because there were almost no people swimming during the 1.5 hours I was swimming my laps. If it gets too crowded, there is a Jacuzzi, a cold water tub, a steam room and sauna right there as well. For me that’s all I need.

I realised why there were so few people in the pool area when I walked past the breakfast area which is quite large. The area was packed to the limit with people so the hostess suggested I could grab the food and seat myself out in another lounge, which I didn’t mind. After there were available seats and I had a browse around the breakfast area which has a “Healthy bar”, “Oat bar” and a “Comfort food” bar. In the healthy area you find fruit of different kinds and yoghurt amongst other things. In the oat area, all the cereals you can expect. And amongst the comfort food you have enough choices to make yourself the full English Breakfast.

It is an airport hotel so you cannot expect a fantastic view, but it has everything you need if you are on a layover during a long haul. A quite comfortable layover I must say.

Experience and iphone photos by @xMaiki