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We do like to be beside the seaside …. at the new Holiday Inn hotel in Bournemouth

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A new Holiday Inn has just opened in Bournemouth, bringing some much needed quality to the town.

Long-term readers will know that I have a soft spot for decent hotels opening up in British seaside resorts, since one of the things – admittedly not the only thing – that stops people spending more time on the British coast is the dire selection of accommodation.

It is genuinely the case that the best hotel in Scarborough, for instance (somewhere I stay for family reasons occasionally) is the Premier Inn – worryingly, nothing else comes close.

Bournemouth is bucking the trend.  I reviewed the new Hilton Bournemouth here – it’s even got an executive lounge! – and the new Hampton by Hilton, which is attached, here.

Holiday Inn has now joined them.  A new Holiday Inn opened this week – it is the fully refurbished ex-Ramada Encore.  It is owned by Interstate, who built the impressive new combined Holiday Inn Bath Road (reviewed here)  and Staybridge Suites (reviewed here) at Heathrow which opened recently.

Looking at the pictures, it is a surprisingly funky Holiday Inn which I would be happy to stay in.   It is on Bath Road and claims to be “easy walking distance of Bournemouth Beach and town centre.”  Note that it does not have a pool, so the Hilton remains a better choice if you’re worried about wet weather activities.

Full details are on this page of the IHG website.


IHG One Rewards news

IHG One Rewards update – April 2025:

Get bonus points: IHG is not currently running a global promotion.

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Comments (158)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Artem says:

    Any recommendations for romantic contryside getaway using points within 1 hr drive from M25. The Langley is fully booked. Hanbury and Syon Park were mentioned. I’m tilting towards Hanbury. Any other options?

    • Rob mc says:

      I cancelled a reservation at the Langley on the 6th October this morning, may still be available.

    • TGLoyalty says:

      Worth checking out SLH as there are quite a few with them.

      Monkey Island Estate looks interesting.

    • Lady London says:

      Penny Hill Park between Bracknell And Camberley? At a push, the Francis Hotel in Bath?

  • N says:

    Anything interesting/fun/silly to do with 15k United miles?

    Earned from flying LH LHR-HKG and back in PE (£400!) and unlikely to earn any more UL miles in the near/far future!

    • Tariq says:

      Would love to know this too, got about 18K stashed away from previous trips.

    • Lady London says:

      Can you use them on Aer Lingus? I know EI can earn UA so guessing can spend them on EI.

  • Richard M says:

    Bergamot is actually a very good option for Lake Garda, far better than Malpensa and also much closer than Linate. It’s also in the 9000 Avios zone, unlike Verona which is 15,000. It’s a pity that the BA flight won’t operate Saturdays which is the peak changeover day.

  • Shoestring says:

    just google [In ancient Babylon, banks began paying interest on deposits. Two thousand years later, Standard Chartered has come up with an alternative.]

  • Relaxo says:

    curly sandwiches cut in a way which maximizes crust ?? (i.e. 3 rectangles)
    You feel like a champ when you find the golden middle piece with minimal crust.

  • The Original Nick says:

    OT, Has anyone had any luck recently with status matching to Europcar Privilege club from any other car hire loyalty schemes?
    I sent my Hertz Presidents Circle status and Sixt weeks ago but had no reply.

  • Rob says:

    Given the £40 price tag it is virtually impossible.

    • Grant says:

      Fair point but the walk up fee for the Clubrooms is £30 odd isn’t it? I’d be happy with a similar top up arrangement from PP if it lives up to its billing.

  • SG says:

    Evening all
    Could anyone please advise an Hilton Honors phone (UK) number when I can efficiently having a query dealt with!
    Just been cut off on chat with a presumed manager who could not justify a good amount of points disappeared from my account( Award Wallet notification)!Serious issues with Hilton’s IT,he was naming strange reservation I would have in my account I have never made!!!
    Thank you in advance

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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