Overnight in Mercure St Albans Noke Hotel

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The Hotel 

The Mercure St Albans Noke Hotel, a motorway hotel of sorts. 4 star rated and minutes from the M1 & M25 interchange on the outskirts of London. South its namesake cathedral city Saint Albans. Surprisingly not the closest Mercure to Harry Potter & Warner Brothers Studio Tour London.

What you get

The Hotel has obviously been upgraded or converted into a Mercure in recent times. With some obvious signs of age still creeping in. Arriving late afternoon, I was happy to find out that property was better than expected, for what I assumed was just a standard motorway hotel. I did not pay attention to the fact it was 4 star when I booked via my All Accor app. And earned myself a few extra reward points for the privalge.

After checking in to the hotel, and finally finding the bedroom, bit of a maze. I spent an hour on WiFi, sat at the, a little bit snug, desk. And then closed the laptop with every intention of swimming and then having dinner in the hotel.

The Pool is downstairs, and feels like a little secret cave full of water underneath the world, so swimming done. Tick !

Dinner however was a another matter. Opposite the hotel on the North Orbital road junction is a little service station, with Petrol, Subway and Starbucks. I had a free sub on the subway card, ready and waiting. So meatball Sub was on the agenda.

The Bedroom & Bed + Sleep Quality

If you have ever read any of my travel posts. I rarely find myself in a room with two single beds pushed together, to make a double. Tonight was not one of these occasions. A long day in London tomorrow at a show. And I had to manoeuvre, between the gap in the middle and the firm edge.

Despite this a good nights sleep was helped by the plump pillows and decent duvet, which I left tucked into the end of the mattress.

Dining In – Breakfast

A busy breakfast room, no buffet, but actually a decent setup. Sat at the table, tea almost instantly and a Full English ordered just as quickly. I think by the time I had my breakfast, four staff had served me. Host at the door another to the table, Tea by a further dedicated tea and coffee server and breakfast by a food runner.

Massive tick for me in terms of service, especially when it was a busy breakfast, that most hotels would have lumped onto a buffet.

The Cost

under £85 (as that was company budget)

The Ever Lasting Memory

Wishing I had perhaps eaten dinner in the restaurant, but motorway hotel plus services. Make what should be a nice four star hotel, feel a little more motorway hotel because of it. Pool Chlorine was killer bring your goggles.

The Verdict

★★★☆☆  Mercure St Albans 4 Star Hotel, but a 3 Star Review, only the bed being let it down, the location could put some people off.

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