Review: the DoubleTree Manchester Airport hotel

This is our review of the DoubleTree Manchester Airport hotel.

Last month, the Hilton Manchester Airport hotel quietly rebranded as a DoubleTree.

These changes usually happen when a hotel no longer meets the standards required to retain the Hilton brand but wants to stay within the Hilton ‘family’. However, a number of readers sprung to the defence of the DoubleTree, saying that it had recently been refubished and was looking good.

Reader Vasco had recently stayed at the hotel and offered to write a review of the ‘new’ DoubleTree Manchester Airport for us to help resolve the issue.

The official hotel website is here if you want to find out more.

Over to Vasco:

“I hadn’t stayed at the DoubleTree Manchester Airport when it was a Hilton, so I can’t compare. It does look like it has been refurbished recently.

This refurbishment has been very good in the common areas, which looked great.

There was a (small) gym which was operational, although due to Covid it was required to book it in advance. I didn’t use it, but it seemed pretty well equipped.

Location

DoubleTree Manchester Airport is located across a dual carriageway from Manchester Airport railway station, but it wasn’t very easy to work out how to actually get from one to the other.

What I eventually ended up doing (with some educated guessing and the help of Google Maps) was to go from the station platforms to the adjacent bus terminal, then walk across the bus loading area (which seems to be technically prohibited, but there weren’t any buses about so I thought I’d try my luck), then walk a bit down the dual carriageway Outwood Lane until I found a concreted gap in the mostly grass central reservation.

Not the most pleasant thing to do dragging two suitcases, but there is a traffic light controlled crossing a bit further north.

If you’re coming by car you should have a much easier time, as there is parking available for £15 a night.

Arrival at DoubleTree Manchester Airport

On arrival, I was greeted by a very pleasant member of reception staff who checked me in.

As a Gold member of Hilton Honors I was upgraded from the Queen Room I’d booked to a King Deluxe Room.

I could have opted to check in with the app completely contact free, but I avoid doing that as I’m not confident of getting any upgrades that way.

Rooms at DoubleTree Manchester Airport

The room was large, and the bed was very comfortable.

I was slightly taken aback by the presence of a portable electric heater, but this wasn’t needed at all.

Remember that this was a King Room, and I’d expect the base Queen Rooms to be a bit smaller.

I liked that there was a full sized desk I could work in, and that rarest of amenities nowadays, a ceiling light.

The bathroom was a mixed bag. It was definitely clean, and I know some people will appreciate the individual sized Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries and bar soap, but I personally dislike them.

This is also where you can see a few corners were cut in the refurbishment, such as just filling up holes in the tiles where some fitting was fixed before rather than replacing the tile altogether. Very shoddy workmanship!

I had a bit of trouble figuring out the shower as well, but I worked it out in the end. I’d add that I slept well, despite going to bed at a much earlier time than usual.

Room service

As Manchester is in Tier 3 the restaurant was closed, but room service was operational.

They waive the £5 tray charge if you came to collect the tray yourself. I ordered fish and chips which was surprisingly good, especially the chips which definitely hadn’t been microwaved.

There is slightly threatening communication about outside food and beverage not being allowed. I doubt it’ll stop anyone sneaking beer in, especially as nothing is said about this when booking and it doesn’t set a very friendly tone.

This is in complete contrast to every member of staff I’ve encountered, who were all extremely pleasant and willing to go above and beyond, even offering extra DoubleTree cookies!

I also declined the grab and go breakfast I was entitled to as a Gold member, as I had a 6am flight and really didn’t feel like anything when I left at about 4:30am.

Little did I know that Air France flights operated by Hop don’t serve anything but a glass of water, even in business class, but that’s a rant for another day….

Booking DoubleTree Manchester Airport

I paid £71 for this particular stay. The room and dinner earned me a total of 3,394 Hilton Honors points and two elite night credits thanks to the current promotion.

£71 is a little steep perhaps, but the location is very convenient once you get the hang of it, staff were great and the rooms have all you could want for a preflight stay.

I’ll definitely return when I’m next due to fly out of Manchester. Whilst the hotel may have ‘dropped’ from a Hilton to a DoubleTree, this is a very solid hotel following its refurbishment.”

You can see more and book on the hotel website here.

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How to earn Hilton Honors points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Hilton Honors points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Hilton Honors Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Marriott Bonvoy Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

Did you know that the Virgin Atlantic credit cards are a great way of earning Hilton Honors points? Two Virgin Points can be converted into three Hilton Honors points. The Virgin Atlantic cards are the only Visa or Mastercard products in the UK which can indirectly earn Hilton Honors points. You can apply here.

You can also earn Hilton Honors points indirectly with:

• American Express Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Hilton points is 1:2.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Hilton Honors points. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)