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61 replies to "Accommodation"
I stayed at the Travelodge at Trafford Park. It was the cheapest of the options and I have to say I had a really pleasant stay. It was basic but very clean and the staff went out of their way to ensure I had everything I needed. As well as tea and coffee making facilities there is a lovely coffee machine in the foyer which kick-started my day!
I would advise other students that I considered it to be an extremely long walk to the venue and didn’t attempt it. It’s a 7 mile drive to the lighthouse centre which takes no more than 15mins by car, even at peak times, but the walk… a bit more than I would have liked (this wasn’t just me, lots of us thought the same, be warned!)
Thanks for the helpful review Ranelle. According to Google Maps its only 2.5 miles from the Trafford Park Travelodge to the Lighthouse Venue.
Premier Inn Trafford Centre West
This hotel was an excellent base for the course. I took my car and was also able to give lifts to the Lighthouse venue to others on the course whom I met in the hotel. It was a five minute drive, and very easy to find. Being across the road from the Trafford Centre shops and restaurants was ideal, with plenty of choice for evening meals.
The Heart Apartments, Media City.
Self contained studio apartments. Very spacious and comfortable. Own kitchen which made it cheaper than eating out every night. Cool area of Manchester with choice of bars and restaurants and supermarket nearby. Only took 3 minutes by car to get to venue. Worth the extra money.
I stayed in the Premier Inn Trafford Centre West for the duration of the June course. The staff were very friendly and extremely helpful and informative about the local area. They were able to tell me what bus would be most suitable to access the Lighthouse Venue. There is a weekly bus ticket you can purchase. It was about a 30 minutes treck from when you get the bus from the Trafford Centre to the Lighthouse Venue each day. I know there were hotels closer in proximity to the course venue than the Trafford Centre West. However, I was able to car pool/share with some of the others on the course that were staying close by or in the same hotel which was very handy. The room was in excellent condition and it was cleaned each day with fresh towels put in. The hotel has a very relaxing vibe to it but yet the staff are extremely professional and helpful. It also is in a great location being opposite the Tafford Centre! Breakfasts and dinners are also excellent and very good value. Highly recommended!
I stayed at the Heart Apartments, at Media City at Salford Quays.
Apartment was about 1.2 miles from venue, literally a 2 minute drive along a straight road, or a pleasant 15-20min walk.
Apartment had its own bedroom, bathroom, living area and a very modern clean kitchenette, a hall way with cloak area and laundry room with washing machine and iron. It was about £10 more expensive than other students on the course were paying for their hotels; the most I paid was £59 a night- but I was able to cook my own dinners and breakfasts due to my dietry requirements- and was able to save money this way as i didn’t need to go out to eat. The course provides a fabulous lunch aswell! I booked via website and was able to find reduced room rates- check out LateRooms.com. The room should have cost about £110 a night.
Parking is in a central car park- discounted to about £6 for 12hours. My room was beautiful- good range of t.v channels and room had lovely view over the quay. There was COSTA coffee and few restaurants nearby on the same complex, and new BBC buildings and a few other hotels. The room had unlimited wifi- and a staffed reception, the whole building was clean, quiet and very secure.
Trafford centre is about 10-12 min drive when no traffic. I went to the course in June 2012- which was great as sales were on at Trafford centre!!!
I had a fabulous time at the course- learnt so much- I can’t put into words how good the course is, and my accommodation was fabulous- I think I would come back to the apartments for a holiday!!
I would highly recommend the apartments but I’m it sure if all NHS trusts would pay the cost as some trusts will only pay for the cheapest hotel in the area.
Thanks for another great review, Jaspal. That LateRooms.com is a useful resource.
I stayed at the Travelodge at Trafford Park, just across from the Trafford Centre. At the time I booked (for the June 2011 course), it was the cheapest of the Trafford Centre hotels, and it was a requirement of my Trust for me to book the cheapest. Rooms were nice – very clean, comfortable and spacious, with a TV. I didn’t use the wi-fi access, as it wasn’t free, so I just took a dongle with me for Internet access. Staff were friendly, although there wasn’t always someone on reception, so there might sometimes be a few minutes’ wait if you need something from them.
There is no restaurant at this hotel, so breakfast isn’t available. There are tea/coffee making facilities in the rooms, along with biscuits, and there is a ‘breakfast pack’ available to purchase from reception (I think it contained a roll, jam, a muffin, and a piece of fruit), but we did not buy this, as we didn’t think it was good value. Instead, we ate breakfast at the Premier Inn, just up the road, which was on the way to the Lighthouse venue anyway.
My colleague and I left our cars at the hotel (there is ample, free parking) and walked to the venue each morning. It was approximately a 40 minute walk, and was mainly along main roads with pavements (apart from a small section along a lane without a footpath), so wasn’t bad. I wouldn’t advise walking for the winter course though, as Margaret says, because of the dark evenings – but it was fine in June. On the final day of the course, we drove to the venue, which took about 15 minutes.
The proximity of the hotel to the Trafford Centre is fantastic – there’s always something to do, as the Trafford Centre is open till 10pm each day, so there’s lots of opportunity for shopping, eating out, and going to the cinema. The M60 motorway is about a minute’s drive from the hotel, so it was also a useful base from which other parts of Manchester could be visited.
I would definitely stay at this hotel again, if I were to do another course at the Lighthouse. I think the only disadvantage for some people might be that there is no restaurant or bar – but with the Trafford Centre, a Wetherspoon pub, and the Premier Inn nearby, there doesn’t really have to be!
Thanks, Andrea. Another very helpful review. I appreciate you taking the time to help future students.
I attended this course in November 2011, and stayed at the Premier Inn Trafford Centre North. There were 4 other people at this Premier Inn who attended this course, so we travelled to and from the course venue each day either by taxi or had a lift from one of the people who had travelled to the course by car. We were advised that to walk to the course would have taken up to 45 mins, and the route was along dual carriage ways, not always with footpaths – in November, it was dark by the time the course had finished for the day. The Premier Inn is directly opposite the Trafford Centre – this meant it was easy to visit there in the evenings, and there was also a direct bus (number X50) from the Trafford Centre to the centre of Manchester – plenty of retail opportunities after a day studying!!! The room was clean and specious, and staff were friendly and helpful. Meals were available at the Premier Inn, but the Trafford Centre has plenty of choice for evening meals too.
Thanks, Margaret. According to Michelle (see the very first comment below) “There is a bus stop in front of the hotel that brings you to near the training venue – the number 100 and the 22. The trip takes 10 minutes and then it’s a 5-10 minute walk from the stop at West One Retail Outlet in Eccles, or the Eccles Interchange. The bus fare is only £1.50.”
I stayed at the Ivy Mount Guesthouse. It was an ideal venue, almost full with other SLTs on the course! It is walkable to the venue – I think it was 25-30 minutes walk. It is close to the trams so we were able to pop into town one evening. Lovely rooms and great breakfast. I would definitely recommend this BnB.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a review to help future students, Rachel
I stayed in the Premier Inn at Media City, Salford Quays. Technically, this is the closest to the venue, I think my NHS trust just worked out geographically which one was the closest. However there were no buses/trams to the venue and it was not walkable (through an industrial estate). The easiest way was to take a taxi, which I shared with another of the students who was also staying at the same hotel. It worked out at around £3 or £4 each to get to and from the venue to the hotel. The staff in the hotel were excellent, the room was clean, big and spacious. The on-site restaurant was adequate, with good breakfasts.
If I was to stay again, I would stay in one of the hotels right next to the Trafford Centre. There is so much to do there, lots of restaurants, shops etc and perfect to kill time in the evening. It is actually easier to get to the venue from here even though it is is ‘further’ away. There are buses and trams and the road is quite direct. Hope this helps!
Thanks for that very helpful review, Sarah. One of the reasons that we use the Lighthouse Venue is its proximity to the Trafford Centre.
I was very happy with the Premier Inn at Trafford Centre North. The room was great – modern, spacious, clean and good value. The restaurant had great food for dinner and the staff were so friendly and helpful.
There is a bus stop in front of the hotel that brings you to near the training venue – the number 100 and the 22. The trip takes 10 minutes and then it’s a 5-10 minute walk from the stop at West One Retail Outlet in Eccles, or the Eccles Interchange. The bus fare is only £1.50. If you drive, it’s only a 5 minute drive from the hotel.
It was great staying at the Trafford Centre. There are so many places to eat there and so many shops.
Also, the bus station is across from the hotel, at the Trafford Centre, and the number 18 bus goes from there to the airport. It takes an hour or an hour fifteen though. There are also buses from there into the city centre too.
You can check bus timetables at http://www.traveline-northwest.co.uk
Wow, Michelle! That’s a very helpful review. Much more detailed than I expected. Thank you on behalf of your fellow future students.