What I Liked
- Free breakfast for all
- Good location in Poole
- Decent price
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The Holiday Inn Express is a budget option in the tourist town of Poole, Dorset. Poole is on the South Coast of England and is a popular seaside town. The hotel is typical of the Holiday Inn Express. Small rooms, free breakfast for all and budget prices.
It was a short one night stay. I arrived at 10pm and checked out the next morning at 10am. I was a little worried, as Tripadvisor reviews were pretty mixed. A large number of one-star reviews. I needn’t have worried, as I had a good stay with no issues. You really can’t trust Tripadvisor. There are too many people with vendettas, or people with unrealistic expectations.
I paid £82 for one night at the Express by Holiday Inn Poole. A stay with my wife and our infant son — all three squeezed into a twin room we pushed together to make a double bed. This isn't a place for luxury. But it might be exactly what you need for a South Coast stopover.
The décor was functional and dated. Think roadside hotel, not boutique getaway. The view from our third-floor room? The highway running past on a cold winter's day. But here's the thing: you're not paying for room views. You're paying for the location. From the Express by Holiday Inn Poole, Poole Harbour is 15 minutes' drive away. Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove — famous Jurassic Coast spots — are about 30 minutes away. That's the trade.
Breakfast was what I'd call a 'mini English Breakfast': bacon, scrambled eggs, sausages (meat or veggie), baked beans, hash browns, cereals, croissants, and tea. The veggie sausages tasted like the cheapest supermarket ones. The Tetley tea was underwhelming. But it filled me up for a couple of hours. At this price, that's all you need from breakfast.
If you're planning to explore the South Coast around Poole, you'll want reliable car hire and maybe a local guide. I've got Local Car Rentals and Viator tours on my Recommended Resources page, along with the rest of the deals I actually use when I travel.
I paid £82 for one night at the Express by Holiday Inn Poole.
It was a twin room. My wife, our infant son, and I were all squeezed in together — we pushed the beds to make a double.
Breakfast is included for all guests, which is standard for the Holiday Inn Express. Parking was an extra £7.50 for the night.
At this price point, you're not paying for boutique charm. You're paying for a functional base on the South Coast. And for that, it delivers.
The Express by Holiday Inn Poole is located in the centre of Poole. Poole is a seaside resort on the South Coast of England. It’s on the Jurassic Coast, which is a world heritage site. The cliffs and the beaches in the surrounding areas are stunning.
The hotel is 15 minutes' drive from Poole Harbour, which is a beautiful natural harbour. You’re 30 minutes from Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. These are world famous sites, due to their unique geology.
The hotel itself is right next to a busy highway.
The highway running immediately alongside the hotel is the neighbourhood's defining feature. You'll hear traffic noise in the rooms—especially if you're hoping for the quiet, charming atmosphere the Jurassic Coast suggests.
That's also precisely why the rate is this competitive. You're not paying for location beauty or serenity. You're paying for a functional base on the right side of the South Coast at rates that are genuinely hard to beat. Trade the highway noise for quick access to what matters—the natural attractions that bring you here—and you're getting genuine value.
Walking the Seafront
Poole is a seaside town, so grab a coffee and wander the seafront. Walk the beach if you can, paddle if the weather's pleasant, just soak up the seaside atmosphere. It's free, it's simple, and it's what the South Coast does best—not fancy, just honest seaside life.
Poole Harbour and Islands Circular Cruise
You can book a harbour cruise here. It costs $20, and the tour is rated 4.7* from 85 reviews. You'll see the harbour islands and get a water-level perspective on Poole. It's a relaxed couple of hours if you want to get out on the water without needing your own boat.
Poole Jurassic Coast Circular Cruise
For a full afternoon, book a Jurassic Coast cruise here. The trip costs $32 and is rated 4.4* from 104 reviews. You're heading out to the geological formations that make this coast famous—towering cliffs, dramatic rock faces, millions of years on display. It's the proper way to see the Jurassic Coast if you're interested in that sort of thing.
I paid £82 to stay at the Express by Holiday Inn Poole for one night. Breakfast is included for all guests, which is standard for Holiday Inn Express Hotels. Holiday Inn Express is a budget hotel, so the rates reflect that. However, I’ve had only good experiences with my stays at Holiday Inn Express hotels.
The hotel is on three floors. On the ground floor, there is a small restaurant. The hotel has only one restaurant, open all day. I’m not sure when the restaurant closes. I arrived at 10pm, and there was nobody in the restaurant. I’m not sure if it was closed, or if just wasn’t busy.
The décor was functional but dated.
There’s a decent sized car park in the hotel. I paid £7.50 to park for one night.
The key selling point about the hotel is its location. If you have a holiday to the south coast planned, it's a decent option.
The formula is clear: compact rooms, dated décor, no frills. Every cost cut feeds the price. It works. It's not the stay you'd want after a week at a luxury resort. But for a one-night South Coast stop? The trade is genuinely fair.
The Express by Holiday Inn Poole has one restaurant on the ground floor, open all day with breakfast and dinner options. When I arrived at 10pm, it was empty—I couldn't tell if dinner service had ended or it just wasn't busy.
I had a twin room booked, which I shared with my wife and my infant son. We combined the twin beds to make sleeping space for three. The room has the following features:
The room was on the 3rd floor, which is the highest floor at the hotel. I’m an IHG Platinum, which is probably why I was put on the top floor. I was also provided with 300 bonus points, which is one benefit of being an IHG Platinum. It’s not a lot, but it’s better than nothing – I guess!
The view from the room was pretty uninspiring. I could see out to the highway on a cold winter’s day!
Being IHG Platinum comes with perks like points and priority placement, though the upgrades can vary wildly by property. I've had far better luck at the Intercontinental Edinburgh, where Platinum status actually delivers.
The breakfast at the Express by Holiday Inn Poole was perfectly acceptable, although the selection was limited. The following options were available:
I would describe the options as a ‘mini English Breakfast’. There were no mushrooms or fried eggs, so it’s not a ‘full English.’
I had toast, hash browns and veggie sausages. The hash browns were fine. They were taken from the freezer and reheated. This is very common at hotels and restaurants. The veggies sausages weren’t good. They were the cheapest soya ones you can find in the supermarket.
I also had an English Breakfast tea. The Holiday Inn has Tetley branded teas for its breakfast, which are a pretty cheap brand. The tea wasn’t very good at all.
While I didn’t enjoy the breakfast all that much, it filled me up for a couple of hours. This is all I expect from a budget hotel.
The Holiday Inn Express Poole does exactly what I expected it to do. I got a comfortable night’s sleep and breakfast, at a hotel near my destination. For the price I paid, I don’t have any complaints.
The Express by Holiday Inn Poole is built for travellers like us — people who need a reliable, affordable base rather than a destination in itself. If you're heading to the Jurassic Coast for the geology and the scenery, not the hotel lobby experience, this works. The highway noise only bothers you if you're planning an evening in your room. For a stopover or a family base-camp? Book it.