Holiday Inn Express Adelaide review | SA’s Great Travel Planner

It might be small, but the Holiday Inn Express, tucked in a narrow one-way street between North Terrace and Hindley Street, caters for those who are after the necessities.

For many travellers, a comfy bed and hot shower is really all they need.

For others, the luxury of space, an area to lounge, a mini bar and bathroom that’s big enough to twirl in are must-have extras.

The Holiday Inn Express, tucked in a narrow one-way street between North Terrace and Hindley Street, caters for those who are after the necessities.

My husband and I had a birthday celebration in the city and decided to stay the night in town.

It wasn’t a holiday, as such, so a big fancy room wasn’t what we were after. But we still wanted modern comforts and a convenient CBD location – and the hotel ticked those boxes.

But beware, even the King Superior room is very compact. The room, on the highest floor of the hotel, is taken up by a cupboard, large bed and a bathroom that feels as if it’s in the room itself. Showing just how space-efficient designers can be, there is just one hinged glass door on the bathroom, which when “open” acts as the door to the shower.

With just this glass door separating the toilet from the rest of the room, it means there is little privacy – not so bad when you’re in a married relationship, but possibly awkward if travelling with a friend or business partner.

Having said that, the bathroom has everything one requires – it’s well-lit, has a big mirror and a hairdryer is available.

Holiday Inn Express, Blyth Street, Adelaide.

The bed is simply made up with white linen and it’s comfortable, so a getting a good night’s sleep is no problem. Different pillows are also available.

Ideal for those travelling on business, there’s a small desk that juts out from the wall with a comfy chair, and power ports to plug in a laptop. There’s a type of chair tucked into the opposite corner, which isn’t at all comfortable to sit on but provides some space to pop your bag.

There isn’t a lot of space for other activities, though you can squeeze in an ironing board if you need. There’s also a flat-screen TV mounted on the wall and large windows providing views of Hindley Street if you start to feel claustrophobic.

But of course, being in the heart of the city means there’s plenty to do outside your room before you go to sleep. We enjoyed dinner nearby, went shopping in Rundle Mall and it was a cheap Uber ride to the East End for the party later that night.

In the morning, you can enjoy a simple breakfast (included) in the dining area, just past the spacious lobby on the first floor. We took advantage of the parking available on Blyth Street (special parking rate available for hotel guests), so getting our bags back to the car, and heading home was a breeze.

Reviews are unannounced and paid for by SAWeekend.

This review was first published in February 2018 and details updated in March 2021

• 30 Blyth Street, Adelaide
• [phone]
• proinvesthotels.com
• LOCATION 30 Blyth Street, Adelaide
• ACCOMMODATION 245 compact rooms, from twin and queen standard, to king superior.
• FACILITIES Free Wi-Fi. 43 inch LCD TV, tea and coffee facilities, mini fridge, desk, USB ports, in-room safe.
• PRICE Varies according to evening. This particular stay cost $194.