Catching the red eye to London the following morning, I decided to hole up for the evening at the Hilton DoubleTree just a few hundred yards away from Newcastle Airport.
This classy venue offers far more than your typical ’airport hotel” effortlessly spanning both business and leisure markets with trademark Hilton style and panache.
The hotel is perfect for a pre / post flight stay and with easy transport links to the A1, Newcastle City Centre is well within reach. It’s also well positioned to explore the Metro Centre, Northumberland and Hadrian’s Wall.
DoubleTree offer a number ’Sleep, Park & Fly” packages to help prevent early morning starts, traffic jams or last minute delays. With this in mind, I bombed up the A1 and booked in for all the Hilton DoubleTree has to offer.
Angled windows and sharp contours combine to create a very imposing façade. Inside, the hotel boats 179 upscale guest rooms, a wood-panelled bar area showing live sport, a chic Italian eatery (more on which later) and a bespoke fitness suite. Meanwhile, business facilities include contemporary meeting spaces alongside use of printers, photocopiers, telephones, audio/visual equipment hire and complimentary WiFi.
Another thing guaranteed is the warmest of welcomes when checking in. Guests can expect a signature DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie (they’re seriously good) along with a helping hand with any extra luggage.
Rooms are the perfect place to unwind before/after a gruelling flight, complete with all the amenities present to make you feel right at home. 37” LCD TV’s, air conditioning, writing desks, tea and coffee making facilities all come as standard, whilst a deluxe upgrade offers more space, better views and a cosy bathrobe and slippers.
Nicely settled in, I kicked back on the double bed for a snooze before a blast in the shower and a change for dinner.
Dining is an important part of the DoubleTree experience, especially with a lack of viable alternatives within walking distance. Fortunately, the hotel offers a nourishing room service menu not to mention its own in-house restaurant Fratello’s which is a hit with residents and nonresidents alike. Fratello’s is one point on a North East culinary triangle serving authentic Italian specialities against a bright, modern backdrop.
Included in my dinner, bed & breakfast bundle I could sample either the neat three-course Table D’hote menu or could use my £25 “allowance” elsewhere on the a la carte menu. I chose the latter option opting for the beef shin & short rib ragu before following up with a fiery tandoori chicken pizza with roasted peppers and chilli. I even had some change leftover for a very large glass of Chianti which aided somewhat in sending me over to sleep.
A good night’s sleep however was always assured thanks to the patented “Sweet Dreams by DoubleTree” bed I can personally vouch for its irresistible clutches.
The following morning was surprisingly swift and hassle-free. DoubleTree serve a cooked breakfast from 06.00am whilst a continental buffet runs from 04.30am with the option to order hot items from the kitchen prior to 06.00am. This provides a bit of ballast for the journeying ahead and I felt (almost) fresh as I headed out into the early morning air.
What also struck me is that this could be a great venue for a Christmas party or event. The hotel offers a large function suite with a built-in bar area whilst the sleek Columbus bar is also available for hire. The hotel’s strong transport links also make it easily reachable from a number of places. Food for thought? I think so !
So whether you’re looking for somewhere to stage your next bash, holidaymakers looking to kick off your trip with real aplomb or a travelling business executive seeking comfort and luxury, the Hilton DoubleTree has much to offer.
