Here's why this is the quirkiest airport hotel we've ever visited
If you're happy to sleep somewhere that looks as good value as it is, the De Salis Hotel near Stansted promises to be the most unique place you've ever stayed.
We've made it our mission to visit every single airport hotel we sell so that we can give you the lowdown on what we thought and whether it's right for you. Our latest outing took us to Stansted, where we stayed somewhere that made us do a double-take around every corner.
Our first impression of the De Salis was pretty good. It's set on peaceful grounds complete with palm trees, a pleasant picnic bench and a surprisingly extravagant glass-fronted entrance with a mini clock tower on the roof. Bizarrely, the clock tower seemed to be painted on, meaning the hotel is stuck in a permanent state of 7 o'clock. A strange sign of things to come? Yes, but it's odd quirks like this that helped us forgive the rough edges – this is a budget hotel, after all.
The quirkiness ramped up when we walked through the glass doors, which revealed a bright corridor adorned with a suitably out-of-place chandelier and murals depicting a Saharan desert. Or was it a scene inspired by Greek mythology? We weren't sure, and neither was the friendly hotel team we chatted to, who reliably informed us that the murals took three years to complete.
That made perfect sense when we walked around the corner, which revealed stained glass windows and a floor-to-ceiling masterpiece that, at a guess, resembled a disaster movie set on Noah's Ark where the animals turn against their human saviours. The opposite wall by reception featured Adam and Eve hanging out with their animal friends. And an angel was there too. There was a lot going on.
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Location
It was hard to believe how close we were to the airport on our drive to the hotel, which weaved through winding country roads. We even spotted a deer running alongside us! But close we were – it's just a 5-minute drive from the De Salis to Stansted, or you can hop on the shuttle bus the hotel runs to the airport.
Food and drink
It's unclear whether the time at the De Salis is 7am or 7pm, so they serve both breakfast and dinner to cover all bases. In the evening, the vibe is Italian American so we tucked into an American-style beef burger, spaghetti in a tomato and basil sauce and a farm house pizza with ham and mushrooms, plus a Greek salad for good measure. Not too shabby – went down great with a bottle of rosé.
It's at this point we discovered yet another De Salis quirk – a cat sleeping underneath one of the tables. Apparently she rocked up one day and has been here ever since, snoozing in the lobby and chasing birds around the hotel grounds. You can make your own mind up on how hygienic it is for a cat to be hanging around where you eat, but she was cute enough that we forgave her. When you say hello you might have to get fairly close, as she's hard of hearing. Bless her.
Morning came and it was a full English and continental spread, so we helped ourselves to bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs and croissants. Was it the tastiest breakfast we've ever had? Probably not, but that and the included tea and coffee certainly perked us up for the day.
Rooms
Reviews say the rooms are basic but comfortable, and we'd say that's a fair assessment. They're a little old-fashioned but had everything we needed, including a double sink – a random touch of romance not in keeping with the room's aesthetic, but perfectly in keeping with the eclectic De Salis vibe. We just wanted a room for the night at a decent price, so we were happy enough with what we got.
Everything else
What else is there to say about the De Salis? Sure it could do with a quick tidy up, but we didn't regret our visit. If you're going to go for a budget-friendly hotel near Stansted, you may as well go for somewhere with a story or two. You won't forget this hotel in a hurry, and making memories is what holidays are all about, right?
Say hi to the cat from us please.
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