Quote: We enjoyed our stay at the Park Avenue. Although my car GPS navigation aid took us through about every highway and byway in Belfast before announcing, ‘You have arrived at your destination.’ It then promptly expired. I afterwards discovered a quick drive along a motorway and a spin off at a roundabout would have done just as well. Modern technology isn’t always the answer!

On-site car parking allows space for 250 cars but it was pretty full for most of the time we were there due to various functions being hosted in the hotel. Park Avenue is the closest hotel to Belfast City Airport and lies only 10 minutes drive from the heart of Belfast City - or a 20-minute walk. Near to the hotel is Belmont Road with its shops, Strand Cinema, and the parliament buildings of Stormont. Victoria Park with its expanses of water, ducks and geese are minutes away on foot. Buses stopping on Holywood Road just few metres from hotel take you into the city centre. The location is therefore quite convenient.

The hotel is a 3-Star Hotel and appears to have been recently refurbished for the décor and furniture are all immaculate. Our room was furnished with light wooden furniture and a variety of soft furnishings. We had tea and coffee making facilities. The bathroom was spacious and in good condition. Our view wasn’t exciting but from a nearby window we could see Belfast’s icon, the giant crane of Harland & Wolf’s shipyard.

The 56 bedrooms on 3 floors provide full en suite facilities. Each room is equipped with satellite television, direct dial telephone-some with modem connections, trouser press and hairdryer. The well-lit and wide corridors impressed me compared to the extremely narrow ones in the Lodge Hotel in Coleraine, which we stayed in next. The Park Hotel was also quiet as compared to the racket up to the wee hours in the Lodge Hotel.

Situated in the hotel is the Griffin restaurant, which is a popular restaurant, which serves traditional cuisine and offers good level of service. Breakfast was a mixture of self-service and table service. Rather than the traditional Irish breakfast I always opted for oatmeal porridge. Judging by the sweetness sugar had been added rather than salt – sheer sacrilege! The restaurant also boasts a collection of paintings by renowned artists including Markey Robinson, Marie Carroll and Graham Knuttell. We only ate in on one night and enjoyed a well-prepared meal and good service. The charge was quite reasonable as well. Belmont Road offered alternative restaurants, which we also used.

The bar, which I only glanced into, is styled like a traditional Irish pub. Bar snacks are available there Monday to Saturday.

The hotel has disabled facilities: There is ramp access to the hotel and all public areas as well as disabled public toilets. There are specially equipped/adapted bedrooms. There is a mini gym for the keep fit fanatics.

All in all I can certainly highly recommend this hotel.

From journals Three days in Belfast