Travel test

WHAT: Ibis Styles London Heathrow. Rooms from €51 a night with free wi-fi, regular airport shuttle and unlimited breakfast spread included in the room rate. accorhotels.com

WHERE: Really short taxi ride from Terminal 5 or save yourself a few quid and catch a local bus for free. The stop is right outside.

EXPERIENCE: Let’s face it, the immediate surroundings at Heathrow make you want to jump on a plane and scarper on holiday even quicker than normal.

Thankfully, the hotel is a bright and modern oasis away from some of the concrete and traffic gloom in the area.

My room was colourful, quirky, super quiet and had heaps of space to rearrange my hold baggage during a mild early morning panic. Wi-fi was great and you don’t need a degree in advanced physics to operate the shower, TV or bedside lighting.

Check-in was painless, the bar looked rather tempting and there’s a plentiful buffet breakfast with enough variety to fill your boots for an early escape (to St Petersburg for the World Cup, since you ask).

There’s a bland-looking pub within walking distance and an all-night garage next door if you get the munchies.

QUIBBLES: Only limited entertainment nearby if you do fancy a night out, but why bother when you can hunker down in the hotel and rest up in preparation for your adventure?

VERDICT: This set me up perfectly for my trip and minimised the usual transport hassles that come with an early