The Radisson Blu at Manchester Airport seems a good place

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Manchester Airport is expanding. Following plans to link the three terminals and cater more effectively for the growing number of passengers who use Britain’s third busiest airport, cranes and construction vehicles are everywhere.

At the heart of it all is the Radisson Blu, a few minutes away from Terminals 1 and 2 via the ‘skywalk’ conveyor belts. There are no fewer than 360 rooms and on the night I stay, most of them are occupied.

The thing about airport hotels is that there’s a palpable sense of excitement. I dare say some guests are staying because they’ve missed flights or messed up their travel arrangements, but most are looking forward to flying off with expectation in their suitcases.

Executive feel, convenient location: A double room at the Radisson Blu Manchester Airport

Check-in is fast and professional. My room is bigger than expected. It has an executive feel to it — ironing board in the cupboard, big TV, spacious desk, sound-proofing of the highest order.

By 9pm, the Collage Restaurant is packed. I ask for a table and am told to expect a wait of up to 15 minutes. This means there’s time to check out the hotel’s Little M bar, which serves pizza and is showing a Manchester City football game. When a table comes available I ask what the chefs can produce quickest.

‘The burger,’ says the waiter. ‘Then the burger it is.’

‘Small, medium or large? ‘Medium, please.’

What arrives is the largest medium burger I’ve ever seen. It has two vast slabs of meat in a thick bun, with several layers of cheese and bacon.

‘If this is medium, what’s a large?’ I ask. ‘The large has three burgers in it.’

It turns out that my medium hamburger costs £20. Which is absurd, unless two of you know this in advance and are happy to share.

The breakfast buffet (from 5am) is almost as outlandish. Everyone seems to be loading up on carbs before their flights and there’s a run on prosecco. ‘Why not?’ asks a woman coming back for a second round of bubbles.

The Radisson Blu at Manchester Airport seems a good place to start a holiday.