Park Inn by Radisson Manchester, City Centre

This Park Inn -- a boxy, seven-story property opened in 2009 -- sits right across the street from one of Europe’s busiest indoor areas, and the scale of its sleek but rather Spartan lobby hints at the large number of guests who stay here while attending major music or sporting events. The rest of the time you’ll find its curvaceous settees and funky high-backed couches occupied mostly by business travelers on weekdays and tourists on weekends. The lobby-level restaurant (a chain eatery that tries hard to cultivate a loft-like look) provides a more comfortable space for guests of all stripes to gather; ditto for the adjoining bar and outdoor terrace.

Situated across from Manchester Arena, this hotel works well for many types of travelers. The Medieval Quarter (anchored by a gorgeous Gothic cathedral), The Corn Exchange (with its assorted restaurants) and the Arndale shopping area (a retail mecca) can all be reached on foot in 12 minutes or less, as can the vibrant pubs and clubs of Oxford Road. The boho Northern Quarter is about 15 minutes away; however, proximity to Victoria Station means public transit is readily available for those who don’t wish to walk. The city’s efficient system will get you to the airport as well: The trip takes roughly 44 minutes, but you can shave some time off that by driving instead. If you have your own car, secure parking is available at the arena, and hotel guests are eligible for discounted rates.

• Four-minute walk to Manchester Arena
• Five-minute walk to Manchester Victoria Rail and Tram Stations
• Eight-minute walk to the Corn Exchange
• Nine-minute walk to the National Football Museum
• 10-minute walk to Manchester Cathedral 
• 11-minute walk to the Royal Exchange Theatre
• 11-minute walk to Oxford Road/ St. Peter's Square
• 12-minute walk to Arndale Shopping Centre 
• 15-minute walk to the Northern Quarter
• 18-minute walk to the Manchester Art Gallery
• 18-minute walk to the Piccadilly Bus Station
• 44 minutes by public transit to Manchester International Airport (32-minute drive, depending on traffic)

Thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, the spacious rooms here boast lots of natural light, and mod decor elements (like striped carpeting and matching bed runners) make them brighter still. But the color wheel may spin too far for some tastes -- especially when it comes to the eye-popping painted ceilings and trippy headboards with multi-hued mood lighting. The minimalist design can be problematic, too, since it translates into a lack of storage space. All in all, rooms seem to be a rung below public spaces when it comes to their looks. On the upside, all of the hotel’s air-conditioned options include laptop safes, LCD TVs with satellite channels, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffeemakers, but no minibars; walk-in showers are also standard issue in the tiled bathrooms. Disabled-access rooms include the requisite equipment and modifications; while Superior ones offer welcome extras like bathrobes, bottled water and free buffet breakfasts. Suites add a sitting area, a separate bath and shower, plus a second 40-inch TV.

The branded health club (a branch of Pace) helps earn this hotel its four-pearl rating. After all, the facility boasts a gym with fitness classes and personal trainers, a lounger-lined indoor pool, a sauna and steam room, plus a spa zone offering a menu of add-on massages, mani/pedis and beauty treatments. There’s an in-house restaurant, too -- RBG & Grill, part of a popular chain -- where you can order hearty, sometimes health-conscious food in the urban/industrial dining room or retreat, drink in hand, to an adjacent terrace. Guests combining business and pleasure can also take advantage of seven modern meeting rooms that have the latest audio-visual equipment and combined space for over 360 people. Other on-site features include a round-the-clock reception desk; dry-cleaning/laundry and basic business services; 24-hour room service; and free property-wide Wi-Fi.