We were flying out of T3 however in future we'd avoid the Hilton Garden Inn. It's not a great hotel, it's ridiculously over priced and it's a good 20 minutes walk from T3. Not good with heavy luggage. It's not a simple walkway. It's through car parks, down lifts that it's very difficult to find the correct lift, just not great. Nothing like the hotels on the walkway to T4.
There is no porter service. We were staying the night before a morning flight and we arrived in our taxi to a dingy back door. Our taxi driver showed us the lifts. You the. Go to the 2nd floor and queue at booths like in a Premier Inn or Travelodge.
You get your key and the rooms are okay but pretty basic. No shower caps or excess toiletries, which for the night before a flight when you have every packed and for the absorbitant price they charge, is poor.
We had booked a runway view room. Yes you could see the runway - just. Certainly not worth an upgrade. We possibly saw 3 planes, none of which were landing or taking off.
We went to the restaurant and they refused to do any vegetable swaps unless we paid £6 for each swap. We refused. I don't eat carbohydrates and they had 1 side which was not a carbohydrate, so I wanted to swap the obligatory fries for that. They eventually agreed after getting the manager.
We went to the top floor bar and the staff member who seated us was just getting us drinks menus when 4 loud American men arrived and she ditched us and seated them. I had to go and ask for a menu.