Accommodation suggestions and reviews

[starrymarkb]

Glasgow

That one's nice

 

[GatwickDepress]

Stayed in the Ibis Budget Glasgow in Springfield Quay last week while on holiday, and it was very nice for the price.

It's about a 10 - 15 minute walk from Glasgow Central, with regular First and McGills buses on Paisley Street, which is accessible through a somewhat obscure passage to the right of the hotel entrance. There's a Tesco Express a few minutes along too.

Not too fond of the lack of (for public use) staircases from the ground floor up to the rooms. There are staircases from the reception (floor 6) up to the two accommodation levels though (floors 7 and 8). There's also a sheltered smoking area outside the entrance.

Despite being near the motorway and on an entertainment plaza, the noise levels were minimal on all nights. It's a lovely walk along the riverside to get there too.

 

[Butts]

Can I recommend the Travelodge Central in Bradford - it's a stones throw from Bradford FS Station.

Being fairly new (by the look of it) means the latest room format.

Although it has no onsite restaurant there is a Café behind it that did a decent full breakfast including toast and coffee for less than a fiver.

Failing that there is a Macdonalds close by and the City Centre with all it's eateries is 5-10 mins walk.

 

[Techniquest]

Stayed at Adastral Hotel, Hove, on Friday night and I have to say I was very happy with it £45 when I booked it for a single room with en-suite bathroom. Free WiFi (although I didn't use it) and free breakfast, job done!

Comfortable bed, decent enough size room for me, bathroom ever so slightly on the small side but did the job fine. In a quiet location so almost no noise from outside, despite it being a Friday night and Halloween at the same time. The seafront is 30 seconds walk away.

Breakfast was not a continental affair thank Goodness, and I had a most enjoyable feed. Only 15 minute walk from Aldrington station, 45 minutes from Brighton station (via the seafront, maybe a few minutes less going a different way) and Hove station isn't that far away either.

Not a niggle for me, but for others it may well be. I noted no lifts available here, so worth bearing in mind.

I enjoyed my stay here and it put my faith back in independent hotels after *that* stay in Leith! I'll be returning here one day, no doubt in 2015 when I return for more DaySave action!

 

[Blindtraveler]

So often the way you get a bad experience that makes you wary. On the flip side there are some true jems out there and sounds like you found one!

 

[Techniquest]

So often the way you get a bad experience that makes you wary. On the flip side there are some true jems out there and sounds like you found one!

Aye this one and The Cambridge Hotel, Huddersfield, are my favourites from 2014 so far

 

[richw]

I stayed in Torquay Premier Inn recently. few hundred metres from Torquay station.
My room was a poor stay due to being directly above the noisy extractor unit for the on site restaurant which was running until at least 1am- however any rooms away from that section of the hotel I would think to be ok

 

[Crossover]

I've just returned from a couple of nights at Premier Inn Haymarket. Minutes from the rail/tram stop, it couldn't be much better located. I know the hotel is undergoing refurbishment and I think I had a refreshed room, as the decor looked fresh and the bed fairly new. The bathroom was fairly old fashioned, but I guess "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" as it was clean and serviceable. Would certainly recommend.

I was overlooking the road down the far end of the building (to the extreme right of the entrance), so there was a little road noise but nothing to bother me (who can sleep through most things, arguably!)

 

[Butts]

I stayed in Torquay Premier Inn recently. few hundred metres from Torquay station.
My room was a poor stay due to being directly above the noisy extractor unit for the on site restaurant which was running until at least 1am- however any rooms away from that section of the hotel I would think to be ok

Why didn't you invoke their 100% satisfaction Guarantee ?

If you'd reported that and they had been unable to move you to an alternative room you would have had a free stay

 

[richw]

Why didn't you invoke their 100% satisfaction Guarantee ?

If you'd reported that and they had been unable to move you to an alternative room you would have had a free stay

Who said I didn't

Full refund was received in my account within 2 working days.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I've just returned from a couple of nights at Premier Inn Haymarket. I know the hotel is undergoing refurbishment <snip>
I was overlooking the road down the far end of the building (to the extreme right of the entrance), so there was a little road noise but nothing to bother me (who can sleep through most things, arguably!)

this hotel was very loud throughout during the tram build, surprised they didnt refurbish at the time when I believe it had a drop in occupancy during the week. TBH Surprised there refurbishing at all, not long done. Is this a major job or just a lick of paint, new carpets etc?

 

[Butts]

Who said I didn't

Full refund was received in my account within 2 working days.

Good Man

That was a cheap stay then, I'm sure the free night ameliorated the quality of your stay.

I'm surprised more people have not got the bottle to invoke this handy "get out of jail card"

 

[Crossover]

this hotel was very loud throughout during the tram build, surprised they didnt refurbish at the time when I believe it had a drop in occupancy during the week. TBH Surprised there refurbishing at all, not long done. Is this a major job or just a lick of paint, new carpets etc?

It isn't that close to the tram line really, so not sure why it would have been that bad even then. If they are, it is a lick of paint I reckon - only knew about the problems due to Trip Advisor, but my room was alright

Good Man

That was a cheap stay then, I'm sure the free night ameliorated the quality of your stay.

I'm surprised more people have not got the bottle to invoke this handy "get out of jail card"

One of my friends invoked it as a hotel we stayed in whilst attending a wedding near Durham was a bit dusty. The room a couple of us had was OK (though the corridor carpets had a line of dust round the edge) but another friend suffers from asthma and the like and it affected them quite a bit

 

[richw]

Good Man

That was a cheap stay then, I'm sure the free night ameliorated the quality of your stay.

I'm surprised more people have not got the bottle to invoke this handy "get out of jail card"

I was a little worried to say anything, as I've read reports of people being prosecuted for getting loads of free nights.
Its the only time I've claimed back though.

 

[Blindtraveler]

It isn't that close to the tram line really, so not sure why it would have been that bad even then.

A lot of traffic was diverted that way for a good while plus construction vehicles etc.

 

[Kite159]

I was a little worried to say anything, as I've read reports of people being prosecuted for getting loads of free nights.
Its the only time I've claimed back though.

They probably have a database where any customers who claim back regularly are flagged up for review.

 

[Butts]

They probably have a database where any customers who claim back regularly are flagged up for review.

Years back I once had a problem with an awkward receptionist when invoking the guarantee. I phoned Whitbread Head Office there and then, moments later I got the refund.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Iv had several refunds over the years: Birmingham Central East - Cold Room, Hotel Wide Thirmostat Problem, refund offered when reporting it. Edinburgh Loriston Place - stayed as a friend had a twin room and got locked in bathroom due to faulty lock and then stuck in lift inside of an hour. Hotel didnt offer refund however head office did plus a free night! Inverness East - Early Departure to cats the first train up the Far North - No Hot Water at 5am, night porter refunded without question and without even being asked!↲
↲

 

[Techniquest]

I was a little worried to say anything, as I've read reports of people being prosecuted for getting loads of free nights.
Its the only time I've claimed back though.

I've had a few unsatisfactory nights in Premier Inns, but I've never had the guts to complain about the lack of comfort in their beds. The one I stayed in in Darlington had a decent bed, although I also put that down to being absolutely exhausted after a busy previous day and an all-nighter and very busy Sunday when I fell asleep during the trip on the Weardale!

For me, it's easier to just avoid Premier Inn.

 

[richw]

I've had a few unsatisfactory nights in Premier Inns, but I've never had the guts to complain about the lack of comfort in their beds. The one I stayed in in Darlington had a decent bed, although I also put that down to being absolutely exhausted after a busy previous day and an all-nighter and very busy Sunday when I fell asleep during the trip on the Weardale!

For me, it's easier to just avoid Premier Inn.

Beds are always comfortable I find. The only cause for complaint I'd ever had was this noisy extractor, and prior to their good night guarantee I had a room which was tipping the thermometer at 35C. They did provide me with a fan on that occasion as the air con couldn't cope.
Stuff that doesn't affect my sleep tends to be a lot of worn decor

 

[Butts]

I wonder why Travelodge do not have a similar 100% satisfaction guarantee......

Hmmmm......prior to their recent refurbishment rollout they would probably have been bankrupted within a week

 

[Techniquest]

I wonder why Travelodge do not have a similar 100% satisfaction guarantee......

Hmmmm......prior to their recent refurbishment rollout they would probably have been bankrupted within a week

And there's no doubt a LOT of their hotels to get done up! Apparently they're going away from those infernal Sleepeeze beds, which has to be a good thing in my book as they were outrageously uncomfortable! Anyone wanting to know what I'm on about, I mentioned it earlier in this thread regarding Travelodge Watford Central. If you go looking for it (should only be a couple of pages back at the most from this post), expect a rant!

 

[grid56126]

When I used to travel abroad a hell of a lot more than I do now I used to use Ibis a lot. They had a pretty good policy of if a problem cannot be sorted in 15 minutes you got a free stay another time. It is fair to say they were often useless at resolving problems and I had a fair few vouchers out of them. Their biggest problem back then was doing the Airline thing of overbooking hoping people wouldn't turn up to ensure full rooms. That was mostly prior to self booking on the internet where yield management has obviously become more realistic as they get the money up front now.

The really useful thing was there were no restrictions on the voucher use so I saved them up for stays at their Central City locations (Brussel etc) which were sometimes almost double the price.

Best shambles with them was at Frankfurt where I had booked two days (fax receipt held) and they had me down for one calendar month ! The manager got the hump and had me waiting for ages at the front desk as he insisted it was my error and I would have to pay (yadda yadda). I refused to hand over the receipt without getting a copy first as I could see where the whole scenario was going. Long story short, next morning I spoke with a more senior manager who was absolutely stunned and coughed up the gen that the bloke I had rowed with did the initial fax booking / error. My stay was refunded immediately and when i got back home there was a letter on the door mat waiting for me with four nights vouchers. Overall i must have had approaching a dozen free nights off of them.

I see on the Ibis/Accor site that they have changed the terms slightly now in that you get the stay for which you have booked free if problems are not resolved within 15". I suspect it's been like that for ages, but to be fair all stays with them over the last ten years have been hitch free, even with a family in tow.

 

[Blindtraveler]

And there's no doubt a LOT of their hotels to get done up! Apparently they're going away from those infernal Sleepeeze beds

really? Where did this highly facinating Jen come from? Iv never liked TL, Have tried there refurbed hotels and To me the old issues remain, they dont spend enough day to day on staff, cleaning and maintaining and there soon gunna get manky again. The beds will, even ie being changed again will be around for a while yet! ↲

 

[Techniquest]

Gen came from a relative, but it's not confirmed. Either way I'm happy with my use of independant hotels, which to be fair are often cheaper than Travelodge!

 

[Blindtraveler]

and often better qualitty!

 

[Kite159]

But have a disadvantage of having shorter checking in times.

But has an advantage of sometimes having a free breakfast

 

[Pete81E]

Travelodges:
Burnley - The most awful place ever. Just horrible. Pulled out the sofa bed for one of the kids and found fag ends in a saucer. Blood on the sheets. Disgusting!
Haymarket - Actually very nice. Really handy for station. Booked a family room for myself and my brother for £29. He subsequently couldn't make it. I was on my own in a room that was like a ballroom! Honestly, it was 40 paces long with a chandelier. The TV was small and so far away from the bed I couldn't see it! Will definitely be back there, though!

Premier Inn:
Never had a bad experience. Stansted Airport (after a delayed flight back) still had the shuttle bus running after midnight and smooth check-in.

IBIS:
Stayed in quite a few. Rotherham by the M18 was great. Hannover budget IBIS convenient and OK but prices hiked and better value for a few euros more. Zurich budget IBIS disappointing.

Hilton.
Look out for special weekend deals. Got a great room for £70

Anyone have any recommendations for Paris?

 

[Trainfan344]

Not really bashing but thought i'd throw a few words together.

Travelodge Aldgate East -

So despite the name the hotel is located close to the Tower Hill tube station
We struggled to find it.
Came back late at night and the road it was on had a few warehouses which had men outside a door or gathered around a car.
We saw plenty of blues and twos going down the road.
Beds were nice
Everything worked (suprisingly)
7/10

 

[richw]

Not particularly near the railway but I stayed in Taunton Travelodge a few days back. It was filthy, window wouldn't lock shut, No lift was available so only stairs to upper floor- Ok for me but a less mobile person the stairs were quite steep.