Until recently I was a fan of these cheap hotel chains, but am getting less enthusiastic.
After reading
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2...ge-turned-away-vulnerable-women-late-at-night (Travelodge turned away vulnerable women late at night.
That sort of thing could happen in any hotel. It has always occurred to me that it's a bit lax that you can just walk up to the desk and ask for any room key by number in older hotels where it's a physical key they like you to leave when you go out, and if you sound confident enough you get it. Plus I've had someone walk in on me while undressing for the shower when they were given the wrong key once, though in traditional hotels you can mitigate that by ensuring you ask for both keys even if travelling alone - I went down to complain and while apologising profusely they said it happened because the second key was still on the board and they just picked up the wrong one as a result.
Really hotels should be asking for ID in such cases, and if unable to produce it (e.g. because they've been mugged of their key and wallet) they should have to do something like identify some items that will be in the room that aren't simply clothing and the member of staff go and both check and ask anyone present if they are OK with a key being given out before doing so. A bit like if I go to a gym reception and say I've lost my locker key I'd expect them to ask what is in the locker (to a decent level of description, e.g. "a blue size XL Berghaus coat" not just "a coat" as there will be a coat in all the lockers probably) and check before allowing me access, and indeed the one time I have actually done that that's exactly what they did.
They were far from home but it refused to let them stay without specific ID to prove they were over 18) and an unsatisfactory week in the Premier inn in St Peter Port (massively overheated, "a/c" kept defaulting back to 25 deg C, no opening window, no tomatoes and some other items available on buffet breakfast) I shall probably give both chains a miss in future.
PI doesn't ask for ID routinely for those who state their nationality as British. Increasingly other hotels do, though, and often without pointing it out on the booking confirmation. It's only YHA that seem to have decent messaging on it. When asked I've often said "what if I didn't have any" and got "erm" back - only non-UK citizens (/residents, I forget exactly) and cash payers are required to show ID at hotels per the law.
As for St Peter Port I've stayed there and found it perfectly acceptable, quite new and in good nick if I recall. Maybe an off week? I do find they have their heating/AC automatically reset after a period of time though and I agree that is annoying.
