Accommodation suggestions and reviews

[richw]

Stayed in Taunton Travelodge on Friday night, around 7 years since my bad experience.
Whilst it wasn't as nice as Premier Inn it was acceptable. Clean, décor a little worn in places, mattress was firm- a personal preference would be a little softer but I slept well. Staff members friendly.
£55 paid for a family room- for 4 of us very reasonable compared to any other prices in Taunton on Friday night.

Saturday night I stayed at The Anchor in Hillfarrance near Wellington. Family Suite with wife and kids as attended a wedding at the same venue.
Décor a little worn, but as high quality materials still looked acceptable. Staff Excellent. Bed very comfortable- I fell asleep despite the wedding disco still going on in the next room as we were adjacent to the function room at ground floor level
I'd recommend it. Sunday carvery was lovely for lunch today before departure.

 

[Kite159]

Belle Vue, Barmouth

Located less than 5 minutes walk from Barmouth station, on Marina Parade. I had an excellent view of the seafront from my room at the top of the Annex building [looks like the owner of Belly Vue purchased the hotel next door]. I had hardly any road noise, the only noise came from the sea with waves crashing against the Sea Wall. Very comfy bed (slept like a log, which is unusual for me in hotel rooms), and friendly owners.

WiFi wasn't the best (probably more to do with my room being at the top of the hotel if anything), rooms featuring tea & coffee making and an ancient CRT telly). Personally for booking late to get a seafront hotel during prime holiday season at Barmouth, I paid £56 for 2 nights.

I would recommend if anybody wanted a night away on the Cambrian Coast as Barmouth is a pretty town

 

[Peter Mugridge]

For those of you who do the budget hotels, I noticed today while doing the shopping run that there's a brand new Premier Inn just been built* literally right next door to Tolworth station, which is in the zones and therefore probably quite convenient for London bashes if you don't want to stay in the central area.





*I had wondered what has been being built for the past few months!

 

[Kite159]

For those of you who do the budget hotels, I noticed today while doing the shopping run that there's a brand new Premier Inn just been built* literally right next door to Tolworth station, which is in the zones and therefore probably quite convenient for London bashes if you don't want to stay in the central area.





*I had wondered what has been being built for the past few months!

Although one limitation of being out in Tolworth is the frequency of services compared to other locations (although I do believe that area has a couple night bus routes as backup)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Although one limitation of being out in Tolworth is the frequency of services compared to other locations (although I do believe that area has a couple night bus routes as backup)

True, it's only half hourly but with the first train being at 06.44 that's no real handicap for bashing purposes when you consider it's only 15 minutes or so from Wimbledon from where you have multiple routes available at high frequency... Plus a better chance of actually getting a seat in the up direction as it's only two stops after the start of the line.

No idea about the night buses, but would you really be bashing at the sort of time they'd run anyway?

 

[Kite159]

True, it's only half hourly but with the first train being at 06.44 that's no real handicap for bashing purposes when you consider it's only 15 minutes or so from Wimbledon from where you have multiple routes available at high frequency... Plus a better chance of actually getting a seat in the up direction as it's only two stops after the start of the line.

No idea about the night buses, but would you really be bashing at the sort of time they'd run anyway?

I probably won't be bashing the sort of time where night buses are running (although I do have a fancy for a Night Tube bash for the sake of it, but then that will probably be the usual Croydon base). The last few times I've stayed overnight in London were on Fridays where I had an early morning service on the Saturday morning

 

[Techniquest]

Thanks for the gen Mr Mugridge, that could indeed prove handy and worth a look. If my easyHotel choice is unavailable it'll be worth a look. Now let's bang in a few recent reviews of my own. I still have a mega ton of them to post on TripAdvisor, but I'm currently putting off my RailMiles update in preference to catching up on here:

Vitkov Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic

I stayed here for 3 nights recently. The reception staff were friendly and welcoming, and the lift to take my case up to my room with me was welcome. Worth mentioning as not everywhere has a lift...

The room I had was absolutely enormous, with plenty of space in the wardrobe for putting clothes and hanging them too. The same area had a small fridge in it too, which did come in handy. The TV was of the CRT style, not that I used it. The WiFi was excellent, and I used it a lot as a result.

The bathroom was a most decent size too, with a most powerful and very good shower.

Sadly the bed was rather hard and uncomfortable, and it took me a long time to get to sleep in it. The air conditioning was good though.

It was very placed for getting to/from the city centre though, a 15 minute tram journey on line 9. Prague does do trams well, unlike some cities. Vienna, I'm looking at you here...

York Hotel, Ilford, London

Very close to the station in Ilford, within a 3 minute walk, but that's the best I can say about this place.

Reception took forever to check me in, and be warned you WILL be charged a £20 deposit for damages and so on. Thankfully I had that with me!

No lift and some steep stairs to my room, 27 for me, and I could have easily gone flying over the hoover left out in the corridor and it was still there the next morning! A stiff door meant it took some effort to open and close it. A fridge and microwave in the room, but that didn't compensate for the ultra uncomfortable bed! Good grief that thing was rough, worse than what I'd had in Prague and what I was to have the next night!

No TV in the room and no WiFi anywhere in the building.

It was incredibly hot in the room and the window didn't open very far. No air conditioning so you had to have the little bit of air coming in and suffer the noisy people outside.

This was a shared bathroom deal, and the shower was OK but not great. I've had better but I've had worse.

Check out was far quicker thankfully, and yes I did get my £20 deposit back which I was convinced I wouldn't! To say I was glad to leave and get to the airport is an understatement!

Sant'Ambroeus Hotel, Milan, Italy

Check in involved some paperwork, including photocoping of the passport, and my receipt for arrival was printed on a dot matrix printer. I thought they had all been long consigned to history!

My room was 311 on the third floor, and finding the light switches was a big mission it has to be said. Good size room, small bathroom but excellent air conditioning. Considering it was still around 28 degrees Celsius at 10pm this was a good thing! I had a mini bar in the room, but instead of taking anything from there I put my own drinks in the fridge to cool them down.

Sadly the bed was very hard and took some doing to sleep in it, but at least it didn't creak and wasn't worn out like the bed I had in London!

Check out was super easy and I was soon on my way to the city centre, about 3.25 miles away by foot and around an hour's walk from Centrale Station at a brisk pace.

I probably would stay again at the hotel in Prague, and the one in Italy, but definitely 100% not the one in Ilford. I'd rather spend a night on Night Buses than do that again!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Travelodge Wemly

Located on the North Circular this is going to have some noise but was expecting some kind of sound proofing???????? Urm, no.

Air con then? In bar/reception yes but that was it. Desk fan provided in the room which with the window opened did something to combat the shear heat that builds up when both are shut/off.

A truck a minute sometimes made bits rattle and shake. This is a 2010s type eara build with the limmited places to put things and only 1 power socket. Toilet flush took a bit of pounding but shower was ok given TLs usual standard.
Bed was actually worse than usual and thats saying something! Breakfast was OK and 24hrs bar plus nice staff and fast lifts.

122 bus to Ealing 1 way and Brent Cross via Stonebridge park station the other and a footbridge allows crossing of the road.


As vice president of the travelodge haters club I am reminded yet again why such a club is needed.
I mean, what idiot opens a hotel with no AC/sound proofing beside a duel caradgeway with a 50/60 limmit? 1 final warning here, it has parking and so gets a lot of contractors and at 4am about 200 shopfitters came back in and unwound, crouding the bar and early breakfast. It was quieter at 11:30am than at 5!

If this was a PI and their excileent sound insulation at build/refurb stage or indeed any hotel opperater with air conditioned rooms I might use again based on price/location.

 

[Techniquest]

Good to hear of the nice staff, it's generally one thing Travelodge get right. Sadly the rest of it completely ruined it, and that hotel is definitely not as well placed as the map suggests.

 

[30907]

Techniquest's post about Prague prompts me to recomment Tabor (yes, the town is named after the Biblical mountain, but Google will ttanslate it as Camp!) as a base for exploring South Bohemia. Within easy distance of most of the railway and tourist inferest from Prague southwards, and a much improved train service on the Prague line this year.

My wife and I stayed at the Cats Apartments (U Kocek) in a quiet spot by the river. 20min walk from the station, but the owner (speaks good English and) will pick you up, and the town bus stops outside the door.

The big advantage is that the ingredients for breakfast will be in the fridge the night before, and there's far more than enough for a second meal!

And it's far cheaper than Prague.

PM if you're into things Czech and want more info.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I think the location of Ryanair served airports logic (i.e they say they fly to Dublin when its actually Shannon) is being applied to the location of travelodge hotel locations as more and more seam to be opening with missleading names.

Thanks for the info on the location of those apartments.

 

[Kite159]

Sounds like that "York Hotel, Ilford" can join "Rooms for You, Leyton" on the avoid at all costs list

 

[High Dyke]

The Mem & I have used the Ibis in Stevenage a few times, prior to railtours. They aren't the cheapest, but it's about 5 minutes walk from the station, next door to a Tesco and convenient for Old Town pubs and eateries. Never had a problem when we've stayed there - last time they apologised for noise from a party in their function suite and gave us rooms away from the noisiest areas of the hotel.

Also used various Travelodges over the years. One of the best is the Edinburgh Haymarket. A few minutes walk from Haymarket Stn, about 20 mins walk from Edinburgh city centre. It is set in a converted Town House so retains older style rooms not the normal kit-built standard they use these days.

Travelodge at Caterham Whyteleafe is a newer build, convenient for the station. Had a decent stay there with prices lower than London. Agree with the comment about being out of the way places for some of them

As for B&B's. Used Braeside in Exeter a few times. Competitive prices and a warm welcome from the owners. Convenient for Exeter Central station/City Centre, and just up the hill from Exeter St Davids.

 

[dave87016]

The Mem & I have used the Ibis in Stevenage a few times, prior to railtours. They aren't the cheapest, but it's about 5 minutes walk from the station, next door to a Tesco and convenient for Old Town pubs and eateries. Never had a problem when we've stayed there - last time they apologised for noise from a party in their function suite and gave us rooms away from the noisiest areas of the hotel.

Also used various Travelodges over the years. One of the best is the Edinburgh Haymarket. A few minutes walk from Haymarket Stn, about 20 mins walk from Edinburgh city centre. It is set in a converted Town House so retains older style rooms not the normal kit-built standard they use these days.

Travelodge at Caterham Whyteleafe is a newer build, convenient for the station. Had a decent stay there with prices lower than London. Agree with the comment about being out of the way places for some of them

As for B&B's. Used Braeside in Exeter a few times. Competitive prices and a warm welcome from the owners. Convenient for Exeter Central station/City Centre, and just up the hill from Exeter St Davids.

I agree about Edinburgh Haymarket travelodge though its difficult to get a room cheap midweek , ive stayed twice and loved my stay both times it's great they give you a fan for your room I wish P.I did though

 

[Kite159]

Southmead Guesthouse, Llanelli

Located around less than 10 minutes walk away from the station, with a choice of routes (either a faster route via houses, or a longer route down "takeaway" street). A converted house turned guest-house, so it had a shared bathroom for some of the rooms (I think some of the other rooms had en-suite). The bathroom wasn't much to shout about with the toilet being wedged in the corner between a walk-in shower.

My room overlooked the front so had some road-noise, thankfully the window could be opened inwards, hinged at the rear to allow fresh air into the room. Reasonable sized room, old CRT TV, reasonable comfy bed (only downside was the base was a cheap one so didn't give that much support). Friendly staff who cooks breakfast, hotel has BT WiFi, one downside is steepish stairs but that is to be expected in older buildings.

One I would recommend if you ever wanted to stay a night in Llanelli, "Best Pizza and Kebabs" on Station Road do a nice Cheese Burger

 

[eastwestdivide]

... Friendly staff who cooks breakfast with BT WiFi...

I know BT advertise that they have the most powerful wifi, but I didn't realise you could cook breakfast with it!

On the Ibis chain - I think they've improved since I used to use them regularly in the UK, but they can be a bit expensive now, and their breakfasts tend to be a bit "cheap and cheerful", but not so cheap either in my experience.

 

[Cletus]

Premier Inn, Heald Green, Manchester.

Generally the cheapest PI in the area, that's because it's at the end of the airport runway.

Ideal if you want an early wake up call, 1st arrival about 5.30 this morning.

Just a minute walk from the railway station though.

 

[Keith Jarrett]

I agree about Edinburgh Haymarket travelodge though its difficult to get a room cheap midweek , ive stayed twice and loved my stay both times it's great they give you a fan for your room I wish P.I did though

I'll also second the Haymarket Travelodge as being a decent place to stay. Most rooms are huge and very high ceilings. Staff told us that it is a listed building so TL are limited as to what can be done with it.

Edinburgh Learmouth is another TL in an old building and worth considering if HA is booked out. It's about 15-20 minutes walk to both Haymarket and Waverley.

 

[Kite159]

Useful to note incase my usual place in Edinburgh is sold out

 

[WelshBluebird]

Anyone been to the Kings Cross Royal Scot Travelodge in London before?
Just want to check if there is a reason why it seems fairly reasonably priced despite being fairly well located?

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have, it along with Glasgow Central are the 2 worst TL's ever, OK I hate all TL propperties but this one is just grim.

 

[Bungle965]

Anyone been to the Kings Cross Royal Scot Travelodge in London before?
Just want to check if there is a reason why it seems fairly reasonably priced despite being fairly well located?

Grim, is the one word I would use to describe it.
Sam

 

[Butts]

Grim, is the one word I would use to describe it.
Sam

It was when I last stayed there donkey's years ago. Heard it had turned into not far short of a "knocking shop"

However according to latest TA reviews it is undergoing some sort of refurbishment at the moment. Perhaps it will be a lot better at the end of these (much needed) works.

 

[Blindtraveler]

The said works are to convert some of the rooms to their premium room concept, basically a few fancy trimmings for a lot more money per night that still fail to hide what it is, a knocking shop/dive/dump/**** whole, in short, polishing a turd. Go for Easy hotel, at least its clean and basic.

 

[Butts]

The said works are to convert some of the rooms to their premium room concept, basically a few fancy trimmings for a lot more money per night that still fail to hide what it is, a knocking shop/dive/dump/**** whole, in short, polishing a turd. Go for Easy hotel, at least its clean and basic.

To be fair it has got a few decent reviews - as it is quite large I suspect it is a "room lottery" on arrival.

No wonder TL have not got the same 100% Satisfaction Guarantee that PI have, they would be bankrupt after a week.

Talking of Premier Inn I will be staying at my first ever "foreign one" when visiting the Frankfurt Motor Show this Weekend. Looks good and has decent reviews. Anyone stayed at the Frankfurt Premier Inn ?

 

[D365]

Any suggestions please for a cheap two night layover in Bletchley?

 

[Blindtraveler]

Please do post a review of this one when you return!

 

[LeylandLen]

Anyone been to the Kings Cross Royal Scot Travelodge in London before?
Just want to check if there is a reason why it seems fairly reasonably priced despite being fairly well located?

Yes stayed a few times last year ; hope to go again in October. The area did have a bad reputation before the upgrades of Kings X and St Pan Intl when the gas holders were there ; there was always an offer of ' business' by the local females : many years ago in my younger days ..!! Its a good TL . Never had a meal yet; plenty of other places around ,

 

[Butts]

Please do post a review of this one when you return!

Premier Inn Frankfurt

Externally the signage is exactly the same as the UK in both colour and design.

Very smart foyer and public areas (has not been open that long). Has a restaurant and bar plus a Costa Coffee Shop. Prices similar to UK or perhaps just a shade more.

Breakfast slightly different to UK more emphasis on "Continental" selection but hot dishes of bacon, sausages and scrambled and hard boiled eggs plus baked beans. Particular bonus for me Blue Cheese available ...yum yum.

The twin room was spacious and smart (same layout as UK). Good sized bathroom with powerful shower - 2 shower heads- one of those big round "watering can" type circular jobbies and a normal one. Also had tea and coffee making facilities in the room.

Hotel is within 10 minutes walking distance of U-Bahn Festhalle/Messe Station or Messe S-Bahn Stations. In a nice area by the exhibition halls where we went to see the Motor Show with lot's of other Hotels, Restaurants and the Huge City Plaza Shopping /Dining Complex. Takes minutes on the U-Bahn into Town.

Rooms available from 33 Euros

 

[DarloRich]

Any suggestions please for a cheap two night layover in Bletchley?

You will struggle for anything cheap above the "workmens" type B&B / hotels of which there are a few.

PL or TL in MK is about your best bet.