Accommodation suggestions and reviews

[Blindtraveler]

firstly if this is in the wrong place mods
feel free to move.

Wondering where people have gone to crash whilst making longer trips from there home patch and if there good, average or so bad youd rather have slept on the station!

Particular points of interest being if there at or very near a station, depot, siding or other good spotting location. i'll start off with a small budget hotel near gravelly hill and erdington stations in Birmingham called rollason wood - budget, great bar, food, games room and staff. Have been using for years!

Oh and if its a travelodge, tel us if its alrite as they vary!

 

[trentside]

One of the biggest surprises for me had to be the EasyHotel at London Heathrow. I booked to stay here when I was supposed to be flying into Heathrow before going on a trip by rail the next day (from Marylebone).

My flights didn't end up going ahead but I still stayed there - £25 a night so close to London seemed a fantastic price. Some negative reviews had me worried but I found it to be perfectly acceptable. I had my own bathroom, a clean double bed, Wi-Fi access (much cheaper than advertised) and air conditioning (in summer, very welcome). No window, though - but that's part of the low cost thing.

Hotel is near Heathrow Central, Hatton Cross and a short bus trip from Hayes and Harlington.

 

[wensley]

Travelodge crew, the one on the edge of town, was very nice when I stopped there earlier this year. Was only there from 0100 til 0700 but the room was clean and tidy and had all you need. Is a little way out of the station which may be a problem for some but as I was travelling by car it suited me fine!!

 

[western Champion]

Have stayed in some very cheap B+B's in Cork, Ireland. 25 euro a night back when you got 2 euro to the pound. Don't get me wrong the room was clean enough but basic is not the word. On the plus side the breakfast was excellent and the room overlooked the station etc which was good when there were plenty 121's, 141's and 181's.

 

[starrymarkb]

My most recent Hotel stays have been

Lille - B&B Euralille. 48€ per night
A bit like a travelodge though the window was very small in terms of height. View was over the main road into Lille, Fives TGV Sidings and LGV Nord

[youtube]7vXTQmIIxRk[/youtube]

Dublin - Fleet Street Hotel
Avoid Avoid Avoid. It was cheap but very nasty!

Glasgow - Charing Cross Premier Inn
Really nice with huge rooms

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The above have all been stayed in by myself over the past few months:

Tarevlodge Peterborough - less said, the better. Reading through reviews on Trip Advisor, people have had to walk past prostitues to get in in the past, fortunately I didn't.
Ramada / Ramada Encore Crewe - very good VFM, and not too far from the station either. Bit like a posh Travelodge.
Melia something or other, just north of Great Portland Street station - booked via Late Rooms. Absolutely exceptional, if it wasn't five star it can't have been far off. Stuck out like a sore thumb in jeans and a rucksack though.
Travelodge Feltham - very nice, close to the station, clean, quiet, Wetherspoons and Maccy Ds right by the entrance.
Thistle, near Snow Hill station, Birmingham - good all rounder.
Premier Inn Charing Cross, Glasgow - good all rounder.

 

[trentside]

I realised I forgot to mention a recent stay at the Ibis Luton Airport - again a good deal at £30 a night. Used it as a stop off before doing the 1967 Stock First & Last Tour back in May. Typical Ibis really, a little dated but very clean and functional. £1 on the bus from Luton Airport Parkway.

Bed was a little narrow though!

 

[Butts]

I know theres no railway but I recently stayed in a £26 B&B/Hotel just outside of St Helier in Jersey- Hotel DeNormandie.

It had mixed reviews on TA but it was fine with a modern if basic bedroom and bathroom and a Full Breakfast all for £26.

Only 10 mins walk from Town Centre (Bus available)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I have twice used the Central Hotel in Glasgow during bashing trips, but not yet seen it since the rebuild.

Edinburgh, I have used the Carlton Highland Hotel ( or whatever it's called these days ) on one occasion.

Both were very comfortable and competent organisations. As are the Thistles in Bristol and Exeter and the Red Lion in Salisbury. The Crewe Arms is probably familiar to many of you and is one that is perfectly located as well.



Newcastle... not a bashing trip as such but a weekend away arranged at short notice. Let's just say that there is a reason why one particular hotel in West Jesmond was literally the only place in town that had room availability. The place was so bad that when we got home we contacted Newcatle Council who promptly sent the inspectors in and found several defects requiring immediate remedial action. We also learned from both the AA and RAC that the hotel in question ( which when I looked it up on the advisory website a few months ago seemed to be as bad as ever as it was getting slated left right and centre and one person said it made Fawlty Towers look like a 5 star establishment ) was not entitled to the use of the three stars it was displaying for both organisations...

Much as I'd like to name the place as a warning that it is definitely bargepole territory, that might not be a legally good idea...

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Good:Wellington lodge - Deal
Bad: Travellodge Portsmouth
UGLY: Lomond Hotel near Kelvinbridge Subway Stn - Glasgow

 

[richw]

In the last 2 months I've stayed in:

Lowenac hotel camborne, 100m from station, very nice room and comfortable, decal a little dated.

Hilton reading, obviously a good night as you'd expect, and remarkably as I booked only 7 days before travel, was cheaper than the premier inn in reading!

Manchester airport travelodge, awful, uncomfortable bed, never got to sleep until 3, as bed was that bad, had to be up 430 for my flight!

A friend stayed at the etap near cardiff, commented the bedding was unclean, and advised the plague would be more enjoyable!

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[Yew]

I stayed in a hostel on kings cross road, not great, a hot noisy room, with lots of people down on their luck (opposed to in the country where it's lots of hikers). The toilets Nd showers wherent great, or the sheets the cleanest/best condition, but a sink and fridge in the room was nice, and 5mins from kgx.

Overall for 15 quid it wasnt bad, but don't go expecting luxury. And remember to put your key near the window when you leave

 

[Crossover]

I have stayed at Stafford Central Travelodge a couple of times, once the other week after the WMDR meet (which, after talking to blindtraveler at the meet, was wondering if it was my best idea ever :P) and once a couple of years ago (completely non rail related on that occasion) and have it fairly good on both occasions. This last time, the only negative was a slightly creaky bed but other than that, no real problems. It is about 20-25 min walk from the station, though the walk there is pleasant enough. It is a new build though so the rooms are "cosy" :P

Another recentish stay while travelling with a friend in Scotland and we stayed at the Perth Central Travelodge up in Scotland. Again, no complaints and found it quite nice. Also handily located next to a Toby Carvery and only 10-15 minutes from the railway station across the river and through town (the river runs next to the hotel pretty much)

 

[Blindtraveler]

I have stayed at Stafford Central Travelodge a couple of times, once the other week after the WMDR meet (which, after talking to blindtraveler at the meet, was wondering if it was my best idea ever :P) and once a couple of years ago (completely non rail related on that occasion) and have it fairly good on both occasions. This last time, the only negative was a slightly creaky bed but other than that, no real problems. It is about 20-25 min walk from the station, though the walk there is pleasant enough. It is a new build though so the rooms are "cosy" :P

Another recentish stay while travelling with a friend in Scotland and we stayed at the Perth Central Travelodge up in Scotland. Again, no complaints and found it quite nice. Also handily located next to a Toby Carvery and only 10-15 minutes from the railway station across the river and through town (the river runs next to the hotel pretty much)

yeh thats a good one which I usually use. Goes to show how they vary seeing as we'v had people saying dredfull to some of them!

To those whove used the Charing cross premier inn in Glasgow agree another good shout - if you get a low floor room on the correct side you can here and I believe see the trains, and the Ditra auto announcer too

Peter can you PM me the name of that Hotel in Newcastle? Fear I may be booked into it as the area and the 3 stars fits sadly. Also is the Crewe arms any good? TA gives it a hard time oh and it is stil the carlton highland in Edinburgh.

Interested to hear also that the Easy hotels are ok as have avoided due to poor reviews. Some other great tips there, keep them coming.

 

[richw]

Something to bare in mind, if you ever have a bad night at a premier inn, collect evidence in the way of photos, videos or sound recordings and they'll refund you if you send them these to back up a complaint.


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[50041]

Premier Inn city centre Preston. Three minute walk from the station. Almost brand new. Clean and efficient with good beds.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Something to bare in mind, if you ever have a bad night at a premier inn, collect evidence in the way of photos, videos or sound recordings and they'll refund you if you send them these to back up a complaint.

have only ever had 1 bad night at Premier inn out of over 60 stays and the staff at Birmingham Central East (Aston) were fantastic as the problem was an in room thermostat fault which they were experiencing hotel wide at the time due to aging equipment which was being replaced. Full refund and free breakfast!

Travelodge can iether be FANTASTIC or totally mindblowingly bad with little in between, in my experience anyway. Birmingham central broadway plaza and London city airport stand out as beiog good and recently Manchester branches in general have been very bad.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
oh and Leicester Central fine too and easy walk from bus and rail

 

[kyrano]

did a freedom of Scotland last summer and found a decent b&B JUST OUTSIDE lINLITHGOW STATION GOOD VIEW OF THE LINE ..

http://www.strawberrybank-scotland.co.uk/

 

[Jordy]

I use Travelodge a lot when out bashing, mainly because you don't need anything fancy. Generally they are fine but there are some problems which crop up, the most frequent being their inability to supply enough bedding when you are staying in a family room! More recently I returned to my room for my second night to discover that the cleaners had removed all of my belongings, thankfully I found them in lost property, I did get a full refund because of that incident though.

Croydon Central is convenient but can be a bit loud (glass bottles into bins at 2am...), Feltham is really convenient as someone has already mentioned (there is also and Asda next door!), Newport Central is now really conveniently located and is only 60 seconds walk from the station thanks to the new station entrance. One which really stood out was in Glasgow (I can't remember the name) where we had some kind of loft room with a roof light and a great view over the city, I think that was converted from some other hotel as it wasn't very Travelodge like!

Avoid Birmingham Central Bull Ring - although its convenient for both New Street and Moor Street there were some very dodgy characters hanging around and the whole place stank of rubbish (due to their being some kind of rubbish processing place just outside - lovely!). Also avoid Romford, mostly because it is in Romford.

 

[Blindtraveler]

think I know the one in Glasgow you mean although cant remember the name iether but if its the one I think it is then it managed to retain a lot of staff from its past life meaning its unrivaled on service!

Glad to here feltham is ok as booked there next year, same with Preston Central, booked for there too and for 2 nights as well!

 

[4SRKT]

My mate and I slept in the back of this, his preserved BRS BMC Noddy van (normally kept in the Keighley Bus Museum) when we went to Inverness and back behind 40145 a couple of years ago. We got it out of the bus museum on the Friday evening, drove it up to Gretna (via a very nice tea in a pub in Kirkby Lonsdale) and kipped in the back of it in the grounds of a dog track. Classy. Return to the Bus Museum was on Sunday morning.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/homer----simpson/6019196630/

It was a superb weekend of thrash and clag, from both the noddy van and the 40

Other than that I tend to try not to stay in accomodation at my own cost, using various alternatives such as: staying with 'normal' friends and relatives; tacking on bashing to work related journeys (an excellent ruse this one), thereby getting the hotel (and the positioning rail travel) paid for; using the sleeper as a way to 'bash while you kip'; or sleeping in ferry terminals (NOT recommended this one.....). The more money 'wasted' on accomodation, the less there is available for bashing. The only place I've paid to sleep while bashing in recent years is Belfast Youth Hostel, dirt cheap at £8 a night and a two minute walk from Botanic station.

Back in the day my father and I would do gruelling marathons sleeping on the cushions on the great variety of overnight trains that were available. This could go one for several nights. This fairly hardcore training lives on in me into my forties, as I continue to strive for the most economical bashing possible. I kind of enjoy it more if it's costing nowt and truly grim

 

[WestCoast]

I use Travelodge a lot when out bashing, mainly because you don't need anything fancy. Generally they are fine but there are some problems which crop up, the most frequent being their inability to supply enough bedding when you are staying in a family room! More recently I returned to my room for my second night to discover that the cleaners had removed all of my belongings, thankfully I found them in lost property, I did get a full refund because of that incident though.

Croydon Central is convenient but can be a bit loud (glass bottles into bins at 2am...), Feltham is really convenient as someone has already mentioned (there is also and Asda next door!), Newport Central is now really conveniently located and is only 60 seconds walk from the station thanks to the new station entrance. One which really stood out was in Glasgow (I can't remember the name) where we had some kind of loft room with a roof light and a great view over the city, I think that was converted from some other hotel as it wasn't very Travelodge like!

Avoid Birmingham Central Bull Ring - although its convenient for both New Street and Moor Street there were some very dodgy characters hanging around and the whole place stank of rubbish (due to their being some kind of rubbish processing place just outside - lovely!). Also avoid Romford, mostly because it is in Romford.

Most Travelodges are quite nice compared to the Etap/Formule 1 group. They're basically the French version of Travelodge, with locations all around Europe. Their hotels in mainland Europe seem fine, however I've found a few of their UK hotels to be dire. Paper thin walls, disinterested staff, grotty rooms with no proper bathroom, grubby communal areas. The Formule 1 in Liverpool has no manned reception at night and is known for its late night, erm, 'activities'. They can be very cheap though, but they make Travelodge look 5*.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Peter can you PM me the name of that Hotel in Newcastle? Fear I may be booked into it as the area and the 3 stars fits sadly. Also is the Crewe arms any good? TA gives it a hard time oh and it is stil the carlton highland in Edinburgh.

Crewe Arms is good; when I stayed there the staff also told me that when enthusiasts stay there if they ask in advance they will try to give them rooms on the railway side and again if asking before doing they will allow photography from their car park. Don't know if that's changed?

The Carlton is actually now called the Barcelo Carlton Edinburgh following a takeover some years ago but searches for Carlton Highland will still yield it in the results. And everyone knows it by the old name in Edinburgh anyway...

As to Newcastle, a PM is on the way to you any moment.

 

[Blindtraveler]

stayed in an etip once and never again! Thanks Peter, without revealing to all its contents I wil say that it is indeed the one I booked and am swiftly unbooking!!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

stayed in an etip once and never again! Thanks Peter, without revealing to all its contents I wil say that it is indeed the one I booked and am swiftly unbooking!!

Let me guess.... like us you found nowhere else had a room available? That figures...

When we stayed there the defects included the following:

Wobbly bannister section near the top of the stairs.
Uneven floors.
Toilet pan was not level - one side was over an inch higher than the other.
Toilet seat not secured on properly. Combined with ^^^^ is a recipe for disaster!
Fire doors routinely propped open 24/7 with piles of laundry.
Masses of dust under the bed.
Stained sheets.
Stained curtains.
Mildew in the shower.
Eating area - cannot call it a restaurant - floor not swept for days.
Loose light switch covers.

Need I go on? Our letter to the councils and AA / RAC ran to a defect list of 1½ pages of A4...

Do I gather from your post that they are still proclaiming three stars from both the AA and RAC? Hmmmm.....

 

[Drimnagh Road]

The Crewe Arms really is hellfire and possibly the most underestimated hotel there is.

It looks like Fawlty Tours and indeed some of the staff are straight from it, but the place itself is great. It's like going into a 70s time warp.

Huge rooms, thick walls, a very generous tea tray, location 100%, the breakfast is a bit crap but generally railtours depart from Crewe hours before Breakfast is served.


As regards Travelodge, well that's one of the joys. You know you will be getting a clean bed to spend the night and a place to have a shower in the morning to wake you up. Like Wetherspoons, some are better than others, but generally, I've never had a bad experience. One piece of advice I've heard is to always check the kettle before you put water in for a brew, in case some party was staying the night before and vommited in it.

Ibis can be hit or miss.

The worst place I stayed while bashing was the Claremont Hotel in Preston. I left that place with itches all over.

 

[Blindtraveler]

oo now you definately got me wanting a trip to crewe! Creative bash ideas time!
oh and Peter, yes to all the above! They are claiming also to be disabilitty friendly! What?

Thank goodness for late night wetherspoons and the London - Newcastle - Edinburgh overnight megabus which thankfully stil had a seat the week before Xmas!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
think all the fans need to make themselves known. The poor old Crewe Arms is having a hard time!
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_...-Crewe_Arms_Hotel-Crewe_Cheshire_England.html

 

[richw]

I'm staying ashford central premier inn this week, anyone ever used and got any feedback,

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[Blindtraveler]

good PI up to standard and hot receptionist at least she was 2 years ago!

 

[caliwag]

HaHa...'hot receptionist'!

Lots of recommendations for Premiers and Travelodges...I guess you know where you are with these. Indeed an FCC driver mate of mine always books ahead in the Prem Inn, Blossom Street. York, with his family (5 mins walk fro station): very happy with it...good bar etc though York has so many good pubs!

To try to rebalance in favour of good family run B+Bs, I recommend 'Seawards Guest House' in Falmouth...5 mins from Town station. I know Falmouth a bit out on limb, but a crackin' place...incidentally Seawards is a bottles throw from the Pavillion where they hold good gigs and the Falmouth beer festival in November.

More B+Bs please.