26 replies to this topic

[Saint Billinge]

Having just stayed in a hotel and then a bed & breakfast, there are those who will find fault no matter what. I'm sure some go out of their way to find something wrong. Of the many places I have stayed, there was only one hotel that was truly poor regarding service, from where our party moved to another hotel. To be fair, the management did apologise as well as refund the money. Having only been open for a few weeks, the staff were lacking in training.

For me, as long as the food is good and place clean then I'm not too fussed. For others, it is like they cannot go away without finding some fault however minor.

So, are you normally OK with things generally or expect only the best? Furthermore, have you experienced a nightmare from hell in a hotel or bed & breakfast. And what about the situation from anyone owning such establishments? I'm sure some customers can be testing!

[gazza77]

Expectations v reality is the key for me. If I'm in a cheap & cheerful place, then as long as the room is clean, the bed comfortable and the staff friendly, then I'm happy. Pay for a premium product however, and I have premium expectations.

Some people would do well to remember this; read Trip Advisor reviews for plenty of complaints about why the 1* hotel didn't provide 5* facilities.

[Saint Billinge]

Expectations v reality is the key for me. If I'm in a cheap & cheerful place, then as long as the room is clean, the bed comfortable and the staff friendly, then I'm happy. Pay for a premium product however, and I have premium expectations.

Some people would do well to remember this; read Trip Advisor reviews for plenty of complaints about why the 1* hotel didn't provide 5* facilities.

It was quite amusing listening to some guests complaining over trivial matters. However, some people do not do their homework before selecting such places to stay, especially concerning high sided baths that are not ideal for the frail, very small shower cubicle or even shower/bath only. No use moaning on arrival.

[Griff9of13]

Over the last 8 years or so I've spent a lot of time in hotels, sometimes weeks on end and some years spending more time sleeping in a hotel bed than my own through my work. In all that time I've rarely had to complain. And I've stayed in accommodation ranging from cheap B & Bs to the Hilton Park Lane. Like the OP says cleanliness and accuracy of description are the key factors. That said, value for money rarely comes into it for me as I'm seldom paying.

[Jonty]

Agree with much of the above. trip Advisor can make-or-break a reputation, and often people are more likely to post a review if they have a porr experience.

I travel a lot with work, particularly to London and also to the east of England. My employer works within a budget of £60 per night outside the M25 (or £90 inside), which I find is more than adequate to always find somewhere comfortable and socially interesting!

London is the biggest challenge, where £90 is often on the fringe between a Kings Cross "guest house" and a brand hotel (Premier Inn etc.) unless you book well in advance.

It's got to the stage with me where I often find it better value and better service to stay outside London and commute in, preferably on the Bedford - St Pancras - Gatwick Thameslink line, as it's convenient for work (Farringdon/Bloomsbury usually). Luton is cheap for decent hotels, but not the nicest place to stay.

Harpenden has no choice at all.

Radlett is an awful, awful place.

Borehamwood is affordable, inside zone 6 and, whilst not the nicest town, you can be on a fast train and I can be having a pint in my favourite Clerkenwell pubs within a half hour!

It's about finding that happy medium. You do get what you pay for, but the places I've stayed in over the past two years has allowed me to suss out the best deals and identify good places that have all the factors I need. Hit and miss at first, but now I'm nearly there.

Good places that I regularly stop at:

Premier Inn, Borehamwood - far cheaper than other London Premier Inns and inside zone 6. Regularly get £29 deals

The George, Stamford, Lincs. - quaint hotel, but you can get some great £60 a room deals last minute. Excellent service, great location, fantastic breakfast, Victorian values...

Old English Inns - It's a Greene King chain, but usually reliable rooms in a pub or small hotel. Decent breakfast, usually a good local following. Shame it's Greene King.

[exxile]

From what I read in the papers, B & Bs are full of homosexualists trying to win a compensation payout these days, so I tend not to use them.

http://www.telegraph...urt-appeal.html

[hindle xiii]

From what I read in the papers, B & Bs are full of homosexualists trying to win a compensation payout these days, so I tend not to use them.

http://www.telegraph...urt-appeal.html

Haha!

I'd love to know the tale of how you got to that. Today's paper too, someone has their finger on the pulse.

[Severus]

From what I read in the papers, B & Bs are full of homosexualists trying to win a compensation payout these days, so I tend not to use them.

http://www.telegraph...urt-appeal.html

[Johnoco]

Don't the hotel owners have a case though?
They say 'no unmarried shagging'. They don't allow it full stop, so why make exceptions?

Although I suppose that's for a different thread. Sorry Ray.

[JohnM]

Also try De Vere Venues..often have good deals and great locations. Dehham so easy for London

[Saint Billinge]

I once attempted to book a room on-line at a Travel Lodge only to fail time after time. On contacting the hotel direct, I was informed that I couldn't book over the phone. Suffice to say, I stayed elsewhere.

Following on from booking a hotel on the Spanish coast, we ended up in an annexe shared by the staff due to over booking. Furthermore, we had our cases broken into on the last day, with my wife's cherished charm bracelet being pinched. It appears from reports that this was a chosen day by certain staff as you didn't have time to complain.

[T-Dub]

That wretched 3/4 In A Bed programme has a lot to answer for

Its caused a lot of negativity in an improving (quality-wise) area business and shows B&B proprietors in a very poor light

Its also turned a (very small) minority of guests into being ridiculously picky and demanding

[T-Dub]

I once attempted to book a room on-line at a Travel Lodge only to fail time after time. On contacting the hotel direct, I was informed that I couldn't book over the phone.

You can book Travel Lodges over the phone but the process is slow and its a premium rate number you have to call

[T-Dub]

The George, Stamford, Lincs .... Victorian values...

Do they cover the table legs up?

[Bleep1673]

Having stayed in some lousy Hostels over the years, anywhere that is clean, quiet, and has windows is a bonus.

Although YHA/HI hostels are cleaner than none-YHA/HI ones, Stayokay in Holland and Belgian HI are almost cleaner than some of the Hotels I have stayed in in those countries.

Worst B&B I ever stayed in was in Bournmouth, it was frightening more than anything else.

[Saint Billinge]

You can book Travel Lodges over the phone but the process is slow and its a premium rate number you have to call

Tim, my mistake. It was a special deal with a Premier Inn and could only be booked on-line.

[Saint Billinge]

Having stayed in some lousy Hostels over the years, anywhere that is clean, quiet, and has windows is a bonus.

Although YHA/HI hostels are cleaner than none-YHA/HI ones, Stayokay in Holland and Belgian HI are almost cleaner than some of the Hotels I have stayed in in those countries.

Worst B&B I ever stayed in was in Bournmouth, it was frightening more than anything else.

I once stayed in a youth hostel near Howarth in Yorkshire while walking the Pennine Way with a not too welcome surprise! Having trekked for 25 miles, the guy in charge awoke us up at 5am to the sound of bagpipes blaring from a loudspeaker.

Edited by Saint Billinge, 16 August 2012 - 03:09 PM.

[Jerry the Berry]

Agree with much of the above. trip Advisor can make-or-break a reputation, and often people are more likely to post a review if they have a porr experience.

Agree in general about telling more people about a bad experience than a good, but I find Trip Advisor tends to have a healthy mix of both good and bad.

[timtum]

Tonight I amstaying in a budget chain hotel for 39 euros. Clean ish, cracked basin, and a fingernail glaring at me from the carpet. Par contres, it is the busiest week in the s of France, there is air con, and the bed is comfy.

I would not think of making a fuss about the ickle issues.

Tomorrow and Saturday I'm staying in a 150 euros per night place and I may be more picky.

Trip advisor seems to be replete with empty vessels who know the price of everything and ......

[Li0nhead]

I once stayed in a youth hostel near Howarth in Yorkshire while walking the Pennine Way with a not too welcome surprise! Having trekked for 25 miles, the guy in charge awoke us up at 5am to the sound of bagpipes blaring from a loudspeaker.

I am surprised it was not followed by the sound of a man with bagpipes being put on his backside by some annoyed customer or other over the loudspeaker.

Edited by Li0nhead, 16 August 2012 - 07:28 PM.