Travelodge

Does what it says on the tin kind of hotel. Don't expect anything special, it's not a 3/4/5 star hotel, but the convenience of this place is why we recommend friends and family visiting to stay. Whilst I have stayed here myself a few times in the past, it's worth noting a few things;

1. Christmas Day 2018 staff were delightful and very generous to using group - thank you! Free coffees and a few drinks, some chocolate and many smiles. We appreciate you and the happy hour from 4-6!

2. Basic rooms, but when you can pay all upfront and in advance at a rate if £45 including breakfast, in Ealing Broadway, a short trip on the Central Line into London, totally worth it. Amenities can be requested at the front desk, like hairdryer, extra towels etc.

3. The breakfasts aren't bad! And the Lavazza coffee machine is the best - just make sure you don't wait til breakfast is almost up. It may be "unlimited", but they're very quick to clear it away!

4. Great restaurants very nearby, and some great pubs too. A black cab from the train station is about £5 if you don't fancy waiting for an E2 or E8 that stops outside the hotel.

5. The police station is two doors down. If you're a light sleeper, sirens can be heard. But at least the response time would be seconds, right!?

One final thing though... The light on the 5th floor (business floor) sensor doesn't actually work until you come all the way down the corridor. Kind of scary when it's night and dark, please fix it!

Stayed here for one night for business as it was about 14 GBP cheaper than Premier Inn across the road. Wish I'd listened to my own self-imposed ban on staying at any Travelodge ever again and paid the extra.

Things did not start off well as when I arrived, having walked about 15 mins from the Tube in the pouring rain, the self-service kiosk could not find my booking at all and I then had to wait in a queue for 10 minutes to check-in. Reception staff did not offer any explanation as to what the problem was.

Room was OK - the reason I'd been suckered into staying was that the Ealing hotel had recently been refurbished with new beds, etc. Pillows were a bit soft and mean. Towels were good. Bathroom was clean but the toilet bowl was stained as if it hadn't been cleaned properly in a while - bit of a turn-off!

No hairdryer in room though they gave me a loan of one at reception. There was not a plug near enough a mirror that the hairdryer reached to properly - I had to dry one side of my hair at one plug, and then move to another plug for the other side. A little road testing of rooms and amenities would have highlighted that problem. All in all, a lack of eye for detail.

I wouldn't stay here again - I actually stayed at the Premier Inn for next 3 nights and regretted not having stayed there for this extra night, too. That'll teach me to try and save a buck!