worst travelodge experience to date

darvik

i was silly enough to book a couple of rooms at the Tolworth Travel Lodge for the 28th Dec.


I know its cheap and i know that you get what you pay for but this was my worst experience to date.

Checked in just after 3pm £29 a room plus 1 car at £5.

I know they say the rooms are basis because people do not want to pay for things they do not use but one room was missing a mirror and the other a bed side cabinet. and the excuse for pillows is a joke.

not in the mood to argue over such small problems i was happily tapping away with a wireless dongle (refuse to pay the internet charges) and began to get sore throat and stinking head ache. It was not because of the horrific noises coming from the next room both from the corridor and shouting to another room out of the window but a horrid smell. I ventured out into the corridor and the smell was worse. I beleive it was smoke smell but not normal cigarette but possibly a illegal substance.

I went out for an hour and returned, i spoke to another guest who agreed that the smell was not right.

i reported it to the desk and they said that smoking was not allowed but they would look into it. I came back an hour later and said that rooms had been smoked in and they had sprayed air freshen in the corridor.

Went back to the room and the noise was as back, still headache, sore throat and twice had people knock on door for the wrong room. By now i had had enough, had it not been 10pm on a bank holiday i would have left. Went to reception and again and was offered a move to another fllor, asked about the poor quality room and this was blamed n the guests.... Also told that they had had enough and they were going to throw the group out.

2am and still awake and could not find my wallet, go to car to look and notice that the two rooms responsible were still there and 1 was still smoking, wallet not in car, so return to old room and had left it in the draw.

finally got to sleep, on checking out was informed that they had called the police but nothing else was done.

i informed the night staff that i had emailed TL via the contact us and her response was we are moving you and basically it was not her fault.

not amused and looking foirward to the response

Vent over

CHR15

That seems to sum up my experiences of Travel Lodges.

I expect they will renting rooms by the hour soon, nothing more than knocking shops after a few gallons of lager.

McKneff

thats a shame, because my OH and me spent a night in the Leeds city centre one and it was brilliant, good service, room was clean and modern, couldnt fault it.

missile

Yes travel lodge seems to have gone downhill. Some are great value others are the pits. Unfortunately, no way of telling before hand and I guess it is down to the manager?

barvid

Not really the hotel's fault if someone is smoking in their room or if someone knocks on your door by mistake?

Becles

We stayed at Manchester Airport in May. Had a 7am flight, so booked the Travel Lodge thinking it would be more restful sleeping at the airport rather than driving down during the night.

We're a family of five so booked a family room and a travel cot. Went up to the room and the heating was on full blast so it was like walking into an oven. The small window would only open about 6 inches as it had a safety catch on, and it was a very still night so the room remained uncomfortably hot all night.

The travel cot was collapsed on the floor and I set that up next. It was vile! It was filthy dirty and covered in stains and I really didn't fancy putting my daughter in it. Went down to reception but they said they didn't have any spares as they are shipped in on an as needed basis, so I'd have to make do.

Started making up the children's bed's and realised there were no spare pillows and only one each on the double bed, so I had to return to reception for more pillows.

Then realised there was no bedding for the travel cot, so back down to reception. I was told that they do not supply any bedding for travel cots for health and safety reasons. I asked if he could explain that as I didn't understand but all he could say was it's for health and safety reasons. I asked what I was supposed to do, and eventually he begrudingly gave me a spare double bed sheet, which I was able to fold and make do. Good job it was warm and she didn't need a blanket.

Started showering the children and discovered we had been left one hand towel, which I'd already put on the floor due to the lack of a bathmat, and one bath towel. Yet another trip to reception to ask for more towels.

Eventually got into the double bed and the mattress was more like a sponge. We just sort of sunk into it and there was no support at all. It was very uncomfortable.

Got up in the middle of the night as I needed the loo and noticed the travel cot had partly collapsed and my daughter was all squashed against the side. Didn't feel confident leaving her in there any longer, so she spent the rest of the night in the double bed with us.

So instead of turning up fresh and bright ready for our morning flight, we turned up stressed and knackered due to all the room problems and a lack of sleep in an uncomfortable bed in a hot room with a wriggly toddler kicking us!

Got an early morning flight from Manchester next year again, so I've paid a little more and booked the Hilton so hopefully we'll get a better night's sleep.

BillTrac

Travelodge are the Ryanair/Easyjet of the hotel world...and I will not use either of those

I used to use Travelodge simply because the were cheap, but realised they were cheap...and nasty. Their hotels all seem to need a bit of tlc. They are all tired and it seems like the management don't care.

I dropped Travelodge as because I need hotels a night at a time but for maybe three nights a week I did want some basic comfort, so started using Premier. Unlike TL who charge your card as soon as you book and you cannot cancel, Premier dont take the money until you check in and you can cancel up till 1pm on the booked day. Makes things a bit more flexible.

Back in May I needed an hotel near Brighton for a very early start. Couldn't get a Premier so settled for a TL. Big mistake, room was worn out/tired/grubby and there was no hot water. Asked receptionist if I could be moved and was met with a shrug of the shoulders..someone had been called out but would not be there that evening. Well they had my money already so they weren't exactly bothered. And yet when I had a problem in a Premier back in February(not a complaint more a comment on a very noisy AC unit), they refunded the costs without a quibble. Much more than I expected.

So now I will NEVER use a TL, even if it makes life a bit more difficult.

ariba10

We have stayed in Travelodge in Manchester and London on more than one occasion and have had no problems.

Will willingly use them again.

nearlyrich

I have had bad experiences in very expensive hotels and good experiences in cheap one's you never know what you are going to get till it's too late!

missile

nearlyrich wrote: »

I have had bad experiences in very expensive hotels and good experiences in cheap one's you never know what you are going to get till it's too late!

Very true. Name and shame time?
I had an expensive stay in a disgusting, dirty room at the The Royal Hotel in Scarborough.

valos_mummy

I've stayed in the one at Marylebone and that was very good, although I believe it did go through a bit of a refit last year. The internet charges were pricey though. I've stayed at NiteNite in Birmingham, and the internet is free there (and the film channels are too).