The Riviera Hotel, Plymouth - Relief! (Hotels in Plymouth in general)

Member Name: m5imi

Product:	Hotels in Plymouth in general
Date:	13/04/03 (222 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Friendly, Comfortable, Good location

Disadvantages: Its not home

The theory goes that the best beer you'll ever drink is the one you get when you are most thirsty, the best meal when you are most hungry, and the best hotel when you are most desperate to be home.

I found myself on the weary end of a five hour, 270 mile drive. The objective being to attend a short but stressful meeting with a client. Alas it wasn't short. Alas it was stressful. With darkness falling I found myself on the edge of Plymouth wishing I was 270 miles away.

So with a heavy heart and a light overnight case I started to follow the directions to the pre-booked hotel that the company had so thoughtfully arranged for me. Always an optimist I visualised the comfy room and the cool beer waiting for me. Just fifteen minutes later I was walking into the plush, four star lobby to claim what was rightfully mine.

Sinking feeling. "I'm sorry sir I can't seem to find your reservation". ?Well look again? (grumpy business man starting to show through otherwise professional veneer). A few moments more and the hotel manager turned up to inform me that the company credit card used to reserve my room had ?been declined?. Funny in a twisted sort of way. "No problem", I announce, "because I have one made of plastic and not rubber!? "Sorry sir", they reply, "but we are now fully booked". I am advised to try a little further down the road where there are plenty of lesser hotels. The staff busy themselves with legitimate, fee paying customers.

It's now got to the point in the evening when my stomach starts rumbling.

Tired, hungry, completely lost up a one-way street, I pull up outside a lesser hotel a little further down the road. My company won?t book hotels like this one because they?re not part of a big chain. Still, it looked nice and friendly, probably my biggest need was for ?friendly? right then. The Riviera Hotel in Plymouth.

I gingerly e
nter the front door and, with a note of pleading in my voice, enquire after a room for the night. Relief! A room, a restaurant, and a bar. I felt the tears welling up but managed the check in process without embarrassment.

In short I found this a really friendly, comfortable hotel which is well placed for seeing historic Plymouth.

In long?

The Riviera Hotel is a husband and wife run venture. Both are charming and friendly and have the knack of being there when needed without making you feel like you are under observation. The hotel itself has eleven rooms with the usual accoutrements (teas maid, TV, hairdryer, beds, cupboards - you get the idea) and has that recently redecorated feel to it. All rooms are non-smoking ? hurrah ? although the bar did have ash trays ? boo! There is a bar, a cosy restaurant, a bar, a lounge area, a bar, a staircase to go up and down with, and of course a nice bar. The architecture is Victorian and I?m sure Her Majesty would have been amused by the comfortable furnishings, especially in the bar.

I had a wonderful meal there, freshly prepared and negotiated to be slightly off-menu (me a fussy eater ? you don?t know the half of it). Did I mention there was a bar. That was good too.

After a pleasant evening chatting at the bar with my host and a deep, rejuvenating sleep I decided over breakfast to use MY TIME and spend some of Saturday morning doing the tourist bit before heading home. Plymouth is a great spot for a holiday visit.

The Riviera is walk-able to lots of tourist sites. Take a look at the City Info Directory at www.plymouth.gov.uk which, although trying and failing to be all things to all people, provides lots of local information. The town is steeped in history. Something about the Pilgrim Fathers playing bowls with Sir Francis Drake before sailing off to Spain - or somewhere like that.

Here are some useful bits of information?

The Riviera Hotel

8 Elliot Street
The Hoe
Plymouth
PL1 2PP

Its off Citadel Road - watch out as this is a one way street.

Phone +44 (0) 1752 667379
Fax +44 (0) 1752 667379
E-Mail info@rivieraplymouth.co.uk
Web www.rivieraplymouth.co.uk/

You may have guessed by now that I would go back there ? perhaps for a long weekend break and no nasty business meetings. You can?t make a hotel into a home but The Riviera does a good job trying.

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