Cheap option for an overnight stay (Travelodge Blackpool South Shore)

Member Name: LAURALILIA

Product:	Travelodge Blackpool South Shore
Date:	20/09/09 (113 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap - clean - good parking

Disadvantages: A bit further away from the pleasure beach

***Blackpool South Shore Travelodge***

I know that Travelodge's can get a bad press, but we have stopped in a few and have generally had good experiences. We stopped there for one night, whilst we visiting Blackpool to go to The Sandcastle and The Pleasure Beach.

***Booking***

I am sure it is common knowledge but booking ahead is going to save you money. I booked this hotel back in January when they had one of their promotions going. I paid the grand sum of £9 for this family room, which could have slept four. They often have promotions of this kind; more commonly it is rooms that can be booked for £19. The website is easy to navigate, with only the most basic information on there.

However during these special promotions the website may be slow and occasionally shows availability, only to find there is none when you click through the process. I saw that to book on the day would have cost me £61 so I did feel that I got a bargain. I also went through a cashback website and received cashback on my £9! However, I am sure there are people who back out and don't turn up so I suppose occasionally they make money for nothing. Looking ahead generally there are rooms available from around £32, which I still don't think is a bad price. You can check in from 3pm and must check out by midday the next day. There is the option to extend this for an extra £10 payment.

NB The exception to this is when the illuminations are on, when it can go up to £100 a night!

***Location***

There are three Blackpool locations that you could choose from: this one, South Promenade and Blackpool central. I have no experience of the other two, but can say that the one on South Promendade is located right next to the Pleasure Beach. Even though this hotel is classed as South Shore is is a good 15 minute walk from the attractions that we wanted to visit. It is located off Seasider's Way which is a main thoroughfare running adjacent to the front.

It is situated right next to the football ground which they look to be in the process of extending. This is a newly built hotel, with really nice gardens and shrubs and a quite big secure car park. The hotel staff let me park my car for free whilst we explored, I then checked in and it cost me £5 to park there overnight, which I didn't think was too bad - but still, it is often these extra's that annoy people. On the website it says that there are 120 spaces available.

***Rooms***

The rooms are the standard type that you expect in all the Travelodges, they are usually decorated in blue and white and seem a bit clinical. Nevertheless, this room was quite new and very clean. We had a double bed and a sofa bed. Whilst the double bed was comfortable, I have to say that sleeping on the sofa bed was like sleeping on a brick. This I have found is the same in all the Travelodges that I have stayed in. I am a bit embarrassed to say, but we came prepared and brought a blow up camp bed in the car! I was prepared to do this as I only paid £9 for the room.

***Food***

There is a type of bar/cafe and this was clean with new (as the hotel is new) and although I didn't sample any evening meal etc, we did have breakfast. It was £7.99 for a cooked breakfast and the children then ate for nothing. It was a self service affair, where you help yourself from the buffet and stand in line to make your toast on the machine. It was all very nice, but generally the quality of the food was worth £7.99. I think this is a good option if you have children, because it keep them going, so you can get on with exploring.


The cafe had floor to ceiling windows, which made it nice and airy, although the main view as the backs of houses in the distance! The shrubs and plants surrounding the hotel are in good condition and nice to look at though.

***Customer Service***

I found this to be good, the staff where helpful where directions were concerned and you could ring a taxi, which we did to take us to the Pleasure Beach, which cost us £5. We would have walked but it was absolutely pelting it down with rain, so it seemed like the best option at the time. Check out is easy, you just hand your card in. A word of warning, you need your card to get through an inner door as well as your room. When I went to get something from the car and left my key in the room with my family, I couldn't get back in through the ground floor entrance door; the staff let me through, but keep your key card with you at all times.

***Summary***

I know that Travlodges get a bad press, but for £9 this was a great deal. I am not so sure I would pay £100, there are better alternatives. If you get chance to take advantage of one of the £19 deals on at the moment (I would be amazed if you found any for this location, then take advantage of it and take a trip to the north, as Travelodges go, this is a good one!

Summary: One of the better ones!