Don't do it (Travelodge in general)

Member Name: Coxy1974

Product:	Travelodge in general
Date:	08/01/07 (191 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Everything - dirty, smelly, rude staff

Reading another persons review on Travelodge prompted me to write my own about my stay in the Travelodge in Paisley Road, Glasgow.

The website states that there are no food facilities within the hotel but I didn't mind that as I knew I wasn't travelling alone and I would be meeting colleagues after the long drive up there and we'd find a restaurant or something. Also it said that there was vending machine facilities. The location of the hotel was fantastic as it was very close to the Scottish Exhibition Centre which minimised travelling around an unfamiliar area (pre sat nav days).

Upon arrival the young lad behind reception reluctantly turned his attention to me (after me standing there for 5 minutes). Apparently some channel 4 programme was far too intriguing for him to be bothered with checking in guests.

I checked in and he asked for my company card for payment. I presented it but it doesn't have a chip and pin nor a swipe strip. When paying for things it is normal practice for it to have to go through for authorisation by keying in a number. This was beyond the guy on reception who stared at the card very hard before returning it me saying that it wasn't real. I asked him to key the number in on the keypad and it should go through. He flatly refused and I ended up paying on my personal credit card and having to claim back the money. I wouldn't have minded doing this in the first place but I had already booked on line using the company credit card and expenses claims are expensive for the company to deal with.

After the battle of checking in I started to make my way to my room. The lift was out of order - something the reception guy failed to tell me and my room was on the 3rd floor. I had 1 suitcase, a laptop and an overnight bag. He smirked when I finally realised the lift was out of order and said that there wasn't another lift and I'd have to carry my bags as he couldn't leave reception unattended! That I can understand but to leave a woman to carry all of that up 6 flights of stairs on her own??? Anyway, got to my room and by now I'm thinking 'maybe I should cut my losses and find somewhere else' as I eye up the huge footprint on the door of my room where someone had obviously tried to kick the door down from the outside.

Proceed into the room I did and after wedging a flimsy looking chair under the door, hooking the curtains back up so I could draw them and fixing the TV myself because the aerial lead was faulty (mr reception guy was too busy to come fix that either) I decided to shower and just go to bed. The bathroom was at least presentable but I still felt as though it could have benefitted from a good scrub! The bed was lumpy and I'd been given a single when I'd booked a double.

Too knackered by now to care (5 hour drive to Glasgow from where I live) I got into bed. That's when the shagging in the room above mine started. They must have rented the room out by the hour judging by the number of times the door opened and closed and the clattering of feet up and down the stairs. 3 am and still wide awake, the constant noises coming from the room above mine were amazing. I thought he was killing her at one stage. Now I am not a prude however, all I wanted was for them to tone it down a bit so others could get some sleep. God knows how people on their floor coped.

In the morning I discovered the room was in a worse state than I thought. The carpet at the end of the bed was soggy and sticky (hadn't noticed the night before) and the curtains were filthy. The window was hanging out slightly so that was why I'd been freezing during the night and I sank so far into the sofa one of the springs actually came out.

The Vending facilities to buy a 'gourmet selection of sandwiches, food that can be heated in the microwave and a small selection of desserts' actually contained

1 wholemeal sweaty cheese and wilted lettuce sandwich 2 days past it's sell by date

Numerous packets of Salt n Vinegar crisps

3 Mars Bars

So where was the microwaveable food? Well that would have been pretty useless to be honest because of the lack of a Microwave.

I'd booked to stay 2 nights and had colleagues joining me there on that day. I did ask to be moved but they said that they had no more rooms available and if I checked out I'd still have to pay for the 2 nights!

My colleagues rooms were no better either. Alex had the top missing off his hot water tap in the bathroom and mould was growing the bath tub. James had springs sticking out of his mattress on the bed so slept on the sofa.

All in all - there is no way in this world I would ever stay at another Travelodge. I know they're meant ot be basic but basic doesn't mean unclean and unsafe.

As for the room above mine - yep they were at it again until 4am the following morning! I could only hope to have the time for that much sex!

Got one star because this is the lowest I can rate otherwise they'd be in the minus 5 bracket!

Summary: Just don't go there, ever!