I came home yesterday. The last time I stayed here was 3 years ago as it has gone downhill since…read more
Pros: The staff was very friendly, would quickly call a taxi, would provide extra towels, toilet paper, etc. at the front desk.
Cons: Upon check in, I learned the hotel was under new management by a German company and they have made changes to match the amenities at all their other hotels, I was told. That sounds OK, but here's what I found different. From a full English breakfast, they paired way down to what they call a "cold breakfast". The only thing hot was hard boiled eggs. Still about £15 if it's not included in your room price. There's no menu. You have to get the buffet or go elsewhere. I was able to buy just a cup of coffee one morning. After the buffet closes, there is no more food that can be purchased until the next morning. There's a bar with liquor but no food or even snacks.
My room was dirty. I found string, balls of hair, etc. on the floor. The sheets had stains on them. I was there for 9 nights. After the second day, I told the front desk I needed someone to come in and vacuum. I didn't get housekeeping every day, but probably 3 times in the 9 days I was there. The bedding was never changed, as evidenced by the stains and the rip in the pillowcase. The floor did not appear to be vacuumed again. The carpeting is old and stained. They need to just remove it and put some kind of vinyl flooring. The mattress is old and I could feel the springs as I slept, which caused me back pain after a few nights.
The bathroom is dated, which I knew and wouldn't mind generally, but the water pressure was so hard that even with the shower curtain closed, the wind from the water blew water out onto the floor, which I had to mop up after every shower. I found lots of hair stuck in the drain, which I pulled out myself. There are no boxes of tissues in the room. The amenities are very small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. No bar soap, even to wash your hands. I tried to tell my issues to the housekeeping staff, but the 3 women I encountered spoke not one word of English. They just stared at me. I believe all staff in a hotel should at least speak some of the language of the country they are in.
There was no phone in the room and 3 nights after midnight there was loud noise among other guests in the hallway. The only way to notify the front desk was to get dressed and go out there so I did not do that and just tolerated it.
The AC worked and was 1 split unit. Unfortunately, it blew directly on my bed so I either had to be hot without AC or freezing with cold air blowing on me. Finally someone from the front desk came to adjust it. It was somewhat better, but still either really warm or really cold in the room. Near the end of my stay, I had nasal and throat issues from this.
While I didn't watch much TV, when I tried, the TV was terrible. Hardly any channels were available, there was no guide in the room and the remote did not work properly.
I really enjoyed my stay at the hotel 3 years ago, but I would not stay here again. If you want a cheaply priced hotel and a place relatively near a tube station and Hyde Park, this is your place. If you want decent quality, cleanliness, and a place to get food at various times during the day, stay elsewhere.
You have to pay upfront when you check in. I thought about asking for a refund and going elsewhere, but as I checked prices of other hotels online, because it was late notice, the prices were triple what I was paying here.
