Guildford (Work), Holiday Inn and Mobile Broadband

Another assessment job and another hotel. The best assessment experience (again no names of course) was from a small unit involved in a design activity. One of the controls they had was a checklist to cover the key checks to be made and they didn’t have any completed checklists to show me. The approach appeared to be Complete it; Sign it; Bin it. Can you believe it! Something new every job!

The hotel – another Holiday Inn – always the same and always different. Not bad but probably due to the area expensive. My meal tonight with a free desert and coffee came to about £25. A bit steep I think. Still – I think I can give it 3 stars out of 5.

Mobile Broadband. Having ditched the 3 dongle due to poor cover and more importantly their complete inability to be able to let me use my credit card over the Internet to buy more time I am now with Vodafone. Cover still not good (but I am on the bottom floor of the hotel) but I do have a “poor” 3G signal that has allowed me to function without too much problem. Looking good I think.

Queen’s Hotel, Cheltenham (and Mobile Broadband)

Outside the Hotel

Last night Sue & I spent a night away at a nice hotel in the centre of Cheltenham. The Mercure Queens Hotel was selected at the last minute for a break away from home. (we had planned to do the OMM but that’s a different story!) The hotel has a grand facade overlooking a nice grass and flower park in the centre of town. The atmosphere was calm and relaxed. A problem with flickering light sorted without fuss.

The room was small but comfortable, but we were on their special autimn deal of £89 B&B so still good value for money.

The only slight let down was the breakfast with a relatively small selection and service a small step below what you would expect (no orange juice for 20 minutes, and 5 or more minutes wait for coffee)

All in all – I would return. It deserved some of its stars!

As for the broadband – down at 2 bars, initially my 3 dongle was roaming on the Orange network. I went to talk to the 3 shop the next day and he seemed upset with me for saying that the signal was poor. Perhaps I should contact their customer service?

Mobile Broadband – 3 in Hemel Hempstead

Holiday Inn Express in HH and trying to do a bit of work in the evening so plugged in the 3 dongle to be presented with the 1/10 signal level. I needed to compile and upload a visit report for work – 2Meg e-mail and about 30 minutes for transmission.

This contrasts with so many reviews – I’m beginning to wonder of there is an equipment problem.

I had a chat with someone from one of the competitors who suggested that 3 might have good coverage but low capacity meaning bandwidth degradation and the like. From my meagre understanding heavy traffic reduces the effective range from the mast.

I will continue the trial for a month or so and then perhaps there will be more choice in the market and better information.

Premier Inn – London County Hall (& Mobile Broadband)

Another few days in London and having also to include a trip to Gatwick I was looking for something convenient but good value. I though that Holiday In Express and more than £150 a bit on the expensive side – particularly as they don’t seem to be much different to their non London siblings so I looked round. Accor hotels couldn’t really offer me anything to match so I looked at the Premier Inn website and the London County Hall looked like reasonable value (little in London can be classed as good value!).

First impressions weren’t brilliant – a trainee at check in and would you believe another failed key card! This seems to be the story of my hotel life. The room seems OK however I still definitely object to paying for wireless internet. I have just received a call from reception asking if the room is OK and I couldn’t face raising the internet fees with them but will add to the customer feedback when I leave.

My 3 broadband card is delivering 1 bar – slow slow slow – (never managed more that 3 out of 10. This deserves a separate category. I’m just glad I didn’t go for a high traffic monthly contract as I would never manage to get anywhere near the usage. I wonder what the other networks are like?