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.

Portreath, Cornwall (1)

Today is our second day staying at Gwel An Mor near Portreath in Cornwall. The accommodation is superb by anyone’s standards. Well recommended.

Yesterday we went to St Ives and did a fastish route march along the coast path to Zennor, then back along the “Coffin Path”. A good walk spoilt by a few really muddy patches. The weather was great though – hard to think we were enjoying the snow just a few days ago!.

Today we went from the lodge to the Tehidy Country park. We explored the paths, left at the far end and returned to Portreath via the coast path. Another good walk and as the picture shows more good weather.

We made it back for a late lunch then I had a quiret afternoon listening to the cricket (England doing quite well) before a quick jaunt down to Portreath early eveining for a pint.

Premier Inn, Reading

Just a quick review of this hotel sampled on my business trip. This hotel is based right in the middle of the city – a bit of a mixed blessing if you don’t need to be there. The first impressions were favourable as a friendly security guard found me a parking space and the reception was friendly and quick. Room was clean and well furnished. The evening meal selection was OK and prices reasonable. The staff there very friendly.

All in all good value and good service – 4/5 for both. Will use this again.

Holiday Inn Guildford

At last! I finally managed an upgrade as a platinum Card holder. I have held one for quite some time but up to now the hotels have not had any availability for upgrades (suspicious – me?).

The hotel isn’t bad but perhaps it is the area pushing up the prices I can’t give many points for value for money – say **.

Booking in took 10 minutes too long – only one person at check in at 5:00 isn’t good enough.

My attempt at a quick bar meal failed with a 25+ minute wait – again not a great result. Breakfast also not superb – is there a national shortage of grapefruit? Where do they find croissants like that!

The room was OK though my so called executive room is hardly bigger that that of a Holiday Inn Express.

Would I go back – the key issue is that it is in walking distance of my business destination so that is a real positive – especially considering the traffic into and out of the Surrey Research Park. Other than that I would rate it as OK but poor value for money.

Quality of stay – 3/5

Value for money – 2/5

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?

Express by Holiday Inn – Hemel Hempstead

Another brief hotel review of the HI Express near Hemel Hempstead – location - another work visit.

The location is quite good but the first impressions disappoint. Although the building is quite nice the first thing you have to do is battle with the car parking – finding £5 for overnight. This can be added to the room bill but the only way I found this out was when I went there trying to get some change.

The rooms are as standard HI Express and the reception areas fine. They have a reasonable lounge area and serve meals – hard to judge the quality on the basis of a curry (breaking one of my rules – only to eat curries in proper dedicated establishments.

All in all OK – might use it again.

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?

London Hotels – IBIS London City

Booked in to the IBIS London City as a bit of a trial. Check in was slow and with the key card not working 3 times they eventually gave me a different room which I could get into. Room nice and clean. Restaurant was good, with food good value (set meal at £15.50 including a glass of wine).

Location probably the worst factor with fairly frequent police sirens through the evening but to me it currently seems quite good value for London. See how it goes.

Update following 2 nights – I don’t think I’ll be back. The area is as noisy as I feared and the final straw was when I arrived back this evening the keycard wouldn’t work. That’s 4 trips down from the 10th floor to get a new key. What really annoys me is that the staff do not appear to be the least bit apologetic that this has happened. Sometimes a bit of sympathy goes a long way.

ps At checkout they appeared to listen but by then it’s just about too late – damage done…