Your worst hotel...
Discussion
I had to stay here for 3 weeks out of every 12 with work in the 90s... did it for 3 years.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g504167...
For the UK it was pretty bad.
My "best" memories...
One summer the next door room being used by "ladies of the night" 24/7 for 3 weeks solid... which was funny for the first night but was unfunny at 3am after 2 weeks...
Getting checked in to find that I had the room above for 3 weeks....
Having armed police raid the hotel at 3am.
Central heating on full blast in the summer but off in the winter.
Ambulances passing at all hours of the night with their sirens on going to the hospital.
Think I had hot water about half a dozen times in 3 years.
Had food poisoning from the breakfast more times than I can remember.
My oppo waking up at 3am to find a guy in his room trying to remove the TV (had climbed in through open window).
Navigating the general detritus of society who were staying there, often just taking a drug induced nap in the public areas.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g504167...
For the UK it was pretty bad.
My "best" memories...
One summer the next door room being used by "ladies of the night" 24/7 for 3 weeks solid... which was funny for the first night but was unfunny at 3am after 2 weeks...
Getting checked in to find that I had the room above for 3 weeks....
Having armed police raid the hotel at 3am.
Central heating on full blast in the summer but off in the winter.
Ambulances passing at all hours of the night with their sirens on going to the hospital.
Think I had hot water about half a dozen times in 3 years.
Had food poisoning from the breakfast more times than I can remember.
My oppo waking up at 3am to find a guy in his room trying to remove the TV (had climbed in through open window).
Navigating the general detritus of society who were staying there, often just taking a drug induced nap in the public areas.
Worst hotel for me was in Stratford coming from work at the Copper Box going to UEL and Crystal Palace. Dead bugs, excrement, blood, mould and other substances smeared on the walls, room falling apart, bathroom was horrendous, no way to contact anyone. Colleagues room was the same. I was so tired I got 3 or 4 hours sleep on top of the sheets, fully clothed, trousers tucked into socks, jumper tucked into trousers and head on my arms retracted back in their sleeves. Horrendous, was actually tempted to burn my clothes afterwards.
ChocolateFrog said:
Worst I've stayed in was in San Francisco.
We were touring round the west coast on a budget. Typically staying $50 a night motels, which on the whole were ok.
We didn't realise you don't get much for your $50 in SF. Turns out it was some sort of hostel for drug addicts and I'm not talking your occasional dope smoker, these were full on homeless heroin addicts.
We arrived too late to do anything about it, think we stayed 6 or 7 hours but would have been better sleeping in the hire car.
Clouded my opinion of SF as I still think the place is a s
thole.
Been a good few years since going to SF but it was always so down to earth outside of iffy areas like tenderloin/civic centre. We were touring round the west coast on a budget. Typically staying $50 a night motels, which on the whole were ok.
We didn't realise you don't get much for your $50 in SF. Turns out it was some sort of hostel for drug addicts and I'm not talking your occasional dope smoker, these were full on homeless heroin addicts.
We arrived too late to do anything about it, think we stayed 6 or 7 hours but would have been better sleeping in the hire car.
Clouded my opinion of SF as I still think the place is a s
thole. What did you expect for 50 dollars though tbh.
carlove said:
I’m tempted to book a night in a Britannia hotel once lockdown ends out of curiosity. Probably Scarborough Grand Hotel because not that far away.
This could be the worst idea I’ve ever had, but I’ve never stayed in a Britannia Hotel, and these stories have twigged my curiosity. How likely would I survive the night? Or the rest of my life without having caught some deadly disease?
Wouldn’t recommend The Grand At Scarborough whatsoever This could be the worst idea I’ve ever had, but I’ve never stayed in a Britannia Hotel, and these stories have twigged my curiosity. How likely would I survive the night? Or the rest of my life without having caught some deadly disease?
Probably worst hotel - the room we had didn’t even have a window in it! Black hole of Calcutta is how my wife described it!
Sheepshanks said:
The weird thing about Trip Advisor is even amongst the many awful reviews there's still a fair smattering of people who thought it was wonderful.
We stayed in a hotel in New York (near MSG, opposite a train station) 7 years in a row in the early to mid 2000s, at the time I think the Tripadvisor reviews were an average of 1.5 stars.We loved it, just a place to crash, amazing location and the rooms were about 4 times the size of a typical Manhattan hotel room. It made the trip do-able each year, as the prices were basically equivalent to a hotel at JFK (well under £100 per night for a King)...but in the heart of Manhattan.
Yes it was old and tired, but we obviously lucked out as we stayed there 7 times and had nothing like the experience many others apparently did (Americans seem to be extremely harsh/picky on hotels).
I liken it to car reviewers moaning about scratchy black plastics in Dacia's, have a bit of perspective!
raceboy said:
You can't leave that like that, consider sharing as some sort of therapy 
I worked in most departments but mostly bar staff for large function events. Everything from porter, bars and waiting on.The clientele ranged from corporate events who were very civilised to medical student annual dinners (their final blow off before adult life begins) and gypsy weddings.
I loved the medics ball, booze fest with bouncy castles indoors and finding several couples getting steamy under the tables at the end of the night when stripping them down. Not to mention finding students passed out in the most unusual places.
As a porter, turfing out unwelcome guests, walking in on people shagging who should have vacated their rooms, horny middle aged geordies on a hen party.
The staff made me stay for so long and it was reliable work while studying.
Worst hotel for me is actually a guest house on knaresborough high street.
Stayed the there when I was working in the area for while and then never again.
Started badly with the owner ringing me several times on the morning wanting to know my specific arrival time - when I eventually spoke to her mid-afternoon she was livid I hadn’t answered her first call ... ‘cos work.
Arrived at the place and it looked ok from the street, was told I wasn’t allowed to use their car park as they preferred regulars to use it. So parked in it anyways as it was stated on my booking there was onsite complimentary parking.
Went to check in, the owner confronted me demanding answers “why I was avoiding her” then insisted on giving me a guided tour of the room and facility. This included the bar and dining room. Then we proceeded to my room, “the best in the house” apparently where I asked if I could change to a room that wasn’t just 2 singles pushed together (not even locked together) - she then wouldn’t leave the room till she had given me a load of leaflets of the area and things to do even though I was repeatedly clear about being there for work and just sleeping at the place.
Finally got rid of her and then headed downstairs to leave the place to get something to eat/drink to bring back as I had some bits to finish up and was stopped and questioned about why I wasn’t eating and drinking there and how she doesn’t like guests who don’t eat and drink exclusively at her place.
Walked past her and out, picked up some bits and came back.
Was awoken early the next morning to a horrendous air of grease cooking. My bathroom was directly above the kitchen and it seemed like it vented from the kitchen into my shower. All my clothes reeked of grease.
I checked out 3 days early a few minutes later.
I left a very honest Tripadvisor review with pics etc... and I received a couple of irate messages from her and then a call from her “PR Management” company demanding I remove the review and threatening legal action.
I refused, nothing more came of it, it’s sill on TA now. AWFUL.
Stayed the there when I was working in the area for while and then never again.
Started badly with the owner ringing me several times on the morning wanting to know my specific arrival time - when I eventually spoke to her mid-afternoon she was livid I hadn’t answered her first call ... ‘cos work.
Arrived at the place and it looked ok from the street, was told I wasn’t allowed to use their car park as they preferred regulars to use it. So parked in it anyways as it was stated on my booking there was onsite complimentary parking.
Went to check in, the owner confronted me demanding answers “why I was avoiding her” then insisted on giving me a guided tour of the room and facility. This included the bar and dining room. Then we proceeded to my room, “the best in the house” apparently where I asked if I could change to a room that wasn’t just 2 singles pushed together (not even locked together) - she then wouldn’t leave the room till she had given me a load of leaflets of the area and things to do even though I was repeatedly clear about being there for work and just sleeping at the place.
Finally got rid of her and then headed downstairs to leave the place to get something to eat/drink to bring back as I had some bits to finish up and was stopped and questioned about why I wasn’t eating and drinking there and how she doesn’t like guests who don’t eat and drink exclusively at her place.
Walked past her and out, picked up some bits and came back.
Was awoken early the next morning to a horrendous air of grease cooking. My bathroom was directly above the kitchen and it seemed like it vented from the kitchen into my shower. All my clothes reeked of grease.
I checked out 3 days early a few minutes later.
I left a very honest Tripadvisor review with pics etc... and I received a couple of irate messages from her and then a call from her “PR Management” company demanding I remove the review and threatening legal action.
I refused, nothing more came of it, it’s sill on TA now. AWFUL.
think I stayed in the same room - fortunately I only needed it for two nights. Mine was an amazing hotel about 20 mins from Bournemouth,
One of girlfriends cousins was getting married at a really nice country hotel August BH weekend, the bride and a few others stayed the night before so all got ready at the hotel, we couldnt get into the rooms until after noon, wedding went ahead, few drinks and nibbles, then we started hearing people were having trouble with the rooms.
Turned out that the hotel and venue were run separately, the hotel staff finished at 1, the wedding was at 12.30 so a few people had checked in, most hadnt, the wedding co-ordinator tried to contact someone to hand over the keys but never managed, this was August BH weekend near Bournemouth, we tried everything we could but nowhere had any rooms,
I ended up not drinking and driving us home after. The hotel then put us down as a no-show and tried to not refund the room cost. I never really found out the aftermath but the place was bought out not long after.
One of girlfriends cousins was getting married at a really nice country hotel August BH weekend, the bride and a few others stayed the night before so all got ready at the hotel, we couldnt get into the rooms until after noon, wedding went ahead, few drinks and nibbles, then we started hearing people were having trouble with the rooms.
Turned out that the hotel and venue were run separately, the hotel staff finished at 1, the wedding was at 12.30 so a few people had checked in, most hadnt, the wedding co-ordinator tried to contact someone to hand over the keys but never managed, this was August BH weekend near Bournemouth, we tried everything we could but nowhere had any rooms,
I ended up not drinking and driving us home after. The hotel then put us down as a no-show and tried to not refund the room cost. I never really found out the aftermath but the place was bought out not long after.
TheK1981 said:
Mine was an amazing hotel about 20 mins from Bournemouth,
One of girlfriends cousins was getting married at a really nice country hotel August BH weekend, the bride and a few others stayed the night before so all got ready at the hotel, we couldnt get into the rooms until after noon, wedding went ahead, few drinks and nibbles, then we started hearing people were having trouble with the rooms.
Turned out that the hotel and venue were run separately, the hotel staff finished at 1, the wedding was at 12.30 so a few people had checked in, most hadnt, the wedding co-ordinator tried to contact someone to hand over the keys but never managed, this was August BH weekend near Bournemouth, we tried everything we could but nowhere had any rooms,
I ended up not drinking and driving us home after. The hotel then put us down as a no-show and tried to not refund the room cost. I never really found out the aftermath but the place was bought out not long after.
I went to a family wedding at the Beamish Hall Hotel about 12 years ago, turned up at about 6 o’clock (was only going to the night do) only to be told ‘oh, sorry, we thought you weren’t coming so we’ve gave your room away’. Her in doors kicked off as we’ve drove for about 130 miles so they found us a room at another hotel a few miles away.One of girlfriends cousins was getting married at a really nice country hotel August BH weekend, the bride and a few others stayed the night before so all got ready at the hotel, we couldnt get into the rooms until after noon, wedding went ahead, few drinks and nibbles, then we started hearing people were having trouble with the rooms.
Turned out that the hotel and venue were run separately, the hotel staff finished at 1, the wedding was at 12.30 so a few people had checked in, most hadnt, the wedding co-ordinator tried to contact someone to hand over the keys but never managed, this was August BH weekend near Bournemouth, we tried everything we could but nowhere had any rooms,
I ended up not drinking and driving us home after. The hotel then put us down as a no-show and tried to not refund the room cost. I never really found out the aftermath but the place was bought out not long after.
As ‘compensation’ they offered another night in the future for free. We wish we never bothered with that either, another wedding going on and our room above the reception room. It was a big Georgie wedding with fighting on the car park, shouting arguments in the corridor outside the room, etc, etc!
devnull said:
I’ve said it on here before and I’ll say it again:
THE GUILDFORD TRAVELODGE.
It’s not great but it’s a long long way from being properly crap. I’ve stayed there a few times and it’s serviceable. Sure I’d be irritated if I’d booked it as a holiday stay but for a night or two it’s been fine. THE GUILDFORD TRAVELODGE.
We can easily pick our worst hotel.
We were staying in a nice 5-star hotel in Elat, a few years before the millennium. It started to rain, so I had the brilliant idea of renting a car and driving up to Jerusalem.
I assumed that we would get a room in a Holiday Inn, or Great Western. Before Internet and SatNav, i found my way there, but like a Biblical story, there was no room at the inn, or anywhere else that i had ever heard of. So we had a list from tourist information and started knocking on doors. Eventually, a very large American sounding Rabi looking man said yes, welcome. Rain had recently penetrated our room, the carpets were wet and there was a rank smell. We decided that we had no choice.
Desperate to escape the smell, we set off in search of the sites, close to the Damascus gates, some bright spark thought it would be a good laugh to set off a firecracker. In our heads it was at least a Kalashnikov so we hit the deck and hid. Once we understood we were still alive we headed to the Wailing Wall, we got lost and a little Arab boy was demanding money to return us to the Jewish quarter. We gladly paid.
We looked at the Wailing wall and were unimpressed, but another American Rabi insisted that we heard the history. We were not impressed, but time passes.
We found somewhere to eat, it turned out some weeks later it was the location of a terrorist bomb attack.
We did not sleep that night so forgave the breakfast, shower and shave in the morning, preferring a hasty getaway. We set off towards Bethlehem, but quickly got lost. We saw a backside sticking out of a telecoms pillar so i got out to ask the way. His first question was which rental did i have. Europecar, i said, OK, it could be a problem if it was Hertz, or Avis was his reply. Turned out i was in Ramala.
Eventually, we made our way to the Red Sea and made the most of taking photos while floating. We made it back to our 5-star hotel in Elat and thanked our luck stars and relished the rainy days.
On returning to the airport, we told the truth that we had ventured out of the resort to Jerusalem. We then experienced several session of cross-questioning to check that our stories stacked up and that we were not Palestinian sympathisers.
So not only was it the sttiest hotel ever, but probably the worst holiday experience as well.
Fortunately, we are still able to laugh about it when a room fails to meet our expectations.
We were staying in a nice 5-star hotel in Elat, a few years before the millennium. It started to rain, so I had the brilliant idea of renting a car and driving up to Jerusalem.
I assumed that we would get a room in a Holiday Inn, or Great Western. Before Internet and SatNav, i found my way there, but like a Biblical story, there was no room at the inn, or anywhere else that i had ever heard of. So we had a list from tourist information and started knocking on doors. Eventually, a very large American sounding Rabi looking man said yes, welcome. Rain had recently penetrated our room, the carpets were wet and there was a rank smell. We decided that we had no choice.
Desperate to escape the smell, we set off in search of the sites, close to the Damascus gates, some bright spark thought it would be a good laugh to set off a firecracker. In our heads it was at least a Kalashnikov so we hit the deck and hid. Once we understood we were still alive we headed to the Wailing Wall, we got lost and a little Arab boy was demanding money to return us to the Jewish quarter. We gladly paid.
We looked at the Wailing wall and were unimpressed, but another American Rabi insisted that we heard the history. We were not impressed, but time passes.
We found somewhere to eat, it turned out some weeks later it was the location of a terrorist bomb attack.
We did not sleep that night so forgave the breakfast, shower and shave in the morning, preferring a hasty getaway. We set off towards Bethlehem, but quickly got lost. We saw a backside sticking out of a telecoms pillar so i got out to ask the way. His first question was which rental did i have. Europecar, i said, OK, it could be a problem if it was Hertz, or Avis was his reply. Turned out i was in Ramala.
Eventually, we made our way to the Red Sea and made the most of taking photos while floating. We made it back to our 5-star hotel in Elat and thanked our luck stars and relished the rainy days.
On returning to the airport, we told the truth that we had ventured out of the resort to Jerusalem. We then experienced several session of cross-questioning to check that our stories stacked up and that we were not Palestinian sympathisers.
So not only was it the s
ttiest hotel ever, but probably the worst holiday experience as well.Fortunately, we are still able to laugh about it when a room fails to meet our expectations.
ch37 said:
We stayed in a hotel in New York (near MSG, opposite a train station) 7 years in a row in the early to mid 2000s, at the time I think the Tripadvisor reviews were an average of 1.5 stars.
We loved it, just a place to crash, amazing location and the rooms were about 4 times the size of a typical Manhattan hotel room. It made the trip do-able each year, as the prices were basically equivalent to a hotel at JFK (well under £100 per night for a King)...but in the heart of Manhattan.
Yes it was old and tired, but we obviously lucked out as we stayed there 7 times and had nothing like the experience many others apparently did (Americans seem to be extremely harsh/picky on hotels).
I liken it to car reviewers moaning about scratchy black plastics in Dacia's, have a bit of perspective!
Was it an Affinia ? It sound like the one we stayed in...We loved it, just a place to crash, amazing location and the rooms were about 4 times the size of a typical Manhattan hotel room. It made the trip do-able each year, as the prices were basically equivalent to a hotel at JFK (well under £100 per night for a King)...but in the heart of Manhattan.
Yes it was old and tired, but we obviously lucked out as we stayed there 7 times and had nothing like the experience many others apparently did (Americans seem to be extremely harsh/picky on hotels).
I liken it to car reviewers moaning about scratchy black plastics in Dacia's, have a bit of perspective!
red_slr said:
I had to stay here for 3 weeks out of every 12 with work in the 90s... did it for 3 years.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g504167...
For the UK it was pretty bad.
My "best" memories...
One summer the next door room being used by "ladies of the night" 24/7 for 3 weeks solid... which was funny for the first night but was unfunny at 3am after 2 weeks...
Getting checked in to find that I had the room above for 3 weeks....
Having armed police raid the hotel at 3am.
Central heating on full blast in the summer but off in the winter.
Ambulances passing at all hours of the night with their sirens on going to the hospital.
Think I had hot water about half a dozen times in 3 years.
Had food poisoning from the breakfast more times than I can remember.
My oppo waking up at 3am to find a guy in his room trying to remove the TV (had climbed in through open window).
Navigating the general detritus of society who were staying there, often just taking a drug induced nap in the public areas.
I mean... It is Croydon... I wouldn't expect much better.https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g504167...
For the UK it was pretty bad.
My "best" memories...
One summer the next door room being used by "ladies of the night" 24/7 for 3 weeks solid... which was funny for the first night but was unfunny at 3am after 2 weeks...
Getting checked in to find that I had the room above for 3 weeks....
Having armed police raid the hotel at 3am.
Central heating on full blast in the summer but off in the winter.
Ambulances passing at all hours of the night with their sirens on going to the hospital.
Think I had hot water about half a dozen times in 3 years.
Had food poisoning from the breakfast more times than I can remember.
My oppo waking up at 3am to find a guy in his room trying to remove the TV (had climbed in through open window).
Navigating the general detritus of society who were staying there, often just taking a drug induced nap in the public areas.
My worst was a little hostel with friends in Dublin over St. Patrick's Day. The city and day itself was wonderful. But whatever chemicals they used to clean the bathroom were so overpowering that they easily could have stripped the paint off the walls. Only way to sleep was with the door to the bathroom shut and opening every window (it was snowing outside) for 10 minutes to vent the air.
Edited by Mr_Megalomaniac on Tuesday 13th April 13:59
juice said:
ch37 said:
We stayed in a hotel in New York (near MSG, opposite a train station) 7 years in a row in the early to mid 2000s, at the time I think the Tripadvisor reviews were an average of 1.5 stars.
We loved it, just a place to crash, amazing location and the rooms were about 4 times the size of a typical Manhattan hotel room. It made the trip do-able each year, as the prices were basically equivalent to a hotel at JFK (well under £100 per night for a King)...but in the heart of Manhattan.
Yes it was old and tired, but we obviously lucked out as we stayed there 7 times and had nothing like the experience many others apparently did (Americans seem to be extremely harsh/picky on hotels).
I liken it to car reviewers moaning about scratchy black plastics in Dacia's, have a bit of perspective!
Was it an Affinia ? It sound like the one we stayed in...We loved it, just a place to crash, amazing location and the rooms were about 4 times the size of a typical Manhattan hotel room. It made the trip do-able each year, as the prices were basically equivalent to a hotel at JFK (well under £100 per night for a King)...but in the heart of Manhattan.
Yes it was old and tired, but we obviously lucked out as we stayed there 7 times and had nothing like the experience many others apparently did (Americans seem to be extremely harsh/picky on hotels).
I liken it to car reviewers moaning about scratchy black plastics in Dacia's, have a bit of perspective!
alorotom said:
Sounds like it could be the Pennsylvania ... god awful insect infested place.
Been there, got that bug bite. At a Chinese restaurant nearby, we watched a massive Cockroach walk by. Did not alert the waiter as i was too concerned that it might get substituted for a King Prawn.
Also got hustled arriving at JFK after 10pm for a shared ride in a Town Car costing me $84.
Oh the joy of those magical days before Rudy Giuliani.
bristolbaron said:
I’ve fallen for the Britannia trap - twice.
One near Manchester airport, which was included as part of a package deal - b&b for the night and 10 days parking. I spent the whole holiday fearful of what I’d come back to as the car park had more broken glass than tarmac.
Second time was in Brighton, a lovely building opposite the pier, but an absolute hell hole.
I’ve used Britannia Manchester as airport parking . Hotel was OK but it was hardly the secure parking advertised.One near Manchester airport, which was included as part of a package deal - b&b for the night and 10 days parking. I spent the whole holiday fearful of what I’d come back to as the car park had more broken glass than tarmac.
Second time was in Brighton, a lovely building opposite the pier, but an absolute hell hole.
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