Travelodge Lincoln Thorpe on the Hill Hotel, Lincoln

Whenever we try to go away somewhere for a 'cheap' break we always check out the travel lodges and Holiday Inn's first to see what offers they have because we like the fact that you always know what you're getting with them. You know they're not going to be fancy with special additions like in other hotels but you know that they will be of a certain standard and will at least be clean.

Mrs B and I decided we would try the Travel Lodge ...
...haunt Lincoln to celebrate another of our anniversaries and remember the place we met but since Baby B had arrived we had a little bit less money to splash out on somewhere more exotic.

=== Location ===
This travel lodge is not central to Lincoln. It isn't even a walk away. It is 5 miles south of Lincoln centre on the a46 which is a very busy road leading from Lincoln to Grimsby. It is not the most peaceful of places to be ... more

Whenever we try to go away somewhere for a 'cheap' break we always check out the travel lodges and Holiday Inn's first to see what offers they have because we like the fact that you always know what you're getting with them. You know they're not going to be fancy with special additions like in other hotels but you know that they will be of a certain standard and will at least be clean.

Mrs B and I decided we would try the Travel Lodge outside of Lincoln. We were going back to our old haunt Lincoln to celebrate another of our anniversaries and remember the place we met but since Baby B had arrived we had a little bit less money to splash out on somewhere more exotic.

Location

This travel lodge is not central to Lincoln. It isn't even a walk away. It is 5 miles south of Lincoln centre on the a46 which is a very busy road leading from Lincoln to Grimsby. It is not the most peaceful of places to be staying but I have noticed that most travel lodges seem to be built on the edge of a busy road whether this is to catch passing trade or just to make it more accessible I am not too sure. We already knew about the location anyway before booking so we were aware that the a46 was well within view but it didn't really matter. We weren't going for a nice walk around the hotel grounds anyway. The cost of a taxi into Lincoln from here was £10.

The travel lodge is set next to a petrol station and a little chef which is always useful! Then just 500 yards away are two pubs both of which are family pubs which have a good variety of meals.

I think the location was just fine for us really it was handy to have the pubs within reach! It just wouldn't be great if we didn't drive as it would mean getting taxis to and from the city.

The hotel

This is just like any Travel Lodge. It seems slightly more dated than the ones I have stayed in previously though. The carpets in the entrance hall are very dark which gves a bit of a claustraphobic feel whcih isn't great! The reception area is very small, I'm sure when I've stayed in these places before there's been enough room to swing a cat, well, h ere there wasn't so it was a good job I didn't have a cat with me that needed swinging!

When going to our room it was a little like going through a back entrance of a hotel. We went through a door past reception and then trhough another door and up a staircase. It was all very dark which I think made me feel like we were going through a back entrance! I think it was quite strange how it was designed like that.

The room

We had a 'family' room which meant we had a double bed and a sofa bed and a travel cot. What was interesting was that when we did pull the sofa bed out it looked rather old, worn, tatty and not at all the sort of place anyone would want to sleep! I was really glad we didn't have to use it! I just can't imagine us being able to stay in this place again when Baby B is in a proper bed as I'd hate to have to use a sofa bed and not a proper bed for her, especially when it looks that grubby. I would love to see in Travel Lodge's the ability to have a family room with a proper bed not a rather odd looking sofa bed for your children it does kind of frustrate me somewhat!

The room was it's usual basic self- double bed made with blue and yellow sheets. Walls painted yellow, carpet blue. Dressing table with TV, hair dryer, bible, note paper. Bedside table with lamps. Wardrobe. The bathroom was actually quite a good size we had a full bath as well as a shower and it was very clean.

cleanliness

I couldn't really fault the cleanliness of the rooms. You could tell that they had been cleaned and all beds been made nicely. I didn't notice anything particularly dirty or dusty except maybe the entire sofa bed needed throwing out really! The bathroom was sparkling so well done to the cleaners! The rest of the hotel- the corridors and teh reception- just looked as though it could do with brightening up a bit but it wasn't dirty.

Facilities

The hotel doesn't really have facilities as it's basic. The option for breakfast was to have a cereal bar, fruit and a box of juice... this would be present in your room at arrival so we turned it down and just went to the little chef instead! So there is no dining room or anything. There is a vending machine in the entrance hall which sells overpriced snacks though should you get hungry. There is also a fairly decent sized carpark at the front of the hotel but in the evening it did get full so I have no idea where you'd park if it was full when you arrived!

staff

We didn't really see any staff exept when we checked in and she was more than polite and happy to help. She asked us if we knew the area and when we said we did she left it at that. I presume if we woul dhave said no she may have given us some information about where to go and what to do.

Visiting Lincoln

When visiting Lincoln there is plenty to see and do. It's not the sort of place you go to if you want constant action it's more of a place to explore and appreciate it's history. Steep Hill is a must see for people visiting the area. Up the extremely Steep Hill is Lincoln's olde worlde little centre. It has lovely gift shops and tea rooms and chocolate shops in the very old houses that line the cobbled streets. There is also the cathedral and castle either side of Steep Hill which are great places to go. If you go to the top of the castle and look out over Lincoln the view is amazing, I recommend trying that.

The modern area of Lincoln includes general shops that you see in most cities but again a lot of them are in old buildings and the precinct is pedestrianised and wide so it really gives that open feel that lincoln seems to have.

There is the wharf area of Lincoln to visit which has boat rides and tours of the river with a licened bar too.

There are a nice variety of shops and restaurants. There is a beautiful Italian built in the castle walls- Gino's- this is where Mrs B and i have shared many a happy memory and we have always had amazing food. If you want something a little lively then there is a Brazilian part way up Steep Hill which offers amazing cocktails and some really different and interesting food in a party atmosphere.

overall

Price wise the travel lodge cost us £19 per night as we booked when there was a special offer! Prices can go up as much as £60 though and some times bookng doesn't include cancellation fee so just make sure you read the small print.

All in all I think that the hotel was just fine for us. It was well worth the money we paid and I like the fact that with a travel lodge you know what you're getting, you don't expect it to be glamorous.

I doubt we will be staying in this hotel again though should we come when Baby B is older as I think it would be less convinient. It would be better to stay somewhere with easier access to the city centre and away from a very busy dual carriageway too! I think it's as hame that there are no twin beds in a family room and just a pull out sofa bed I think that this lets down Travel Lodge's in general.

I think if you're looking for somewhere to stay and you drive then this is a good place to try out just don't be expecting anything out of this world as it's not! lincoln though is a lovely place to explore! 

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