I might post an odd review here but I will not return ratings or reply to communications. Feel free ...
I might post an odd review here but I will not return ratings or reply to communications. Feel free to contact me through dooyoo, Helium or igougo - or directly on magdadh@hotmail.com
Member since:22.04.2004
Reviews:175
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We came to Oxford a couple of times for a few days due to family commitments (which are now, sadly or mercifully, finished) and as there was four (two adults, a toddler and a 7 year old), we needed a place to stay that would be cheap but not completely nasty and that would accommodate a family of this size in the same room without actually having to step onto each others' toes all the time. These were the main requirements, and as far as location goes, we wanted to be reasonably close to Summertown.
It took me ages to research B&B's and other hotels, and after finding no luck at all with B&B's (only some had family rooms that would accommodate four people, at a stretch, and they wanted to charge close to £100 for them), it was a toss-up between two hotels located at the same Peartree Roundabout at the end of Woodstock Road in North Oxford. The
Holiday Inn would have just worked too expensive for a family of four, so we eventually booked a night in the Travelodge and eventually ended up staying there for four days.
We booked online, as we usually do just a day before traveling, and thus paid the full rate of £60 per night - but it was still less than two thirds of what any other place was offering.
For that, we got a family room with a normal double bed and a sofa with a pull-out for the children.
Travelodge is a chain of cheapo motels, they have 300 sites all over the UK. They operate on the principle of Everything you need and nothing you don't and they claim to keep things simple and consistent because we understand that all you want is a restful place to sleep.
These are certainly admirable principles for many a utilitarian or family trip, and particularly for motorway sleepovers and the like. I will not thus judge Travelodge on being what it is, but look at how well it does what it claims to do.
Basics
The room was reasonably sized, in a standard Travelodge pastel walls plus dingy dark upholstery decor and apart from the beds contained a desk on which a small TV and coffee/tea tray stood. This was what was counted as "family room" and it was sufficient for the four of us.
I was concerned about the noise levels, considering the location, but the room was from the back and no traffic noise bothered us.
The most important thing - the bed - was perfectly adequate, with a comfortable, firm, king sized bed which was perfectly adequate for our purposes, though as we have a quilted pocket matres at home, felt slightly on a firm side - but it wasn't a problem.
The bedding had duvets which is a great thing as I hate those tucked in hotel blankets and sheets (I like my feet free, but I also don't like the sheet getting separated and often end up sleeping under the blanket sans the sheet).
Only one pillow was provided per person, but it was easy to get one form the reception. This particular hotel is rather vast and getting anything required what felt like a half-a-mile walk along depressing, low ceiling hotel corridors.
I didn't like the pillows. Not perhaps the cheapest spongy-rubbery hollow fibre things, but not that far off: give me feather pillow any day. I know feather pillows are harder to keep clean and some people are allergic, but some hollow fibre ones are a pretty good approximation. These ones weren't.
The bathroom was all that's needed (in fact, it was better than most B&B and cheap hotel bathrooms I have tried, and not far off bathroom in normal three and four star hotels: spacious, with a great-sized bath, strong and versatile shower and spotlessly clean.
The pull-out sofa was easy to set up, and although I wouldn't fancy my own old bones on its foam matresses, it was perfectly adequate for the children.
Service and Extras
The staff at the reception were polite, efficient and perfectly helpful when required.
The whole Travelodge check in and out process is very streamlined, you normally pay in advance so you don't actually need to check out, and there was no problems with our visit.
This particular Travelodge didn't have any catering facilities apart from a few paltry vending machines in the lobby, and there was a distinct lack of places to get any food from. The Peartree Roundabout boasts a Little Chef, so Little Chef food was what we were reduce to on the night of our arrival.
Travelodge offer a boxed breakfast, but we didn't partake of it and took ourselves to town to eat. But this lack of choice of food places nearby was perhaps the biggest disadvantage of this particular Travelodge. Considering its location, I think the Peartree Roundabout Travelodge is a prime candidate for having a Bar Cafe on the premises.
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Jun 1st, 2009
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