Ramada VetroBlu Scarborough Beach

The doors were the worst part. With my 5-year-old there, I couldn't relax because the balcony door was easy to unlock and the front door had no chain or other safety lock. Even going to the bathroom made me worry about leaving her alone. I barely slept over either of the two nights. We'd planned a relaxing weekend, watching TV, but the television wouldn't take an HDMI cable for Chromecast, and movies cost $5 each to book. There was no pool or room service either. For nearly $500 a night, I expected much more. The carpet smelled stale and was filthy, the bedding was stained, and the spare blanket hadn't been washed. I was told the carpets had been replaced when I called after reading the Google reviews, but they clearly hadn't been. We washed all our clothes when we got home. This was meant to be a treat for me and the kids, and instead I came away really upset. I rarely get to book a weekend away, and after spending that much, I don't think I'll return. I also notice the replies here just say sorry without offering a solution.

The air conditioner was blowing visible dust, and when we checked its filter it was filthy, as if it hadn't been cleaned for months. The strong musty smell in the hallways and our room was mixed with harsh chemical fragrances that seemed intended to cover it up. Since we avoid fragrances and chemicals at home, it set off our allergies and asthma. We also had safety concerns about the elevator, which felt unreliable and had reportedly broken down recently. When we asked about taking the stairs, staff said they were locked, though they would be opened in a fire. Staff leave at 9pm, which made that answer more worrying. My husband and I had come to celebrate our anniversary. A very rude front desk employee greeted us, setting a poor tone from the start. In hindsight, we should have read the reviews first. The stay was upsetting and stressful, and we wouldn't recommend this place.

The morning staff were lovely, but I felt the staff issue made us uncomfortable from the start. Finding parking for our vehicle, which was over 2.2 metres tall, was a struggle. The staff member wasn't helpful about where to go, and it took us an hour and a half to find a spot. We were given the wrong directions to our room, lift 1, level 3, room 09. We got stuck there and nobody answered the number we were given. We took the elevator back to check-in, where we were told it should have been lift 3, level 1, room 109. The person didn't seem bothered, and although she said sorry, it felt like an inconvenience to her. We're also owners of whydum for 13yrs and didn't think much of this accommodation.

The room was excellent, with a modern kitchen and bathroom. It's in a great spot in the centre of Scarborough, just a two-minute walk from the beach. Harvest french Bakery / patisserie is there too, and it's probably one of the best I've been to!