Olive Lodge Blackpool Hotel

The door locks on our room didn’t work. After I told the manager, we were assured they’d be fixed by the time we returned that evening, but when we got back the door opened without a key and all our belongings were inside. We had to push the bed against the door to feel safe enough to sleep. By then it was too late to find another place. The property hasn’t submitted a refund for our stay.

The room we ended up in wasn’t like the pictures, though it seemed passable at first. The bathroom was filthy, the toilet badly needed bleach, and in the later room there were stains in the toilet and hairs on the seat. The beds were awful, with springs sticking out everywhere, and the cups were dusty with old tea left in them. We were first put in two wrong rooms. After we’d bought drinks at a pub and sat down for a meal with family, the B&B called to say we had to come back and move our things so the other guests could take the room. That was really frustrating. The young boy who’d mixed things up was very apologetic and helped sort it quickly. Later, a family member accidentally shut the door while taking our suitcase out, and couldn’t get back in. There was nobody on site. Three emergency numbers were provided, but none answered despite several attempts from different phones. We had answered straight away when they called the night before, and had walked all the way back to fix their mistake. Then we got a message saying they were at church and would talk in the morning, while we were trying to check out. Eventually someone answered, but we had to go into their office and use their computer, which was unlocked with everything open, to reset the key card scanner code ourselves. It was frightening to see private information so poorly secured, since anyone could have accessed or changed things on that computer. The hotel looked can be deceiving.

I’m staying in a family room at the moment, and it’s spotless and spacious. The man who checked us in was polite and helpful, and even offered to carry our cases because we had stairs to climb. The beds are really comfortable, the shower is piping hot, and the room had a kettle, tea making things, a hairdryer and towels. For what we paid, I think it’s fantastic, a perfect base for a family holiday on a budget.

The kids had a great time, so our trip was a success. I knew what to expect for this price, and the room was adequate. The shower worked fine. There was rubbish in the room and no toilet roll, but that was sorted quickly. A kettle and tea or coffee mugs would have been useful, though I’m sure they’d have supplied them if I’d asked. Anyone wanting spotless, brand new decor should spend more at one of the bigger places. Location was the main reason we chose it: between the pleasure beach and coral island, with a short walk to the south and central piers. It’s a pity the buildings and streets just off the main road seem to get worse each year we visit. The owners in the area would need to put serious money into those back street buildings or things will keep getting worse.