Days Inn by Wyndham Bradford M62

Reception service was excellent. The staff were cheerful and generous, and went out of their way to help. The room was completely clean, the linen was fresh and the beds were very comfortable, though it was a bit dated and had a lingering smell of cigarettes. We even found a lighter under the bed. Road noise from the motorway was muffled but constant, as you'd expect. The bathroom was dated too, but the shower was good and everything worked. Breakfast was served at the service station next door. The staff there seemed new and keen to help, but were very slow and confused; the food was adequate and edible. Parking was easy, although the extra £5 charge came as an unexpected and unnecessary cost. There were no sockets by the bed or USB charging. This is really a place to stop while travelling elsewhere.

We'd booked because things had gone badly wrong at home, with two very young children, my elderly father and our dog to look after. About an hour later our landlord managed a temporary fix, so my partner and I decided to stay home, where the kids could sleep in their own beds. When we called the hotel, they said there was nothing they could do and it was our fault. I understand hotels have policies, but the person on the phone was incredibly rude and unprofessional. They made us feel stupid and humiliated. Very disappointing. I wouldn't recommend booking unless you're certain you'll be staying.

The only bright spot was the helpful staff member who checked us in late. The place otherwise felt deserted and unloved. Cleaning trolleys and hoovers were left lying in the corridor, adding to the slamlam adventure. Our room stank, and the carpets were so filthy I wouldn't risk walking on them barefoot. We had large bags, which made getting around difficult, especially with no lifts.

I was pleasantly surprised by the service and how good the value for money was. It's at the motorway services, rather than in a town, but there are shops next door, so the location wasn't really a problem.