Travelodge East Grinstead

Duncan deserves a lot of credit. When I arrived by car later in the afternoon, he quickly got through the queue of people checking in ahead of me. Then he patiently explained the complicated public parking rules around the area. Thanks to him I managed to sort it all out and save a few pounds in unnecessary parking fees. The hotel is splendid, freshly renovated and well located, with really comfortable, almost space age rooms. Five stars from me!

The bed was comfortable and I had a good night's sleep. The room was a decent size and the staff were friendly, but the shower and bathroom setup, along with the internet, brought the rating down a lot. There's no wardrobe, laundry option or way to cook for yourself. You do get a desk and kettle, but no microwave. Free Wi-Fi lasts only 30 minutes, which I find disgraceful given how many rooms the company has and how much it earns from bookings. The shower is tiny, and its curved curtain lets water onto the floor outside, where there's no drain. The bathroom floor stayed wet throughout my stay. There's no working extractor fan either, so it stays damp. Signs warn about the damp floor and say to keep the bathroom door closed during and after a shower so the fire alarm doesn't go off. The fan is fitted in the wall, but seems to be there just for show.

I haven't stayed here, but my friend is coming next month, so I wanted to find it beforehand. I hope the inside doesn't match the outside. The street facing glass entrance doors are filthy and give a very unwelcoming first impression. I know it's a budget hotel, but they could do much better.

We stayed here as a break during a late night trip from London. The rooms were affordable, and Grinstead is a nice town to stop in, with plenty of restaurants and cafes near the hotel. Parking is available for a fee, but it wasn't too bad. The staff were friendly, the rooms clean and the bathroom super clean.