Grand Burstin Hotel Folkestone

We had a great stay with our group of 27, and the hotel is in a fantastic spot opposite the Harbour Arm. Reception, especially Levi and Emma, were very accommodating with our large booking. The restaurant staff were friendly and helpful, making sure we had what we needed, and there was a nice choice of food. We also got a slot at Spindles pool and spa. The rooms are a bit dated and could do with an upgrade, but the staff more than make up for that. Nothing not to like. We hope to return next year.

The balcony view was lovely, though it cost an extra £20 per night and was the only real highlight. We were woken at 11pm by staff saying we’d blocked another car in, but when we went down it turned out the problem car wasn’t ours. They later offered free drinks as an apology, which felt pointless that late, especially as we were only staying one night and had plans the next day. The breakfast cost £10 per person, but it was cold, limited and unappealing. The coffee was so strong that adding milk turned it an odd grey colour, and I couldn’t drink it. The room was basic and not particularly clean. Our first sea-view room had a window covered in bird droppings, so the view was unpleasant. We upgraded to a balcony room, where the view was better, but the rusty chairs left marks on our arms and felt unclean. The bathroom was disappointing too, with barely any shower pressure. The bed was reasonably comfortable, but the room felt mismatched and poorly maintained. There’s a short walk to the sea and town, and the hotel had lots of entertainment each night, though I can’t rate it as I didn’t join in. We paid for a stay at The Grand Burstin, advertised as a two-star hotel, but my experience fell below even that standard. Definitely not Grand, and for the price it was very disappointing. Cleanliness, maintenance and service all need significant improvement.

I’d booked and paid through trip.com for rooms with a sea view, but we arrived too late to check in because of some reasons. At reception, Dave and another man asked for my name. When I offered to spell it, he said that wasn’t needed and asked me to pay. I explained I’d already paid, but he wouldn’t even check my payment receipt. Another female staff member listened, checked the receipt and found they’d looked up somebody else’s details and asked me to pay by mistake. Thanks to her, they confirmed my payment and gave me the sea-view room I’d paid extra for. The room was okayish. There was no room service, so we had to walk all the way down seven floors. The bath took 100 hours to get warm water. Overall, it was an okayish experience.

For the really low price, it was worth every penny. Our balcony room had amazing views, and the room and bathroom were clean and tidy. The fridge was an unexpected bonus. The food was acceptable and there was plenty of it. I found the bed a little uncomfortable, but an extra mattress topper and pillows were available on request. A great budget hotel.