Best Western Pontypool Metro Hotel

Reception staff were attentive, kind and helpful, and I had a really good stay. The room was small but clean, tidy and functional, with a very comfortable bed. It was quiet enough for a great night’s sleep. When I arrived, though, it was freezing. The radiator is electric and only works with a key in the slot, so I asked the receptionist for an extra key to warm the room while I had dinner. She said that wasn’t standard practice, but without it I couldn’t have gone to bed in that cold. The hotel feels a bit in the middle of nowhere, but there’s a petrol station next door with an Asda minimarket and a Greggs, and McDonald’s and KFC are a one-minute walk away.

The stay was pretty average, despite the mix of good and bad reviews. The rooms were comfortable, the location was decent, and the food places next door were handy. Staff were friendly, though at times they didn’t seem very confident in their work. We had to get our key card redone twice because it wouldn’t work, but these things happen. I slept well. The Wi-Fi could be better, but it’s a decent place for a couple of nights.

For one night, it did the job. The room was clean and tidy, with tea and coffee making things, and the bed was comfortable. The bathroom was clean but a bit worn. I had to look in the wardrobe for an extra pillow. Breakfast was included and had a good selection, enough to set us up for the day. Felt like good value for money.

The shower barely worked, and the mattress on the couch bed was awful. We’d booked for three, but the couch hadn’t been made up. The person who checked us in seemed completely uninterested and didn’t want to be at work. The cleaning process didn’t seem to follow industry standards, and guests aren’t told about it properly. They should put a notice in the room instead of a tiny one at reception.