Ibis Budget Newport

We paid £150 for three nights over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, which felt like a bargain. The hotel was as basic as we'd expected, and reception staff were polite and considerate. The hallway carpets could really have done with a thorough vacuuming. I asked for the bins to be emptied and the cups replaced. The request was acknowledged, written down and accepted, but housekeeping was missed entirely that day. It left me wondering whether the request had been deliberately ignored.

The rooms were small, but that was fine since we only used them to sleep. The toilet area was cramped, though the shower worked well. I was a little unsure when we arrived, but the staff were welcoming and the rooms were very clean.

The location was easy to find and, despite being right by the M4, it was quite peaceful. The staff were friendly and helpful, no complaints about them. The room was basic, which was okay, but I've had better rooms for the same price at Premier Inn and Travelodge. The toilet was tiny and very low, and with the door shut it felt claustrophobic. The shower was a little pod in the room, but it did the job. The real problem was the air conditioning. We turned on the heating and immediately started coughing and sneezing, with tickly throats that were still bothering us 12 hours after we left. It didn't seem as if the unit had ever been cleaned. Please clean these.

The hotel was clean and quiet, and good value. But we booked well ahead and rang afterwards to make sure our rooms would be next to each other, as we had children aged 9 and 14. At check-in we were told they were on different floors. We explained the situation, but nothing could be done. It caused a lot of anxiety and hassle, and pretty much spoiled the weekend, especially since we'd called to confirm the rooms would be together. I'd advise families with young children to avoid booking with ibis budget. Sorry.