The Douglas Hotel

The service was helpful, even if it was a bit unconventional. I'd call a number and a bloke in a Russian hat would come and try to close the window with a belt. It couldn't be shut, but they did bring me an electric heater. It was too loud to use overnight. The room had dirty floors, rubbish left in a corner by the last guest, and a broken window that wouldn't close. The heavy draught kept making the blinds smack against it. The bathroom light didn't work, the shower pressure was incredibly low, and there was no working heating, so the room was freezing. The bed seemed clean and was comfortable enough. It's near the centre and decent takeaways, but I got bothered by beggars whenever I went out. I know that's not the hotel's fault, but it's part of the location.

This is builders' digs, not three-star accommodation, and the rooms look nothing like the pictures. It feels like false advertising. The bad points go on and on: used sanitary towels under the sink vanity unit, ripped towels, damaged furniture, cigarette burns in the carpet, and the whole place badly in need of a facelift. I brought a family member to my room at 10am, and within five minutes someone knocked and rudely told her she had to leave. I was given an upgrade when I arrived, only to be downgraded for the last evening of my stay.

The pictures on the sites make this hotel look nice, but they were taken five years ago. The actual place is horrible. The owner, manager, whoever it was, didn't answer our calls after we arrived. People say you get what you pay for, but I'd rather pay more for better quality. I've rented rooms by the sea for the same price before, and they were good, clean, and nice. Don't trust the site pictures, trust the pictures in the reviews. The building was terrible and the rooms really dirty. The sheet looked as if someone had slept in the bed before me, and the carpet and walls were dirty. When I sat on the mattress, I could feel the hard bed base. My friend and I had two single rooms, but we couldn't stay there any longer. We booked another hotel straight away and left.

The staff were very friendly, and for the price I highly recommend this hotel. It's right in the heart of town, close to local amenities and nightlife, and a great place to stay.