Arinza Hotel, London Ilford

The rooms were sparkling clean, with really fresh, comfortable mattresses that made for a good night's sleep. The people working there were polite, respectful, understanding, and honestly the best hotel staff I've met. One small request, please add Fanta to the drinks selection!

The room smelled like rotten linen as soon as we went in. We were exhausted and couldn't do much about it, so we switched on the air conditioner, hoping it would help, but the smell got worse. When I mentioned it to reception, he said it was coming from the AC. The night had already felt horrible from the start, with a reception area full of men smoking cigars when we first walked in, which made us uncomfortable.

The place was clean, and the amenities seemed fair for the price. It's quiet but still close to everyday essentials, including trains and buses. The front desk staff were nice and responsive. I'd certainly book at Arinza Hotel again.

This was the worst place I've been. I booked on 1st December 25 for 14th February. When my partner and I arrived, the receptionist checked my passport and booking, then said I'd cancelled in January. I hadn't. He said the OYO people had cancelled it and told me to check my bank for a refund, but there was no refund. I booked through Agoda, so I called them. They said the booking hadn't been cancelled. The Agoda representative tried ringing the hotel while I was on the phone, and I could hear it ring, but nobody answered. Then the receptionist went over to the table and started eating, as if he didn't care about us. Eventually she spoke to him through my phone, and he again said OYO had cancelled the booking. Honestly, I think he cancelled it when he saw us.