CityLodge London

The hotel was easy to get around from, with the subway nearby and good bus service. That's the main reason for the two stars. The bed was more than acceptable and we had good nights there, and at the time we were willing to overlook a lot. The building looked like the photos, but the door wouldn't open at first. There was no sign saying to ring, so we thought the place was shut. Inside, carpet covered the stairs, floors and bedroom, and the floor felt like being on a ship, even without drinking. The bathroom wasn't clean, the shower took ages to get warm and had weak pressure, but we accepted it as okay. We went for my birthday in May and booked through trip. The listing on trip and other booking sites said breakfast was included, self catering. In practice there was powdered coffee, plain cereal, bread, an egg, a banana and an apple. You had to buy and prepare the rest yourself, so I wouldn't count it as breakfast included. About a week after the stay, we noticed strange marks and went to the doctor. After several visits and creams, they identified it as scabies. It probably lived in the carpet and bed, which didn't surprise us given the state of the hotel. We still haven't recovered and still hate that we stayed there. Next time we'll pay more, since the extra cost gets you real food and cleaner rooms.

For what we paid, this was excellent value. The room was clean, the bed comfortable with a firm mattress, and the shower was hot. Breakfast was very nice, and you can buy food to heat in the microwave. The front desk guy was lovely and helpful. Getting around was easy, with the Underground just a few minutes away and convenient connections to the main attractions. For cheaper travel, pay with your bank card instead of buying an Underground ticket. The A7 express bus also gives you a great connection to the airport. We booked it to avoid spending much on a stay, and I'd gladly recommend it to friends.

There were bed bugs, and what I saw as a bait and switch. Breakfast was advertised as free, then they said each adult could have no more than one egg and food couldn't be taken off the premises. The room barely had space to open a suitcase, and the bathroom was tiny. There were too many managers. They offered to move us, but didn't.

I booked this property through Hotels.com UK, but when I arrived they directed me to a completely different place underground, CityStay Hotel. The room smelled strongly unpleasant and the facilities were in terrible condition. I complained to Hotels.com, and they promised GBP 25 in compensation. Ten months later, I still haven't received it. I don't know whether sending guests to a different, foul-smelling hotel is common in this area, but I'd strongly advise future travelers to be very careful when booking here.