Saba Hotel

My close friend left today after finding cockroaches in her ground-floor room, including in the shower. She had arrived late last night. The sheets were dirty, and when she complained, the concierge tried to kill the roaches. They were even crawling over the kettle. The window on the right side of Room 79 on the ground floor wouldn’t shut or lock. Guests could end up carrying roaches on to somewhere else.

I travel all the time, and hotels can feel big and impersonal, but this place felt like home. The customer service was good, and I was greeted when I arrived. Even the small talk made me feel at home.

The location is great if you like shopping, right between Hammersmith and Shepherd’s Bush, with plenty of local restaurants and takeaways nearby. A local authority placed me here, and the hotel staff have been very helpful. The cleaning team is the best. I’ve seen them clean the stair banisters every day, which matters to me because I have OCD and a germ phobia. I couldn’t hope to be in a better place.

The staff were friendly and helpful, and there was a fridge in the room, which was good to have even though I didn’t use it. The place is cheap, but not very cheerful. We had a small, cramped studio across the road. The stairway smelled a bit, and everything felt shabby and rough around the edges. The walls and doors had lots of scuffs and stains, though at least the room smelled clean. The pillow was so thin I honestly thought it was a joke, so I used my backpack instead. There was no shower mat either. For a short trip, I’d spend an extra 30 to 40 quid a night for somewhere nicer.