Travelodge London Sidcup

The room itself was nice and clean, but the cot they gave us was dirty. They replaced it when we asked. We also ordered a takeaway that was supposedly left safely at the front desk. When we went down for it, it had disappeared. I can only presume someone at the front desk ate it.

Jo gave us a really warm welcome at reception, got us checked in quickly, and was so friendly. It was a lovely start to the weekend, thanks Jo. We stayed Friday to Sunday for three nights. The hotel is right in the heart of Sidcup, near pubs, restaurants and bus stops, with the train station about a 15 minute walk away.

The room itself was okay if all you need is a bed and plan to eat and drink elsewhere. We had a hot electric radiator that kept it cosy, but no glasses in the room or bathroom, so bedside water had to come from the bathroom and be drunk from coffee mugs. The TV deserves a mention too, ours only showed BBC 1 and 2, nothing else. It felt like being back in 1972. The biggest headache was parking. The branch shares a small underground car park with the lift company, while the above ground spaces are for Waitrose and have a one hour ticket limit. Some underground bays are marked for either business, and others are unmarked. The terms board says unmarked spaces can be used by both, as long as you register at reception. Guests were confused about where to park, and the receptionist said he didn’t usually work there and gave us wrong information, insisting we could only use marked Travelodge bays. The car park is unfit for purpose, with far too few spaces for the rooms. Zero stars for the service and the accuracy of that advice. There’s only one vending machine, with no restaurant, breakfast or bar. The opening window was a downside when an articulated lorry delivered to Waitrose at 6.30 a.m. and clattered pallets around the car park for over an hour. Check the rate for your dates. I wouldn’t pay more than £39, and even at that price I’m highly unlikely to return. We’ve usually been big fans of Travelodge and left good reviews before, but this Sidcup stay fell short of what we’re used to.

Parking is scarce and often full, and the entrance is steep enough that a low or sporty car is likely to scrape its front. A splitter could be a problem too. The room was far too hot without air conditioning, making it hard to rest or sleep. We also couldn’t get working key cards, so we had to depend on the duty manager whenever we went in or out. After some good stays at other Travelodges, this one felt much more like a two star experience and was a real letdown. Travelodge London Sidcup.