Travelodge Maidenhead Central

The location worked well for Maidenhead Station and nearby parking, and the room I was moved to was quiet, though some rooms are noisy. I booked a Standard Plus room expecting a top-floor room, king-size bed, coffee machine and premium Wi-Fi. Instead, I was first given a noisy standard room on the second floor. When I queried it, they moved me to a family room on the top floor, but that still wasn't to the Standard Plus specification. It seemed they had no Plus rooms available, but nobody said so openly or offered to refund the price difference. I only got the premium Wi-Fi code after asking.

The hotel staff were efficient, friendly and caring, and really went the extra mile. The food was varied and delicious. In the evenings they brought it to my table, suggested dishes and checked if I needed anything. One woman even made me a lovely salad as an extra side. Breakfast was self-service with loads to choose from. I stayed at Travelodge Maidenhead Central for five days at the end of November. My room was immaculate, well equipped, warm, safe and comfortable, with everything in good working order. I loved the mood lighting. The location was a real blessing, just a stone's throw from the station and shops. I could hear trains and traffic, but it wasn't intrusive at all, even though I'm usually a light sleeper. The hotel's security was first class. There's no alcohol licence before 11 pm at the moment, but there's a pub right next door and a small branch of Sainsbury's, and guests were welcome to drink in their rooms. This SHOULD have a 5 star rating. It's one of the best hotels I've ever stayed in.

We had a poor night's sleep and ended up checking out at 6am. The bathroom looked grotty in places and didn't feel very clean, and the rooms were extremely basic and unwelcoming. Doors slammed all night inside the hotel, and with people shouting and cars passing outside, we couldn't open the window either. We arrived to check in at 11pm and were told the only room left was a disabled twin room, even though we'd booked a standard double. We were frustrated, and check-in was quite slow. The location is handy for Maidenhead train station, with car parking just around the corner, but I wouldn't recommend staying here.

The room was very basic and needs a thorough clean and refresh. There were marks on the carpet that looked suspiciously like blood, stains on the bed sheets and mattress, a dirty toilet, and handprints all over the back of the door. The receptionist was polite and friendly, but didn't give us the free Wi-Fi code or say where breakfast was. There's no parking on site, and the car park across the road cost us £12. The station noise was loud even with the window closed. They can't do much about the trains, but if other rooms are vacant, guests should be able to choose one.