The Oxford House

We couldn't park because we arrived late. The place is above a few shops and a takeaway, and we didn't feel very welcome. The bathroom smelled awful, the floor looked dirty, and there was mold all around the wet room edges. The double bed was so noisy whenever either of us moved that we hardly slept. We were at the front, so we could hear the traffic too. You can't watch the TV from bed because it's tucked in a corner on a table, and there's only one chair for two people. The carpet was nice, the walls had been painted cleanly, and the bedding and towels were fresh and clean. Still, it needs modernising for the price. I'd call it fair, rather than good, given those problems. Glad we only stayed one night.

For £50 a night in Oxford, it was about what I expected, and the short bus ride into town was handy. The bedding and room seemed clean, though I found old blood by the bathroom door handle. Road noise and people outside were mostly blocked, but my room smelled of cigarette smoke, so opening the window meant letting in the noise. I woke once or twice when inside doors shut, though jet lag had me asleep very early anyway.

The staff dealt with the power cuts quickly, so the service was alright. But the room needs to match the price better: I paid £100 for two nights and it felt more like a £50 stay. There was noise from the hallway, and paint was peeling off the room wall. The electricity also kept going off.

For six days, the price was good, and it suited international students dealing with move-in timing. Check-in was a bit muddled over which room I was getting, though, and I waited near reception for almost 20 minutes. The bathroom handle and lock were missing.