Ocean Stays by Smart Welcomes

I paid £144 for two nights and came away feeling cheated by both the owners and Booking.com. There’s no one on site, and to me this felt like a faceless, corporate-owned Airbnb being called a hotel. Hospitality is what I expect from a hotel, and I didn’t get it here. A message with the room assignment arrived through booking.con only 15 minutes before check-in. I worked that out after another couple turned up, having waited half an hour and made several useless calls to automated services. Getting inside felt like an escape-room challenge. My room was below ground and smelled musty, maybe damp. One door opened into an underground cellar also used as a ventilation room; another was locked and off limits. The door that was open led outside, which could bother anyone concerned about security. The single bed had been advertised incorrectly as a twin. It was two wooden blocks with a barely sprung mattress that squeaked every time I turned. The room looked clean, though I wouldn’t suggest inspecting it closely. There was a full-size fridge making full-size fridge noises, so I switched it off since I didn’t need it. The shower was clean, had decent pressure, and was a pleasure after the most uncomfortable night’s sleep I’ve had since a deflated airbed. They said scratch cards could bring parking down to £10, but none were available. There was no reception desk or anyone there, so parking cost the full £16.70 for 24 hours. If you don’t mind being around nobody, have a strong back, can put up with some damp, and have money to spare, it might suit you.