South View Guesthouse Swansea

My first impression was of a hostel being used to house young homeless families and immigrants without much care. The room smelled strongly of cigarettes and urine. Dried blood was smeared over the plastic curtains, which were hanging off the wall, and the electric sockets looked dangerous. The odd sink in the room had clearly been used as a toilet by an earlier “guest”. The door wouldn’t shut properly and its lock was in very poor condition. I didn’t feel safe. I knew this was budget accommodation and kept my expectations low, but it was disgraceful. I’d spend a few pounds more on a guesthouse that meets basic safety and sanitation standards.

The location is great, right on the beach front, and the breakfast at a nearby hotel was pretty good. If you’re only looking for somewhere to sleep for the night, it may be worth considering since it’s probably cheaper than other local places. But the property is worn to the point of feeling dangerous: the front door lock and landing floorboards were broken, as were units in the bedroom, and there were stains on the carpet and bedding. We had no curtains, so hung a provided bed sheet over the window. The other room in our group had no lightbulb. I wouldn’t bring kids here, and anyone with standards should avoid it. Otherwise, enjoy your stay.

The shared bathroom was filthy and smelled bad. The toilet wouldn’t flush, the seat was loose, and the shower was grimy and full of hairs and who knows what else. Our room was just as disgusting. It reeked when we walked in, the carpets stank, there were holes in the walls, and you could barely see through the windows. The curtain pole wasn’t secure, so we couldn’t close the curtains. There were no towels and no TV remote. I’d never recommend this place. I don’t know how it’s still trading, and £44 was a rip-off.

I was cycling, so being able to keep my bike safely in the room was a real plus, even though it was on the third floor. The toilet and shower rooms were on the floors below because the room wasn’t ensuite, but they were clean, functional and in reasonable repair. The room itself was odd but usable, like cheap 1980s student accommodation, with an old creaky, springy bed and thin, mismatched duvet covers. There was a TV on the wall but no remote or controls, so I unplugged it. The free WiFi kept dropping and needed reconnecting manually. There was a sink, but no towel; the soap came from a pump dispenser. I didn’t ask about the towel or remote. After checking me in, the guy wasn’t around and hadn’t seemed like he could help. I didn’t see anyone again and just left the key at checkout. The booking site offered breakfast for £7.50 a day on my room-only reservation. I passed, and saw no dining room or sign of anyone eating there, so I don’t know what ordering breakfast would have been like. On the bright side, the room had a kettle, tea and coffee, plus three bourbon biscuits on the first night. The room was cleaned the next day, with the bin emptied and milk topped up, but no more biscuits.