DoubleTree by Hilton Swindon

It's in a business park, with other hotels nearby as well as a Greggs, Subway and a convenience store. The hotel and rooms were well presented. Our family room was a decent size and well kept, though the bathroom door wouldn't lock. The breakfast area seemed small for a hotel of this size, but there was a good selection with something for everyone. It's about 10-15 minutes from the town centre, so a good spot if you're after peace and quiet. One disappointment was that my diamond status wasn't recognised, unlike at other Hilton hotels I've stayed in.

The lobby Christmas tree and reindeer were really cute and festive, and the warm cookie on arrival was a nice touch. Our room was spacious and clean, with a big, comfortable bed. The shower wasn't great, going from tepid to scalding regularly, though it wasn't a major issue. I also didn't love being able to hear people in nearby rooms quite loudly at times. Breakfast was okay, pretty standard.

I'd stayed here before, so knew what to expect, and the hotel was still clean, comfortable, relatively peaceful for a hotel, and offered good service. But this return visit has made me consider the many other options nearby for next time. The restaurant was closed over the weekend for a private event, and I spent a long time on the phone trying to get the breakfast portion of my room rate refunded. The event also made the car park ridiculously busy, busier than I've ever seen it, and every accessible bay was occupied all weekend. The hotel could have managed this better by anticipating the problem and using other parking areas for event guests. It was frustrating, and if they'd shared what sort of event it was, we probably would have avoided the stay altogether. You can have the best rooms in the world, but it doesn't help if customers can't get into the building in the first place.

I stayed for a week for work, and breakfast and the staff were great. The entrance and bar area look modern compared with the rooms, which need some work. The television is very old and limited, and the picture and sound quality were annoying. It would be ideal if it could connect to Netflix, Disney and similar services. The bed and pillows were uncomfortable, and I often woke with neck pain. Those are three things I think would massively improve the stay. The hotel seems packed every day, so it looks like money is coming in. Beer and food at the bar are a bit pricey. It's a nice hotel, but expensive for what you get.