Days Inn by Wyndham Winchester M3

The staff are very friendly, but the hotel is filthy. The hallways clearly haven’t been hoovered in a long time, and the bathroom was full of bits, with a smear on the wall and yellow, grubby tile grouting. Disgusting. They obviously don’t care. Pay another £10 or £15 for a Premier Inn, which would be a hundred times better.

I booked the cheapest place I could find within 20 miles of Basingstoke as a stopgap between house moves, and this Days Inn turned out to be perfect for what I needed. The room was clean and tidy, with basic essentials like shower gel. I had my own, but on the first day couldn’t be bothered to open a suitcase. The staff were unbelievably friendly, attentive, and chatty, which made me feel more relaxed than expected. My only gripe was the drive south first toward the roadworks at the Winchester off-ramp, since I work in Basingstoke.

The beds were freshly made, the rooms clean and tidy, and the staff very friendly. It had a good atmosphere and was great value for money. If nobody’s at the front desk, remember to call them on the number provided. The hotel is beside the M3, but there’s limited noise. Keep an eye out for M3 closures, though, since they could affect your travel plans.

May 19 - May 22. I posted this before but it didn’t show up. The room was clean and well maintained, and the hotel staff were excellent. I’d happily stay here again when I’m in the area.