Travelodge Windsor Central

Nathan at reception was helpful and kind. He was the only staff member we dealt with, and gets five stars. The location was why we stayed: it’s an easy walk to Windsor Castle, shops and plenty of restaurants. Getting there was confusing. My sister and I took a taxi, but even the driver couldn’t work out where the hotel entrance was. He dropped us at a corner and we had to figure it out ourselves. If you’re renting a car, I have no idea where you’d park. The room was basic, with no fridge or microwave, no outlets by the bed, and none in the bathroom for a hairdryer. There were no bathroom vents, and a shower sign warned us to keep the door shut while bathing or steam would set off the fire alarm. At least there was a bottle opener screwed to the desk. Wi-Fi was free for just 30 minutes every 24 hours unless you paid, and even after paying, ours didn’t work.

The room was clean and standard, with no real issues, and we were lucky to get a lovely view of Windsor Castle. The central location was handy but not too noisy. Tara was the real highlight among the staff. She made us feel welcome and helped us get our bearings, which made the stay even better.

The hotel is conveniently near the railway links to London, Windsor Castle and the shops, but the heat made my stay miserable. It took 30 minutes to check in because of confusion over the previous guest’s room. Once I got to mine, the corridor was hot and stuffy, and the room was worse. The window only opened two inches, and the small desk fan just blew hot air around. Mine was a New Supper room with different decor, a coffee machine, big TV, fridge, complimentary water and two Kit Kats, but there was no air conditioning, only that fan and a swivel floor fan. The bathroom had shower gels and hand wash, though the shower pressure disappointed. The bed was comfortable, but I couldn’t sleep either of my two nights there. I had to leave the window open because of the heat, and boy racers kept popping their exhausts under the railway arch all night. I wouldn’t stay here in the summer heat unless they installed air conditioning.

The manager and staff went above and beyond by accepting deliveries before I arrived and keeping them safe for me. The location is unbeatable, close to everything in Windsor, and I’m looking forward to staying again. You get what you pay for, so don’t expect anything fancy. You can pay extra to choose your own room, which is useful if you know the layout. I once got the crappiest room before that option was available, and it nearly put me off.