Travelodge Worthing Seafront

The room was roomy, the bed was comfortable, and I was pleasantly surprised to get a sea view. Sitting by the window and watching people was lovely. Staff were very kind and helpful, and they let me leave my car there before the 3pm check-in, which I appreciated because parking is a pain. There was a strange smell when I first came in, though it faded after I’d settled in, and the TV had no signal. I had my phone, so that wasn’t a huge problem. It’s a good budget option if you plan ahead, but get there early to grab a parking spot.

The staff understood our complaints and quickly offered a 50% refund voucher, with no questions. They seemed unsurprised by the problems, which says a lot. I wouldn’t stay here again. The building is around 200 years old and sits on the seafront, so some noise is to be expected, but more could be done about it. The front stairs are steep and disabled access is only at the back. There are a couple of disabled parking spaces, but they can’t be reserved. Parking overall is very limited, so you may need to use a paid car park. The layout inside is unusual, with small steps between areas. If mobility is an issue, call ahead. We were in ground-floor room 18, on the west side. Its window looked straight onto West Street, at face height for people walking by, so we kept the curtains shut because Travelodge doesn’t use net curtains. There would have been a clear sea view from the side of the window if the glass hadn’t been filthy. With the bathroom door open, you could also be seen through the window if the curtains were open. The corridors to the room smelled strongly of damp and felt more spacious than the room. Inside, the layout was awkward and cramped. The desk was the only place with 13amp sockets, while the mirror was on the other side. The bed wasn’t centred, leaving more room on one side, but the extra furniture wasn’t arranged to make use of that space. The storage unit behind the door was tiny, and the window and bathroom door were both small. The room had no character and dated decor, especially in the bathroom. The shower was a tray beside a tiled area, with a curtain rather than a full cubicle. The curtain rail and grab handle cut into the space above the tray, leaving little room to stand. Bending down meant touching the back wall or having the curtain stick to you. There was no shower mat, so we used the hand towel. The sink’s soap dispenser wasn’t secured properly. Its first push knocked it loose and emptied the soap onto the floor. We shut the bathroom door to keep steam in, but the two-inch gap underneath made that pointless. The bed was fairly comfortable, though we rolled slightly towards the middle. Any hope of a quiet night was lost because hallway stairs made every footstep and slamming door echo into the room. A similar gap under the main door let in a draught from the fire door in the hall. The heater’s timer seemed unset and flashed red constantly. We didn’t buy Wi-Fi because we have plenty of mobile data, but there’s no signal in the hotel at all, so without paid Wi-Fi there’s no internet access. We knew it was an old building converted into a Travelodge and weren’t expecting a five-star stay, but this fell far short.

The staff were polite, friendly and helpful, and parking worked out fine at the local multi-storey. There’s nowhere to park at the hotel itself, though, and you’ll need to bring a charger since there are no USB sockets. The rooms are basic but functional. The bedside lights didn’t work, it was cold, and the bathroom wasn’t maintained well. The shower had a fixed head and broken controls. Breakfast included bacon, egg, sausage, hash browns, cereal and other bits. It wasn’t covered, and I saw people coughing and sneezing over the food in a very unhygienic way. It felt like more of a franchise-style hotel.

I’m still waiting for Travelodge’s helpdesk to respond to the concerns I sent them. Their automatic email promised a reply within 4-5 business days. That was before Christmas, and it’s now 27 January. The damp was awful. The smell hit as soon as I walked down the corridors, and my room wasn’t much better. I only stayed one night, but had to wash my clothes and coat when I got home. I’d booked months ahead for a pop concert in Worthing. Weeks before the stay, Travelodge offered room selection for a small extra fee. I paid it and chose a seafront room, but at check-in I was told none was available because it had been raining and some rooms were being renovated. They eventually refunded the selection fee. A complimentary drink or extra free Wi-Fi might have made up for the disappointment, since you only get 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi a day, but nothing was offered. After the concert, at about 11.15pm, my keycard wouldn’t open the front door, even though I’d been told it would work after hours. I had to call the staff to let me in. The guy I took to be the manager barely looked up or spoke when I returned the key at checkout, because he stayed on his mobile call. The helpful staff mentioned in so many online reviews weren’t my experience. After seeing all the five-star reviews, I’m now questioning how authentic they are.