Diamonds Villa

Check-in was easy, even though there's no reception or staff on site. The small fridge came in handy, there were toiletries and as much tea and coffee as we wanted, and the bus stop is right outside. It's about a 30-minute walk into York centre. There are no breakfast facilities. The room was oddly okay, though it had a lot of unused furniture: a large double wardrobe and two chests of drawers. The two single beds had crisp white cotton sheets that were painfully cold, so I slept on a fluffy throw, with an extra blanket thankfully available. The room itself was freezing. A small oil heater didn't do much, and the radiator behind the headboard was on a timer that didn't suit our time there after tea. There was no bathroom radiator for drying towels. The grey paint made the room feel unwelcoming and, to me, didn't hide the dirt. The door didn't fit its opening, leaving a gap all around, so I used the curtain tie-backs to block the draught. I'm sure that must break some fire safety code. We paid £170 for three nights for two people, so I suppose you get what you pay for. The property doesn't allow alcohol on the premises, presumably for religious beliefs, which was fine by me. But as we left, we saw the open door of the live-in staff room opposite, with a waste bin full of beer cans. This might sound really bad, but the room wasn't that bad; it was strangely okay.

The room was clean and fine for the price. The pillows could have been softer, but the towels, gels, shampoo and even conditioner were a pleasant surprise. We were given the wrong entry PIN, and to get into the room we had to call. The number on the door went unanswered several times, so I don't know what happened. We found another number in our booking details, but apparently you still have to call them for the PIN codes even after paying for everything. Fortunately, our managers sorted it out very quickly. We weren't expecting luxury. :)

It felt safe and really quiet, like being a guest visiting a distant relative. The room was cozy, clean and affordable, with a comfy bed, Smart TV and extra heating. They even left biscuits, coffee, tea and water. The customer service was amazing. I enjoyed it and would recommend it.

The staff were helpful and accommodating, especially when I checked in late, which I appreciated. My room at Dimond Villa was clean and comfortable. It's a little far from the city centre, but that also made it peaceful and quiet, good for relaxing away from crowds. I had a pleasant stay overall. It would've been better if basic toiletries such as a toothbrush were provided.