The Lane - Boutique Residence

The receptionist was very friendly, the lift worked, and the location was convenient. I had no car, so parking didn’t matter, and the shops, restaurants and pubs were all within walking distance. But a hotel room needs to be quiet enough to sleep in. The little fridge on the wall made noise, so I switched it off. Some other sound kept starting and stopping somewhere in the hotel, like a vacuum, with a bang against the wall each time. It would run for seconds or maybe a minute, stop briefly, then start again. This went on all night.

The room was clean and the housekeeping staff were lovely, but I slept badly both nights. It was small, and so was the bed. Every five minutes or so there was a noise, a bit like a radiator. We turned off the air con, kettle and coffee maker, but it wasn’t any of those. The location was great. The lack of sleep is the only reason I wouldn’t stay again.

The room was small but clean, with complimentary tea, coffee and water, and checking out early was easy. The parking was the main problem. We were told the day before arrival that the reserved spaces were full, even though we’d booked months earlier and hadn’t been given the option to reserve one. With all our luggage, hauling it from a public garage was a hassle. It seems convenient if you’re not driving or traveling light, but carrying a lot without the reserved parking can be tiring.

Fantastic spot, close to coffee shops and restaurants, and only a three-minute walk to the more touristy streets. Parking was easy. The rooms are tight, even the larger king room we got. The odd ADA bathroom has no shower curtain, so water ends up all over the floor, which is annoying. There’s a fridge, but it’s only about four inches deep. The hotel itself was quiet, though there was some strange plumbing noise. Good thing I travel with sleepbuds, or it would’ve been an issue.