Ascotia off Queen

The bathroom was fine and the lighting was adequate, but that's about where the positives ended. The wardrobe was only half-size, so clothes wouldn't hang properly, and there was no laundry, iron, or full-length mirror. The place felt shabby, with no restaurant on site. There wasn't room for a table and chairs because they squeezed two single beds into what would have made an adequate single room. I had to eat sitting on the bed. No teaspoons either. Housekeeping only left clean towels and did nothing else: during the week I stayed, the floor wasn't vacuumed or cleaned, milk wasn't replenished, and the sheets weren't changed. I'd dropped crumbs on the carpet, so the lack of cleaning was especially noticeable. I wouldn't recommend it or stay again.

I wouldn't recommend this hotel, mainly because of the car park and the staff. The room was pretty standard, with a good location and view, but receptionists weren't friendly and didn't acknowledge us when we came or went. Parking cost $35 a day at the time, yet the layout felt unsafe and cramped, especially when other cars were there. The bays were too narrow to get in and out easily, with poles and walls too close to vehicles. High-risk spots had no reflective tape, padding, or bollards. There were no mirrors, warning signs, or direction markings to help drivers, even though it was one-way. Visibility and lighting were also poor in tight or obstructed spaces. As paying guests, we should be able to maneuver in and out without worrying.

The friendly female staff, including the cleaners, were a bright spot. The hotel is near the city centre, the Wi-Fi worked well, and the shower had hot water every time. But the air conditioning wasn't working during our four nights in midsummer. Management didn't mention it, which felt disrespectful. We wouldn't have booked had we known. The rooms are tiny and dated, and the bathroom fan ran around the clock, making it hard to sleep. Compared with European three-star places like Travelodge, this felt like two stars at best. I'd stay elsewhere, since this could really spoil a holiday.

Walking uphill to get places was my one real gripe. I'm not good with hills, but I'm still breathing, so it wasn't life-threatening, lol. For meals, we had to go next door. They had a brilliant breakfast menu, while dinner was just burgers or fish and chips. I tried both dinner options and they were lovely. At Ascotia-off-Queens, the room did what I needed and was clean. I checked for bed bugs and found none, and there was a great view of the surrounding buildings. The staff were pleasant and accommodating, especially the lady at reception. I liked the hotel and was happy I stayed. Thanks, Donna.