Oakwood Manor Motor Lodge

The shower barely ran, there was no bathroom lock, and a bed leg broke when I just sat on the edge. Still, it's handy for the airport and nearby shops, and works as a basic place for the night before a flight.

The man at the front desk was lovely, but I wasn't happy with the stay. The place was very outdated, and the upstairs windows wouldn't close properly, so it was hot. No sleep for us because the noisy men next door could be heard talking clearly in their room until 3am, which is rough when you have an early flight. There was rubbish lying around, including wine bottles, and parking was poor. A van was right outside our door, leaving barely enough room to get in.

The room smelled fresh, and the sheets and towels were crisp and clean. But there were no tissues, and the basic setup was disappointing: just two cups, no plates or salt and pepper, and only two teaspoons for anyone wanting to bring food back. There was no hot chocolate either. The drawer handles were missing, and the ceiling had only a small spotlight. One wall was painted a very bright royal blue, with white paint showing through where it was wearing off. Without a bedhead, you lean right against that wall when sitting up, which didn't seem hygienic. I spoke with someone in the next room and she had the same setup.

The bed was comfortable and looked clean, but I won't book here again. We were due to book for February, and I've decided against it. I should have paid more attention to the reviews I read beforehand, because they were all right. It's an old building with no double glazing or soundproofing. Children crying, loud music, and slamming doors kept us awake until about 10:30. At 12:30 a loud bang shook the room and ended our sleep. It turned out to be a heavy hallway door, which we shut at 3:50, probably waking the poor people nearby. The free shuttle was full at 5, so we had to book the 4 o'clock one. When we returned, I mentioned it to the pickup driver, who said we could have been booked on the half-hour shuttle and apologized for her colleague's mistake. I don't know why she hadn't done that.