Travelodge Basildon

The receptionist was lovely, but that was the only good part. The walls are paper thin, and people talking and walking around in the hallway kept waking me through the night, at least six times. If you want a decent night's sleep, avoid this place.

We arrived on 9 December and found the lift out of order. I was gutted, since I'd paid extra for a better room on the top floor, and my wife, our dog and I had to climb four or maybe five floors. They said they couldn't move us because the hotel was fully booked. I believe the lift had been broken for three days before we arrived, so why didn't anyone let us know? I had to go all the way back down to reception that night when my key card stopped working. Key cards can fail, of course, but with the lift out of order too, it really annoyed me. We made an official complaint that day, then another on 15 December, and they still hadn't replied to the first one. Bad service. For the extra room charge, I expected tea bags, bedside USB charging points, a table lamp, blackout curtains, a hairdryer, an iron and ironing board, and a Hansgrohe Raindance 3 jet adjustable shower with hair and body wash dispensers. None of those were there. Just a typical Travelodge, but I'd rate this one 2/5. It wasn't a good experience.

Kerry at reception was friendly, happy to chat, and very helpful when we needed anything. When one relative's key card didn't work, she fixed it within seconds, and everyone got breakfast boxes to take away. We stayed here while travelling for a funeral. The room was basic but clean and tidy, with what you need if you're only sleeping there, and the Wi-Fi was easy to access. There were loads of food places on site and an arcade for the kids.

I slept like a log in my room at the back, with no road or other ambient noise. The room was clean, the bed comfortable, and the en-suite did the job. The staff member who checked me in was friendly and efficient, and explained everything about the room. The hotel was easy to find and had a huge car park. Breakfast wasn't part of the very reasonable price, but you can add it when booking, and there are plenty of pubs, bars and places to eat nearby. I'd definitely stay again.