Days Inn Bradford M62

This feels like somewhere to stop on the way to another destination. Reception service was excellent, with cheerful, generous staff who went out of their way to help. Parking was easy, though the extra £5 felt unexpected and unnecessary. The room and linen were completely clean, and the beds were very comfortable, but the room and bathroom were dated. There were no sockets by the bed or USB ports, and there was a clear smell of cigarettes from some time before. We even found a lighter under the bed. The shower worked well and everything else in the bathroom worked too. Motorway noise was muted but still there, as expected. Breakfast was served in the service station next door. The staff seemed new and keen to please, but service was slow and confused. The food was only adequate, though edible.

After a disaster at home, we booked this hotel because we had two very young children, my elderly father, and our dog with us. An hour later, our landlord had temporarily fixed the problem, so we decided to stay home and let the kids sleep in their own beds. When we contacted the hotel, we were told nothing could be done and that it was OUR fault. I understand hotels have policies, but the person on the phone was incredibly rude and unprofessional. They made us feel stupid and humiliated, and clearly had no hospitality experience. I definitely wouldn’t recommend booking unless you’re certain you want to stay.

The only good part was a very helpful staff member who checked us in late. After that, the place felt deserted and unloved. Cleaning trolleys and vacuum cleaners had been left in the corridor, adding to the grim experience. Our large bags made getting around tricky, especially with no lifts. The room smelled unbelievably bad, and the carpets were so filthy I wouldn’t risk walking on them barefoot.

I was surprised by how good the value and service were. It’s at the motorway services, and while it isn’t in a town, there are shops next door, so that wasn’t really a problem.