Ambassador Hotel

Close to the sea, town centre, shops and restaurants in Kemptown, and good value for money. The beds were clean and the mattress comfortable, though the shower took a while to get hot. There are about three or four floors, so expect several flights of stairs, some a bit tilted. Tea bags and a kettle are provided, and there’s a Freeview TV, though I’d have preferred a sea view. It’s a clean, simple, basic room without bar or dining facilities, so if that suits you, it’s a good budget option. Maybe a three-star place by international standards.

We arrived feeling positive, but I honestly wouldn’t stay again. The rooms seemed neglected and weren’t very clean. After going out on Halloween night with friends, we returned and were locked outside for an hour with other guests. The front door keys we had didn’t work, and no one answered the phone. When a staff member eventually let us in, he said nothing and seemed annoyed. We paid £28 per person.

I booked through Booking.com around 11pm at the last minute because of train problems. Nothing said late check-in wasn’t possible. When I arrived at 2am, there was no receptionist. I buzzed for about 20 minutes, then another guest let me in. A man described as security said he couldn’t help and demanded a £20 late fee that I couldn’t find in the terms. He turned out to be the receptionist in the morning too. He told me to pay cash or leave. I said I’d pay by card and dispute the charge, but he refused to let me check in and told me to leave the property. I wouldn’t leave without a refund, and he called me a trespasser. I filmed the exchange because I wanted proof. He then called the police and falsely said I’d threatened him. I was polite throughout and was only disputing what seemed to be a made-up fee. After about half an hour, he charged me £20 for late check-in and took a £100 deposit as an actual charge, not a hold. He said it would be refunded in 3-4 working days. The room was in terrible condition. Awful experience and customer service, and I wasn’t refunded for the room.

The hotel was a little run down, though clean and inexpensive. At check-in they asked every adult guest for photo ID and also required a credit card, which seemed odd. They had this written on a piece of paper, so it didn’t feel particularly secure.