Best Western Ebbw Vale

We had plenty of space in the family room for all four of us, with two double beds and an ensuite bathroom with a shower over the bath. It was clean, well equipped, and cheap and cheerful. The staff were welcoming and friendly. Shops and places to eat are a short walk into town, and there’s parking outside.

There was free parking nearby when the on-site car park was full. The staff went out of their way to help, and breakfast was just what we needed. The room was spotless, with good beds and great pillows, and the newly fitted bathroom was clean too. Couldn’t fault the place.

The staff were really friendly and helpful, and the room was clean with a comfortable bed. But two things made the stay hard to enjoy. Noise was the first: doors in other rooms slammed throughout the night, and there didn’t seem to be soundproofing between rooms. A noise, maybe the boiler or water tank refilling, kept sounding like a hot air balloon firing up and repeatedly woke me. I know every sound can’t be prevented, but none of it seemed dampened, and it ruined my sleep. Parking was the other issue. There are only about half as many spaces as rooms, so arriving later in the day can mean parking up the street. That’s inconvenient when you’ve booked expecting on-site parking, especially for unloading or when you have to leave things in the car overnight. The accommodation costs less than Premier Inn and Travelodge, but you get what you pay for. If you don’t mind parking off site when it’s full and can sleep through anything, it might suit you. I’d rather pay a bit more for a decent night’s sleep and the reassurance of on-site parking. Comparison websites should say “limited parking” instead of “free parking.”

Room 5. Spend your money somewhere else. Two dirty cups were tucked under the desk, and the room was a disaster. The Wi-Fi was weaker than 3G. When I asked what was wrong, they said, “That’s what we got, it’s a small hotel.” At breakfast, a rude guy put what looked like pig food into containers and announced that breakfast was ready. I left the place called a restaurant after two bites. My company has blacklisted it. Not what you’d expect for around £77.