Grand Burstin Hotel Folkestone

My elderly parent was cold and had only one pillow in the room, so I asked for extra pillows and a duvet. We were told we'd have to wait until the next day, and ended up having a terrible night's sleep. The food wasn't very good either, arrived not very hot, and didn't match what had been advertised. Staff weren't much help, and the bar manageress had a terrible attitude towards her staff. I understand the hotel is being taken over in April. Hopefully the atmosphere becomes friendlier for customers.

The room itself wasn't clean, even though being outdated wouldn't have bothered us. There was a strange stain on the bathroom floor near the toilet, the shower drain was dirty and full of stagnant water, and the sheet didn't cover the top of a disgusting mattress. A foul smell followed us from the elevator and hallways into the room, after we found the reception area outdated and dirty too. The outside gave us the impression this might be a clean budget hotel, but the photos don't show how bad it is. I wouldn't recommend staying here. I'd pay a little extra for a Premier Inn.

Slept well and left before sunrise after our one night stop near the Eurotunnel. Check in on Wednesday evening was seamless, then we went to the bar for live entertainment. The one man band looked like Ned Flanders from the Simpsons, but turned out to be a quality pub singer who took loads of requests and seemed to know everything. The local ladies, assuming they were locals, were dancing and having a great time. One woman was particularly drunk and looked like she was breakdancing. The Guinness tasted a bit funny and wasn't up to much. That seemed borne out by my quick dash to the toilet in the early hours. We didn't eat, though I overheard a diner say the chicken nuggets and chips were Michelin star quality at Wetherspoons prices. All in all, a great cheap stopover if you want to save a few quid.

I've stayed three times and been impressed by what you get for the price. It's an older, rather tired hotel, but the location is great, especially if you're travelling to France. Folkestone itself is worth at least two days of exploring. They charge for parking, and there weren't enough towels for the number of guests. Still, it's good value for money, a bit like a Wetherspoons: decent quality for a good price. Don't book if you're after a long or more luxurious stay, but for the humble among us, it's worth booking.