The Carlton Hotel Folkestone

Beautiful views from the room, with a gorgeous sunrise and sunset. The bed was comfortable and the staff were really friendly. We did hear noise outside the front and people walking past, including drunk people on Saturday night. Still, if you’re looking for a reasonably priced place, this is perfect.

The £10 deposit just to borrow a hair dryer was ridiculous. When my friend and I decided to leave early because of all the problems, they wouldn’t return it until 9 a.m., which was very inconvenient. The room was in terrible shape: heavy damp smell, dirty carpets, old broken furniture and an extremely uncomfortable mattress. It felt disgusting. The shower was broken, so we couldn’t even have a proper shower in the morning. We didn’t sleep at all, and we both woke up with back pain. This was a horrible stay, dirty, uncomfortable and badly maintained. I’d never stay here again and would strongly advise people to avoid it. This hotel doesn’t deserve even one star. Honestly, it was the worst place I’ve ever booked.

The mattress was so thin I could feel my back and bum against the wooden bed, and I only weigh 160 lbs. It also tilted to the sides, so my wife and I kept rolling off and couldn’t get a good night’s sleep. The hallway smelled really foul and manky. I’d paid extra for the advertised 'extra large double bed' and 'sea view and river view', but we got a small double bed and no river view. When I raised it, the staff member said, 'sorry it must be a spelling mistake'. They did nothing to compensate us, even though the room wasn’t as advertised. I’ll never stay here again and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

I had a lovely stay at The Carlton Folkestone for 3nights. It was quiet, and the room was clean with complete amenities and a really comfortable bed. The hotel, a beautiful renovated Victorian property with stain glass windows in the hallway, is situated on top of Lee's cliffs. The 3 reception personnel were friendly and helpful. I’d accidentally booked a further 3 nights when I only needed 2, and the owner himself refunded me in cash, which was very helpful. I also want to thank the night porter for being so helpful, and the last receptionist I saw, who carried my very heavy suitcase, 35 kilos, up 2 flights of stairs for me. There are plenty of places to eat and drink less than 5 minutes’ walk away: Mc Donald's, a Turkish restaurant, an Indian restaurant, a Chineze restaurant, the best Fish and chips in Kent at Papas, numerous excellent coffee shops and a brand new Gregg's. It’s good value for a budget Hotel. Well done, everyone, and thank you.