Travelodge Hatfield Central

The room was quiet at night, and the bed was roomy and comfortable. I only had one pillow, though, so you may want to ask reception for another if you usually sleep with two. The double room had tea and coffee, a TV with Freeview, hangers and a chair by the bed. The bathroom was surprisingly spacious and came with liquid soap and shower gel. There wasn’t a hair dryer or ironing board in the room, though reception might have them. I didn’t need either on a short stay. Bring toothpaste, as none is provided. I forgot mine and popped into the convenience store nearby. There are two lifts, which is handy if you’re on one of the top three floors. I stayed two nights and was pleasantly surprised. The hotel is just off a dual carriageway near the M1, in a complex with shops, restaurants and takeaways. The staff were friendly and very helpful when I arrived. Dinner was promptly served, hot, nicely presented and really tasty. The service was spot on: staff were welcoming, checked that everything was all right, and asked before bringing the next course. I had three light bites, a main, dessert and a pint for £31.85. There were also a few buy-one-get-one-free deals and meal offers, such as a main and pudding for £14.50. I’d recommend the battered jack fruit. The bar and restaurant are bright and nicely set up, and the drinks and food were reasonably priced. Breakfast had cereals, yoghurt, fruit, hot buffet food, pastries, bread, juice, tea and coffee. It’s self-serve, from 7am on weekdays and 8am at weekends. I was working at 7am on a weekend and thought I’d miss out, but the cold items and toast with jams and spreads were available when I went down at 6.30am. There were fruits, yoghurts, croissants, bagels and hot and cold drinks too, enough to get you going if you leave early. Parking was easy, with lots of spaces and a slip for the windscreen. Getting into the complex took me two tries: go past it through the lights and take the KFC left turn, signposted district centre. The next turn leads to a dead end behind an Indian restaurant. I’d recommend the hotel and would definitely return. Work paid for my stay, so I was basically there for free. It was much better than the sort of ‘comfortable’ accommodation I’ve had abroad, and you could mistake it for a more upmarket urban place in the Netherlands.