Chiswick Lodge

The receptionist was friendly and welcoming, but the stay wasn't comfortable. The hotel felt more like a very small guesthouse than a proper hotel, and its general atmosphere and condition weren't good. We stayed two nights. There was a strong damp smell as soon as we opened the room door. The bathroom was extremely cramped, with the shower, sink, and toilet packed together. The sink sat right behind the toilet, so washing hands or brushing teeth meant bending over it. There wasn't a mirror in the room, just one in the bathroom, which wasn't practical. The train line runs very close by, with trains passing about every five minutes, making it hard to relax.

The room was a decent size and the shower had good pressure. Chiswick itself is the only real positive. At £70 a night, though, nobody should have to put up with a place in this state, even if it's meant for budget guests. My room had a broken window that couldn't be fixed during my stay. The young man temporarily handling cleaning and management tried to help, which I appreciated, but he had no hotel management experience and couldn't speak English to contact the owner. The hotel felt tired, with dusty surfaces, carpet that clearly hadn't been vacuumed, and dirty piping around the toilet. The shower drains were disgusting, and the stairwell constantly smelled of cigarette smoke. The hotel is right by the station, which might have been manageable with triple-glazed windows. This place gives the impression of an owner who doesn't care about guests and just wants to take their money.

Chiswick is lovely, and the lodge is right in the middle of it, with good coffee shops, restaurants, supermarkets, parks, pubs, friendly people, and the tube close by. Staff can be seen at the lodge now and then, or more often in the minimarket at street level. It's really for people who just need somewhere to sleep. The building is old, the room was small but comfortable, and the bathroom was very small too. The TV was tiny.

The room was warm and comfortable, with what I needed: a kettle, WC, and shower. Carrying big bags up all those stairs was tiring, though. The location has its ups and downs. Being right by the underground worked well for me, but the noise can keep you awake until the tube stops running at night. Earplugs should sort that out. I'd stay again if I were in the area.