Travelodge Nottingham Central

The foyer had people asking for cigarettes and money, and one canteen staff member had a very strong smell of marijuana. Breakfast was another low point. We’d paid extra for it, but the sausages were rubbery and the hard, flat hash browns tasted like a hamster’s living quarters. In the room, the mattress was so bad that the floor seemed like an upgrade. There were several unidentified liquid stains on the bed frame, and holes in the walls. The toilet was right beside the bed. The décor looked like a police holding cell, and the whole room felt impressively outdated. The TV was tiny and old, and so far from the bed that enjoying it would take binoculars or blind optimism. There was no air conditioning, hair dryer, iron, or ironing board either, so you could embrace a minimalist lifestyle whether you wanted to or not. I regret booking Travelodge Central Nottingham. This was less a comfortable city break and more a budget correctional facility experience. I’d give it a negative star rating if I could. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re looking to build character.

Check-in went smoothly, and the staff were polite enough. I imagine they’ve heard so many complaints about the beds that they’ve developed emotional immunity. Travelodge Central Nottingham is right in the city centre, which is handy when you want to escape the room. Mine was technically clean, in the way a prison cell is clean: bare, soulless, and a reminder that comfort is optional. The décor looked like it hadn’t changed since optimism died around 2006, and the pillows felt filled with crushed hopes and regret. The mattress seemed designed by someone who resents human spines. I’ve slept on floors, sofas, airport chairs, and even a train tray table, and all gave me more lumbar support. It had the firmness and warmth of an operating table, which made me wonder if the hotel had partnered with the NHS. If the aim was to keep guests awake all night, mission accomplished. I’ve never felt so sure that sleeping on the floor would be better. If you don’t care about your back, neck, or general will to live, the central location might suit you. If you want to sleep and wake up without feeling medically examined, I’d choose somewhere else, even a park bench.

The room was spacious and clean, but cold, with just one small radiator and no heat in the bathroom. Staff weren’t unfriendly, though they didn’t make us feel especially welcome. WiFi beyond the first 30 minutes cost extra, which gave the place a budget airline feel, and breakfast was underwhelming. Still, it was cheap, so I guess you get what you pay for.

The location was handy, with everything we wanted about a seven minute walk away, and the view from room 508 was pretty good for a city hotel. The room was surprisingly nice, enormous, and had two windows. It was fresher and cleaner than I expected, and the only noise I noticed came from the nearby housekeeping door repeatedly opening and shutting. There was a bath in the bathroom, a novelty I haven’t seen in years, though maybe that means the hotel hasn’t been renovated in years. It was nice to see Travelodge had moved from Typhoo to Twinings tea. The hairdryers are still shocking, and I caught my foot on the bed’s pokey springs. I’ve stayed in plenty of Travelodges and know the amenities are limited. I chose this one to spend more time exploring the city, but I was surprised they wouldn’t let me check in early when the room was ready, unless I paid extra. I was less than two hours early. With snow and ice still on the ground, I didn’t want to drag my suitcase around, and they wouldn’t hold it for me either. It’s a nine floor hotel with space for a bar and restaurant. Surely there’s room for luggage storage. There’s no air conditioning, and our windows wouldn’t open. On the first night, I woke up feeling suffocated because I couldn’t get enough air. I’d avoid staying here in summer. The hotel is close enough to the city centre, though people of all sorts were hanging around the foyer and ground floor entrance. It looks very shabby from outside, though I’ve seen worse. For what I paid, my main complaints are the lack of luggage storage, when there’s surely space for it, and the refusal to let people check in when their room is ready. The staff weren’t friendly in the slightest.