Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel & Apartments

The only bright spot was the staff member who checked me in. She was lovely and got it done quickly. The room, though, was very cold, the bed and pillows were uncomfortable, and the shower gave us lukewarm water at best. The shower area was dirty and mouldy, the toilet hadn't been properly cleaned, and the sheets and towels had holes in them. We'd travelled more than 24 hours from Australia and this was our first night in the UK, on a winter road trip. Coming from days above 38 degrees, we were already cold and just wanted a hot shower and some sleep. I have been an ALL ACCOR member for over two years and have stayed at many of their hotels around the world. This was easily my most disappointing stay. I know an upgrade isn't guaranteed when a hotel is full, but it wasn't full, and there was no welcome gift that should have been there. For a four-star hotel, it was unbelievably disappointing, and a bad start to our trip.

The room had everything we needed, including a safe, fridge and coffee machine, and it was quite spacious with a very comfortable bed. We were at the back of the hotel, away from the main roads, so it was peaceful. We came to Salisbury for a few days and wanted to be near the centre, and The White Hart was just right for that. We didn't eat or drink at the hotel, so I can't say anything about the food or bar. There isn't a lift. We were on the second floor and carried our suitcase up two flights, although the receptionist did offer to find someone to help. The heating instructions were tucked underneath the hair dryer, which made the on-off switch hard to figure out. We had a good stay and would happily come back.

The staff were lovely and really accommodating, which made our anniversary night feel special. The room was warm and beautifully clean, and the location is gorgeous, just a short walk from the cathedral. We had a wonderful stay and will be back. One small request: please put toilet brushes in the rooms. The rubber, more hygienic kind is much better than having none at all.

The location is a real plus: the cathedral is just across the road, with a very attractive walk into the city centre. Some rooms look out towards the cathedral too. The staff were wonderful and, to me, clearly go out of their way to make guests' stays as good as possible. Breakfast is lovely each morning, though it can be a bit awkward when a large function is happening at the same time. My only gripe is the lack of tech facilities, such as USB ports in the wall sockets. Some people may see that as a plus, though.