The Reston Hotel Washington

I've been back since my first visit and tried breakfast. It was very good: they cooked the items fresh from a standard British breakfast selection, and there were cereals, bread, toast, muffins, fruit and yoghurt too. The machine coffee was pretty decent, so breakfast is a real plus. The room was extremely clean, even in hard-to-reach spots, and the shower was powerful with good pressure and adjustable heat. For a budget stay, I liked the free WiFi, USB charging points by the bed, a separate kettle socket at the desk, a full-length mirror, several lighting options and a TV. The window opens a little, and a twin room has a bath as well as a shower, which can be hard to find at this price. Shampoo and body wash were provided, and the walls and ceilings looked freshly painted. It's well placed for the A1 and trips to Newcastle, Metrocentre, Durham and Sunderland. The room hasn't been modernised for a long time, though. The carpet wasn't nice, and the bed felt cheap and springy, with noticeable movement, despite looking very clean. The fire escape plan dates to 1993, so I assume that was the last major redecoration. There was a socket for a modem at the desk and a disconnected heater in the bathroom; its old label says it was disconnected, though it also shows a 2024 PAT test. There's no heated towel rail. Some little updates have been made, like the USB sockets and bathroom taps. Two towels were spotless; the third was clean but had old stains. There was one pillow on each bed, but I found two spares in the wardrobe. The toilet made an alarming creak when I sat down. The room stayed warm enough in winter, with outdoor temperatures around 0-5C. The bedrooms are in a separate building from reception and the restaurant, and I sometimes heard loud voices in the corridor. The price was very low, the receptionist was kind and friendly, and parking didn't cost extra. I entered my registration on the reception iPad and was told that covered the stay. The car park is lit but has potholes, as does the Holiday Inn next door. I didn't eat here on my first visit, so can't comment on the food then. Breakfast and dinner are available, with a Toby Carvery and another pub/grill within walking distance.

Service was very good and kind, and the rooms were fine and quiet. The shower was good too. It's a little out of the way, but was the cheapest place near Sunderland for a Saturday night. You have to pay for parking at a machine inside. It wasn't expensive, and I think there's also free parking opposite. Reception is in a different building from the rooms.

The room was lovely and clean, with a bath and shower, and check-in was quick. Dinner was nice and plentiful, though both dinner and breakfast were very basic. The bed was comfortable, but the pillow was hard. The other hotel staff and bar staff were welcoming, and the receptionist was quick and helpful. What bothered me was being allowed just one free hot drink with dinner. I've never had anyone tell me that before, and it seemed strange. One staff member said we couldn't have another and should go to our room for tea or coffee, which felt rude. I ended up having drinks at the hotel next door, where the restaurant and bar felt much more welcoming. I'm glad we only stayed one night; for longer, I would have gone elsewhere. Maybe two free drinks instead of one would help.

The staff were lovely and the service was really good, but the rooms need updating. The hotel feels dated. We struggled to find a socket for our devices, and the one we eventually found was hard to reach behind the table. There was no USB charging. A plug and USB point on each side of the bed would help. The toilet made a horrible, frightening noise when we sat on it, as if it might come off the wall. Not relaxing at all. The wallpaper looked like chipboard from the 70s, and my husband thinks the mattress gave him bedbug bites. The car park wasn't free, though I thought it was when I booked.