I booked into this hotel over the new year period following the largely positive recommendations on trip advisor. Indeed the hotel is clean and the dining room area is very pleasant however do be warned that the owner of this establishment urgently needs to develop some customer service/people skills as he is exceptionally rude and dismissive.
During my stay it was essential for me to use my computer for work (I actually brought a laptop and Ipad with me due to the importance of being able to access the internet/outlook) and was reassured that the hotel advertised unlimited WI-FI access. On the first night I attempted to access the internet on both the laptop and Ipad to no avail. I checked with my husband who works in IT to double check that the settings on my equipment automatically allowed for the IP address to be read etc.
As the settings were all as they should be I approached the owner (by phone as reception had closed) to ask him whether he could help me access the net. When he appeared from his quarters the owner seemed unhappy to be disturbed, dismissive and thoroughly disinterested proclaiming immediately that "this has happened before" and that it was nothing to do with the connection but "my computer having the wrong security settings" he said that he and his wife were using the net right now and that there was nothing he could do for me.
I informed the owner that I desperately needed to use the internet and asked if we could try typing in the IP address manually. He refused stating that he was not prepared to do this and again advised that it was my computer(s) that had the issue. I asked if I could perhaps use his laptop briefly in the communal area for a few minutes and he simply refused. I have never known such unfriendliness/ poor levels of customer service in all the places I have stayed. I informed the owner that I had checked both computers several times with my husband who works in IT and confirmed that there must be something wrong with the IP connection. I asked whether I could then have a discount on the cost of the room as WI-FI cannot be accessed. The owner stated that he would not give a discount as there was nothing wrong as he was able to use the net. I advised him that as such I would be writing on tripadvisor that WI-FI is not available to customers and magically the very next morning and for the rest of the duration of our stay I was able to access the internet!! Me thinks that the owner knew very well that there was something wrong with the connection as after all if it really had been my computers why would they have magically started working overnight??
Whilst this issue was resolved as it had happened on the first night of a three night stay it really did leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I felt uncomfortable coming down to breakfast and it really spoilt our stay. Had I been able to transfer to another hotel and get my money back I certainly would have. The owners really made us feel that we were an inconvenience in their home - the breakfast timings were not appropriate - we had wanted to be away by 8.00am/8.30am some mornings but they do not serve breakfast until 8.30am at the weekends. The day before new years day they left a note in our room telling us that breakfast would be even later (they could not even be bothered to mention it at check in or at breakfast that day) - are they really putting their customers first or their own desire for a lay in? It would have been nice to have been asked.
Lastly I would point out that the photos on their website are distorted and the alleged 'Delux' room was too small for me and my relative who lived out of our cases on the floor. We literally had to take it in turns to get ready as we got in each others way. Finally the shower facilities were clean but poor as the shower only gave out a dribble of water.
Breakfast was basic to say the least - their selection of pastries amounted to Croissants everyday it became a bit of a joke :) and a cooked breakfast was £8.50 I believe - once again demonstrating the real "I can't be bothered" attitude towards making guests feel comfortable.
I would definately not recommend this hotel to anyone - particularly not business guests who require early starts and access to the internet.
What a shame..............
- Florence Hotel Portsmouth
