Just what you would expect from a Travelodge, no more, no less. Not to be confused with Fontwell Park Travelodge which is just the other side of the roundabout

Poor standard of refurb with paint on carpets around skirting. Beds well past their best, not suitable for anyone with back problems, rooms painted in a cold white which together with cold energy saving lights produced a greyed out effect. Pillows, more like pads, towels past their best. Wanted 10 pounds extra if you checked in before 3pm. For example I tried to check in at 2.30pm. Asked if I could leave case - "No". One plus was the young man on the desk who was s helpful as he could be and found me a room with a firmer bed.

I had booked and paid in advance to stay for a week at the Fontwell Travelodge (NOT Fontwell Park, which is a former Innkeeper's Lodge down the road, and looks to be far better) This is a "bog standard" Travelodge building, only with even more faults than usual. I arrived a day late due to illness and was greeted only with a complaint that I had not rung and told them! I pointed out that they do not give you the hotel number, so how could I ? (Only had an 0870 central booking number) Presumably they wanted to know so they could have let my already paid-for room again! They appeared to have given my room to someone else, but found me one on the ground floor looking out at the car park, so I was a bit doubtful about leaving the windows open, but it was too hot not to, as there was a mini heat wave that week.
The first thing that hits you is the incredibly ghastly smell (of damp/mould ?) in the corridors, it is really awful and there is no way the staff can be unaware of it, so why has nothing been done about it? The room was slightly better fitted out than some Travelodges, eg there were bedside units and a reasonably large worktop area. There were horrid stains on the sofa cover and dirty marks on the walls. Cleaning was a bit inadequate, eg an item on the floor behind the loo when I arrived was still there when I left! Some attempt had been made to cover over mouldy grouting in the bathroom, but stopped when it got difficult to reach high up! Dirty kettle - a common problem with Travelodge, I find.
Another problem with the standard Travelodge block is noise. Not so much from outside or the adjoining rooms, but from the corridor and the room above, any walking about there sounds like an elephant is tramping overhead. They MUST know about this and the problem is obviously a basic design fault which I am reliably informed could be rectified, but presumably they are not prepared to spend the money. It would pay dividends in the long run to solve the problem. Also the adjoining petrol station was being refurbished and there was noise from the builders working until it was dark, pretty late in the evenings, but this would be a temporary problem.
The last day I was there the place was fully booked for some event, and I was not happy to find when I got back that my room was just as I left it, not touched by housekeeping at all. When I complained I was told they were busy as it was full and my room "was not on the list to be done". If the place is fully booked it doesn't take a lot of working out that all the rooms need to be done, or checked, at least! This seemed to be very poor organisation and I was particularly annoyed because I had paid much more to stay on that night as they were very busy. At least a partial refund for that night should have been offered I felt, but was not forthcoming.
The staff were generally pleasant and did their best to help with problems that arose. However, someone in senior management at Travelodge needs to take a proper look at this building and get something done about the faults. The idea of Travelodge is a good one, ie basic, inexpensive accomodation, but their standards seem to have crept downwards over the years.

Do not confuse this Fontwell Travelodge with Fontwell Park Travelodge, they are two different properties within walking distance of each other, but are very different.

In choosing a Travelodge chain hotel I was expecting a certain standard, nothing amazing just basic clean accommodation, this hotel failed to live up to my low expectations.

This hotel is very very dirty, dark and smelly. Most certainly the worst Travelodge I've ever stayed in.

It is situated behind very overgrown bushes and a boarded up old petrol station, litter was blowing around the carpark. The reception was OK, but as soon as you entered the corridors the smell hit you and the state of the walls, carpets, woodwork etc. The website said it has been recently refurbished - I guess they just did the reception.

Our room had a view of a steep grass bank and a very high brick wall, the curtains were drawn when we entered the room, on opening them we could see why. The room was very tatty, dark, dirty and smelly. The linen was dirty, the springs in the bed stuck in your back. My husband handed me a really scruffy threadbare towel, saying I'll let you have the better one - I thought he was joking - he was being serious.

Friends also staying in the same hotel, commented on how at least our room didn't have the smell!

Book the other one, and if you can't get in there go elsewhere! If they are prepared to let their standards slip this low I certainly won't be staying in any Travelodge ever again.