The room rate had been increased because the rugby was in, but we weren't in Cardiff for the rugby, so that was slightly annoying. When we arrived, we were told that the best room in the hotel, which I had been told I was booking when I made my reservation, had been given to someone else in error. We were put in a slightly cheaper room instead. They're recently put up a new curtain, new tiles in the bathroom and new wallpaper & lamps, and a tray of tea and biscuits in sealed packers, but there was a hole in my bedsheet, and the dressing table was chipped. The carpet didn't look too great either. There was a hair in the shower cubicle when we arrived, and it was still there when we left two days later (even though the cleaners came in during our stay). Neither of us wanted to use the shower as the bathroom and the room itself just didn't feel very clean. Each bed had a satin bedspread, but it was grubby and shabby and it didn't feel that great sleeping under it. The wardrobe had an oddly homemade-looking door which too an effort to open and close. We were woken on the first morning by the sounds of someone vomiting in the communal bathroom next to our room (not the hotel's fault, but the walls seemed a bit thin!). We didn't have breakfast on either morning because we felt a bit grimy. I'd put down a 50% deposit when booking the room initially, then paid the rest on the day of arrival. On the last morning, we hung our key on the hook and left as we didn't really want to face the proprietors, feeling somewhat awkward about our less than ideal experience. On returning home, I found out that I had been called by the proprietors, demanding to know why I hadn't paid up. I really was annoyed by this - not only had I stayed in a rip-off room, but I was now being accused of stealing! They rang me again and said "Oh, you've not paid, it must be an oversight on your part." I said I *had* paid and the bloke seemed determined to argue that I hadn't paid. He claimed to be confused by my description of the man who I gave the money to on the day I arrived. I should really at this point have said that I thought his hotel was a bit of a hole, but I thought that if I did, he'd think I'd not paid as a protest - when I *had* paid. I really was very unhappy about this, and it illustrates perfectly why I usually stay in a Premier Inn when I go away!
- Preste Gaarden Cardiff
