Travel Lodge

[blueskiesandforests]

Is it worth paying for the breakfasts - are they big buffet breakfasts which will mean no lunch needed, or a bit meagre? They aren't a particular bargain, but then breakfast out never will be I guess...

Also if I book a saver price for a family room for 7 nights in a city centre 6 months in advance an I fairly much guaranteed to actually have the room when we arrive, or are there horror stories of this type of booking being bumped for higher paying last minute guests, as happens with some similar chain operations? Will it being a family booking for 7 nights make it more secure than the single night stop overs which often seem to get bumped to a less desirable location by some budget hotel chains?

[HoleyCoMoley]

I like their breakfasts, it's not cheap but cheaper than p.i. it's only worth having breakfast if you're hungry, you get cold stuff and full fry up buffets when you fill your plate as many times as you want., it's not worth it if you only want scrambled egg on toast. If you book a family room that is what you'll be given, you can specify if you want a quiet room, extra pillows, towels etc. when you book and follow it up with a phone call the day before you arrive, that's what We do and they tell,us what room we have been given. Whereabouts are you looking.

[Hellywelly10]

The breakfast is ok, the coffee is terrible. Its free for kids too. However i had to que which was annoying. I think ill stay at a b&b next time.

[greensnail]

The breakfasts are good value if you have children with you as they eat for free. It is the same price for breakfast on the day as if you book it ahead though so you might as well just wait and see if you fancy it on the day or not.

[LunaLovegoodsRadishes]

Went to one in Brighton recently and found that a ten minute walk down the road to a caff in the market yielded a huge meal for half the price. I think it depends where the TL is located and if you have a few kids with you.

[blueskiesandforests]

Reading central probably, or somewhere near by and easily accessible. I was initially looking for a holiday cottage, but it's too expensive as this isn't our family holiday. We're going to visit family (who don't have room for us to stay, and will have too much on their plate anyway) mainly, but will also see friends in the area.

It'll be me and 3 kids, but one is an adult sized teen. Am thinking it's easier to book as 2 adults, 2 kids as 1 adult and 3 kids isn't an option on the website.

[blueskiesandforests]

Ah that's useful information green - no point pre booking breakfast then.

[LunaLovegoodsRadishes]

They serve Typhoo too which might as well be pisswater to me give me Yorkshire tea or GTF out

[Hellywelly10]

Premier inn is less depressing imo. Is there much of a price difference.

[blueskiesandforests]

that's not acceptable Luna - I'm visiting from overseas where if you ask for tea you will be offered a range of herbal and fruit infusions - there's almost no point visiting the UK if there isn't proper tea available...

[blueskiesandforests]

Oh really Helly ? I thought it was Premier Inn who were always double booking rooms and bumping saver price bookings to hotels miles away. I don't want to arrive with 3 kids in tow after an international flight and a train journey to be told they've resold our room and relocated us to somewhere off the M5...

[HoleyCoMoley]

If you do book then click on the £29 find a room section, it's much cheaper than just going onto the hotel,website and business rooms are quieter and not much more expensive. Reading will have numerous places to eat, you can buy tea bags and snacks in a local supermarket, they never give you enough but that's the same with all hotels.

[HoleyCoMoley]

That's a lot of travelling in one day, would you be more comfortable booking a hotel near the airport for the first night if the flight times allow,for,that.

[Hellywelly10]

Oh ok don't know about that op
.have stayed in a travelodge twice. Last time was a few weeks ago, they didn't change my booking and it was good value staff were nice
However I think they have a depressing 1990's waiting room vibe which is not relaxing.

[Hellywelly10]

You get what you pay for basically. It's fine on a budget.

[blueskiesandforests]

It's not exactly cheap anyway, can't seem to come out with less than £319 for 7 nights, which is close to £50 per night room only. Problem with independent B&Bs and in fact most hotels is that they'd put us in 2 rooms though. It would probably be ok but no cheaper in that part of England.

All of us in one room without even a bed each is a bit depressing anyway.

I wanted to book ahead to get a good price, but I think I'll keep looking.

Pity a holiday cottage is out, I initially had rose tinted ideas of playing house for a week with 3 bedrooms, but it's too expensive in the south east of England even in March, given this is an extra trip not the main holiday...

[TigerDroveAgain]

£319 for four people for four nights isn’t a bad deal. I would eat there if reasonable price or just find a caff.

[TigerDroveAgain]

Oh 7 nights! You can’t complain about that

[CrispbuttyNo1]

Have a look for youth hostels in the area. I’m biased as I do work for them, but can guarantee it’s cheap, for a family room, and they do a great buffet breakfast for really good value too.

[Hellywelly10]

Deffo book in advance with the chains. People rave about air b&b?? Have fun whatever you do.

[CrispbuttyNo1]

www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&channel=ipad_bm&source=hp&ei=Ht55W-e3A9HRwAKIz77oBA&q=yha+reading&oq=yha+rea&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.1.0.0l2j0i22i30l3.1423.4724..5909...1.0..0.88.529.8......0....1.......3..41j46j0i131j33i160.j1aQmsCPW1U#fpstate=lurev_0x4876bd5a65cac9ff:0xbb33dfbae0d04f07&lkt=LocalPoiReviews&trex=m_t:lcl_akp,rc_f:nav,rc_ludocids:13489371302633426695,rc_q:YHA%2520Streatley-on-Thames,ru_q:YHA%2520Streatley-on-Thames

[CrispbuttyNo1]

Crap link posting there but that is for Yha reading

[IrregularCommentary]

Have you looked at Airbnb? I'd have thought that was your best bet for getting a house.

[blueskiesandforests]

Crisp I used to live youth hostels, and still do if I know them, or in Germany, but DD and I walked out of one in Paris last month which didn't even feel safe (door was wobbly and thin and didn't lock properly, stairs were rickety, banister loose, as well as the world's smallest double bed in the private room despite having booked as parent and child - youth hostels are normally twins or bunks) and asked for our money back, and then found a lovely ensuite twin room in a little independent hotel around the corner - for the same price

Ds2 and I stayed in a youth hostel near At Paul's which we were happy with - basic but excellent security, clean and comfortable with friendly staff and pleasant community areas.

I used to always consider youth hostel family rooms, but the awful one in Paris combined with finding something so much better for the same price around the corner is off putting.

[blueskiesandforests]

Tiger you're probably right, I have unrealistic expectations having been drawn in by the £29 per room claim and thinking that we'd get that rate 6 months in advance.

[where2now]

I book Travelodge a few times a year with my kids and husband. I usually book well in advance, they never change your booking it say they don't have a room for you. They are legit.