No hot water in hotel - what discount?

I was booked into a Travelodge in Greater Manchester a few weeks ago. On the day, I got a phone call to say their boiler had broken down and as they couldn't say if it would get fixed or not that day, they would book me into another nearby (unless I preferred a refund). I accepted and was booked into a newer one - I'd paid £27 for this.

If Travelodge can do it, a 5* can offer decent alternative customer service in some form or other, too.

If they were going everything they could to sort out the problem I would probably accept a token gesture. Maybe 10% reduction or eg a decent bottle of wine with dinner.
Getting a handyman to look at it may have been fine in the first instance, but when he failed to fix it they needed to get a plumber in straight away. Yes, the plumber is likely to be more expensive over the weekend but a 5 star hotel should be prepared for such costs.
It doesn’t appear that they have made much effort to get the matter fixed, nor been proactive with apologies and updates. Under these circumstances I think the 50% reduction suggested by others is reasonable.

I would ask for a refund but wouldn't let it stress me or ruin my break - I accept sometimes stuff happens, things break, Hotels don't have magic boilers.

We rented an apartment in France one and the building water pump broke which meant for a day and a bit our shower was a mere trickle.

It wasn't ideal, but the hosts got if fixed as soon as they were able, apologised and refunded us one nights stay. It was fine.

50% in money, not vouchers

But I don't think they can "claim" to be 5star, they either are or they are not. If they have not been issued 5 stars, and they are claiming they have, then that is something for advertising standards, and I would claim back 100%

This happened to me, I was only staying one night and in the morning they kept telling me the hot water would be on, "in 5 mins, 10 mins, another 5 mins".

I eventually went to check out and suggested I was happy to pay for the food but not the room so I got 100% discount.

50%
Depending on the type of trip ... some hotels I've been to I've just used the room to literally sleep and shower. If it's a full on city break

Has the hotel got spa facilities? Can you use those showers?

Even an Ibis budget refunded 100% with no quibble when we had a stay with no hot water. Those of you saying it’s only a cold shower and you won’t die and wouldn’t push for a refund etc clearly have very low standards when you stay somewhere.

One of the places I got a 100% refund for was a travel lodge or similar (I can't quite remember) as I was checking out they asked if I'd slept well and and I said no as I was bothered by the noisy people next door and they gave me a 100% refund without asking. I suspect other people had complained too though.

Half.

I would expect 25% off per night without hot water.

We got a 60% refund from a Travelodge that had no hot water. Didn't even need to ask for it. We did pay significantly more than £40 for it though.

I'd feel the same about a £40 pn travel lodge too!

Hot water should absolutely be a given.

I'd start at 100% and let them. Negotiate down.

Honestly, some wet (Ha!) posters on here saying not to make a fuss and nobody died of a cold shower!

Your paying for a service and that includes a working bathroom!

Yes I absolutely would be expecting a refund.
Like others have said 50% would be good but 100% better to compensate such an inconvenience

@razorbladethroat

I've had free nights stays before for noise issues on three different occasions. Like I said I'd be ok with a 50% discount but I'd be happier with a 100% discount.

£280 suggests a good hotel. I'd expect hot water as a given.

Ask, and see what they say or offer and then consider your next move.

IMO, no hot water for when I needed a bath/shower would have a massive impact but other times, not bothered in a hotel

We had an issue similar several years ago. We had gone for a couple of child free nights away in a 5 star hotel. Went to have a shower to get ready for dinner on the first night, no hot water. We ended up having no hot water the whole weekend. We went to have breakfast on our second morning to be told that chef had cooked what he had and gone home. Everything he had cooked had gone out so there was nothing left but they could make us a coffee and give us a couple of croissants. It was like Faulty Towers. Spoke to the manager who was less than useless so we sent an email to the head office on return.
They didn't give us any refund but offered us a free weekend in a family suite with our children and tickets to local attractions. I thought this was a fair offer and have since been back and stayed again with no problems.
I think I would be asking for at least a 50% refund.

Sounds like it is something beyond their control and they are trying to fix it.

I would expect a partial refund or at least some kind of gesture like free drinks or vouchers, but I wouldn't let it ruin my break. No one died of a cold shower.

I hate cold showers with a passion,

I still think 100%. I hate cold showers.

50%

You'd expect a free stay?!

We had 2 nights in a chain hotel impacted byno water (went off during the night of the first night amd came nack on durimg seco.d night). 100% refund givem without us even asking

I would have expected a full refund and gone home.