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AIBU?

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Original poster

Or do Premiere Inn towels smell rank now?

69 replies

ThenUm · 18/02/2025 07:41

So have stayed in many PI in different places with work. The last three visits the towels:

  1. One smelled so bad I could smell it in the bathroom. When I unfolded it there was a brown blob. It smelled yeasty. I assumed it was a minging guest that used the room before me.
  2. The towel had a hole in it and looked badly laundered - off white and badly folded.
  3. Towels look clean but one has a fainter yeasty smell than in example 1.

Incidentally I’ve also had recently;

no batteries in remote.
TV not tuned in
tap not switching off properly.
light switch not working.
unclean cup.

which makes me think new ownership? Cost cutting to stay in the game.

What’s going on? Anyone with inside info know? Anyone had similar?

OP posts:
5foot5 · 18/02/2025 20:53

As it happens I am staying in a Premier Inn right now! Been here for a week. No issues at all. In fact I just went in to the bathroom to sniff the towels and they don't smell of anything.

Room was perfectly clean and comfortable. We have eaten in the restaurant twice and had a reasonable meal.

I have stayed in a few Premiers and never had a problem with them. Always get a good night's sleep.

As a PP said they are far better than Travelodge.

The one we are in now is in London,but heading home tomorrow

JohnTheRevelator · 18/02/2025 20:53

Oh no,I do hope that Premier Inns aren't going down the pan. They are my go-to hotel. Partly because they're usually a bit cheaper than other hotels but mainly because you know exactly what you're getting,no nasty surprises! Plus,I've always found the staff in every one that I've stayed in friendly and helpful. And of course there's the legendary breakfasts....!

ilovesooty · 18/02/2025 20:53

I stay in them several times a year and find the standards high. Given the price of Premier Inn Wembley Stadium they should be. I'm staying in one in a few days (Penrith) that I've never stayed in before.

AliTheMinx · 18/02/2025 20:49

The hotels I stayed in were Welwyn Garden City and Caerphilly (Corbetts Lane).

AliTheMinx · 18/02/2025 20:46

Yes. I'd never stayed in a Premier Inn before, but stayed in one on December and another in January, and on both occasions the towels smelt horrible. Very chemically and nasty which was very disappointing, as the bedding smelt fresh and fragrant. That was the only thing O didn't like.

Original poster
ThenUm · 18/02/2025 20:44

Souredgrapes · 18/02/2025 19:59

Premier Inns vary widely . I have found in the non touristy spots where maybe contractors are their main clients , the standards are shockingly low . Recent experience of this was Woking. I gave family in some very tourist hot spots , these hotels are significantly better but often double the price .
generally , the beds are the same to be fair . It’s the bathrooms and smaller touches that make the experience so different .

Ah. It’s been for work so I always find the cheapest rates so may be that’s it. But then surely they send the towels to the same laundry service throughout?

OP posts:
Summervibes24 · 18/02/2025 20:20

Never had a problem and found standards high - Bournemouth, Cornwall and Cardiff.

Not particularly friendly staff except PI Cardiff Bay who were really lovely.

Souredgrapes · 18/02/2025 19:59

Premier Inns vary widely . I have found in the non touristy spots where maybe contractors are their main clients , the standards are shockingly low . Recent experience of this was Woking. I gave family in some very tourist hot spots , these hotels are significantly better but often double the price .
generally , the beds are the same to be fair . It’s the bathrooms and smaller touches that make the experience so different .

Original poster
ThenUm · 18/02/2025 19:54

Never had a similar issue in years of using them and then these issues have all
come up in the last couple of months. Which is why I’m wondering what might be going on.

In the last one all but one of the towels smelled fine - no smell. But one had this odd yeasty smell. So I know it’s not my nose or something in the room. It’s so bizarre.

OP posts:
Mademetoxic · 18/02/2025 09:26

Katemax82 · 18/02/2025 09:19

I've got to stay in one in September for my stepsons wedding with 3 of my kids so thanks for the heads up, I'll take my own towels and paper cups!

You will be fine?? I've stayed in a premier inn recently and the towels, bedding etc have been clean and smelt fresh.

Alwaystired23 · 18/02/2025 09:24

Myself, my husband and 2 dc stay in Premier inns a couple of times a year. I've never had a problem. Admittedly, we haven't stayed in one recently, so maybe they have gone downhill.

Katemax82 · 18/02/2025 09:19

I've got to stay in one in September for my stepsons wedding with 3 of my kids so thanks for the heads up, I'll take my own towels and paper cups!

iPhoneYouPhone · 18/02/2025 08:17

ThenUm · 18/02/2025 08:14

Different locations. Major cities.

Show quote history

Why not tell us the specific hotels so people who have stayed in them recently can comment?

Havingasmashingtime · 18/02/2025 08:15

I stay in premier inns all the time and find the room standard very high.
the receptionists are usually very miserable and say the bare minimum needed to get me checked in.

(this is based on about 28 different premier inns I have stayed in in 2024)

occasionally I have to stop in a travel lodge- now THOSE are RANK.
the amount of crap I’ve found in those rooms.

Original poster
ThenUm · 18/02/2025 08:14

iPhoneYouPhone · 18/02/2025 08:13

Which hotels?

Different locations. Major cities.

OP posts:
Original poster
ThenUm · 18/02/2025 08:13

KimberleyClark · 18/02/2025 08:05

I thought towels were automatically taken away and laundered when a guest had checked out?

@KimberleyClark Oh. I see what you mean. How could a towel in my room have been made dirty by a previous guest. I wondered that but as it was folded and on top of the rack at the time I assumed the cleaner made the assumption it hadn’t been used. I did wonder why a guest would fold a used towel relatively neatly. But now I’ve smelled the same smell on a towel in a different location I’m thinking it’s a problem with the laundering company. Then with all the other issues I’m thinking may be they are cutting costs. Or outsourced the cleaning and maintenance? Or been taken over? No idea, but I’m no longer seeing it as the ‘safe’ budget option. Too many things now.

OP posts:
iPhoneYouPhone · 18/02/2025 08:13

Which hotels?

Original poster
ThenUm · 18/02/2025 08:09

KimberleyClark · 18/02/2025 08:05

I thought towels were automatically taken away and laundered when a guest had checked out?

They are I think. Which is why I’m baffled that the yeasty smell was on two towels in different locations. Have they switched laundering company?

And why the sudden drop in standards? It used to be reliable and consistent.

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 18/02/2025 08:05

I thought towels were automatically taken away and laundered when a guest had checked out?

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