That all the hotels I can find are either extortionately priced or have crap reviews....

[eclecticalples]

I'm trying to book a weekend away to take autistic boy to see Harry Potter studios and Whipsnade zoo. He really wants to go.

Usually stick to premier inn as DS knows what he's getting - practically every PI in the area has tons of poor reviews - not clean / too hot / run down / noisy / crap food etc

Looked at other hotels - much the same or very fancy and equally expensive.

Can't find anything suitable / within budget on Airbnb or Vrbo. Everything is really expensive for not much.

Getting really irritated with the whole thing. Haven't got loads of money but even if I pay a bit more, everything looks a bit shit 😡😡. Is this the cost of living crisis talking....?

Ps if anyone has any hotel suggestions that aren't crap or expensive, I'm all ears.

Ah, I saw an interview with the boss of booking.com - he reckoned the price of a hotel room was at least 25% more than pre-covid.

No recommendations, sorry. But I have stayed in places with mixed reviews and found them to be ok - some people have very high standards! A PI should be tolerable at worst, despite the reviews? It's designed to be a fairly standard experience.

We stayed at a Holiday Inn nearby a few years ago which was fine. About 10 minutes drive from the studios and had a lovely vegetarian restaurant next to it.

Both Luton PI's are 4+ stars with several hundred Google reviews. Seems ok??

All the hotels on booking.com near the studios with reviews over 7.7 or so out of 10 look
fine.

Is it near Watford if so The village hotel Watford is close I think and it’s pretty nice hotel I’ve stayed there a few find
often have deals on the weekend if you book direct
fab pool / gym free parking star bucks

2nights in Fri / Sat 7 -9th Oct is £187 for both of you

Bear in mind that 99% of reviews will be written by people as a means of venting where something went wrong, with the 1% being where something was really good. Most people don't have time to log onto booking.com just to write "yes this premier inn was fine, like every other premier inn really."

I would just go for one of the prem inns, like you say you know what you're getting and if there's anything really wrong they have their good nigh sleep guarantee. If it's only for one night I wouldn't worry too much, it's not like an all inclusive holiday that can be ruined if the hotel is crapnbut you're there all week and spending all your time there - this is literally just a place to rest your head!

Ramada London North Is only £108 for the same dates

Are you able to drive? If so Premier Inn St Albans is nice it's new and shouldn't be too much

We stayed in the Premier Inn Bricket Wood St Albans (or something like that!) a few years ago when we went. Going back there in Oct and have booked the same place.

What is your budget, OP? So you need somewhere near Bedford & another night near Watford?

It is 4 star but when you read the reviews, most of the recent reviews are dire. Not all - just makes it tricky to decide if it's a duffer or not!

You're near me... The Grove is right by the HP studios and lush but very expensive.

There's a new Premier Inn in Rickmansworth that looks ok and is 5 minutes drive from J18 of the M25.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a look.

Premier Inn Luton South is fine, I've stayed there

Granted I've not stayed in the Watford one, but I believe there's a Village hotel there and I've stayed in plenty of those with work and my family. The kids love the pool and the sky package, and dh and I enjoy the room service when the kids finally conk out.
I'd say stick with PI's though and take a lot of the reviews with a pinch of salt, they're hard to beat breakfast wise and I've stayed in them up and down the country and whilst they do vary ive never had an unbearable one ever.

There could be a couple of things going on here.

One is places are crying out for staff - which will have an effect.

But also, as hotels are more expensive, people that are used to getting a certain standard in a 'better' hotel for that price might be going to a PI instead, and have high expectations from what is supposed to be a budget hotel.

I think the only people who tend to leave reviews are those with an issue. No one is going to leave a review saying it was fine. I'd just book a PI, it's a known quantity and it's only a short trip.

Premier Inn prices have been going up compared to pre-pandemic and there have been staffing issues. That said negative reviews should be taken with a spoon of salt.

I use them sometimes for work related overnights as I just like the anonymity and lack of fuss. Some locations I might perhaps avoid on a Friday or Saturday having heard negative things from friends, but I'm usually at home at the weekend if in the UK.

Friends restaurant the other week girls lunch at next table. Two mouthy women the wrong side of a bottle of wine were pretty unpleasant at the time very embarrassing for other guests and yes within 24 hours they both left nasty reviews. So take it with a pinch of salt

Have you checked Tring and Berkhamsted? Both lovely towns convenient for your activities. There should be nice b&b or air bnb in the area. Or Hemel Hempstead