Disappointed after special hotel stay didn't live up to expectations-where should I have booked?

[wellstopdoingitthen]

Just looking for recommendations on good reliable hotel chains. I want to book something for my husband's big birthday later this year and after our latest disaster I don't trust the websites. Obviously I can't visit each hotel but hopefully some chains are more consistent than others. South East/London area. Just hoping for other people's experiences.

I stayed at the Canopy by Hilton London Bridge recently and was impressed as chain hotels in London go. I thought it was good value for money (in London terms) - usually about £250-£270 a night for a queen room with breakfast if you pay in advance. Make sure you’re an Hilton Honours member to get the member rate - it’s free to join.

@CPLawyer it's worth it, just don't miss the tide!

I wouldn't stay there! Tiny rooms and very odd service, food isn't amazing either.

It must have changed a lot then. We had a huge room, with a big bath in it, and had a fantastic meal.
It was quite a few years ago though.

Sorry for disappearing while I caught up with some chores.
Thank you for all the great suggestions, I’ve had a look at some of them & will be making up a shortlist (oh I love a list!).

To answer a few questions:
I booked a ‘luxury hotel ‘ in the midlands & chose a deluxe suite which I expected to be extra special. It was grubby, tatty (broken fridge, cracked bath, stained carpets, jammed windows, damaged furniture). It was boiling hot & stuffy as the windows didn’t open & aircon useless. I did complain but they were full & couldn’t move us. They did give me a (tiny) discount when we left. Breakfast was rubbish too.
I felt really let down as I had booked it as a surprise for my husband to celebrate a special anniversary. We can’t travel abroad at the moment due to a health issue.

I’m looking to stay somewhere in the SE or London area. Prefer SE. Budget roughly £500.
I really appreciate people replying with such useful suggestions. I’m impressed by the Mr&Mrs site. Off to do some more research…..😁

Try the Sawdays site as well.

I find most hotels now call themselves “luxury” outside of Premier Inn-type territory.

Even hotel chains can vary wildly from branch to branch, so don’t rely on that.

Check Google maps for local hotels and search Mumsnet too. Look at the hotel website gallery photos and prices, then cross reference with a search on Trip Adviser. This will show you actual recent reviews and photos taken by travellers. Helpfully, they often say things like “room 208’s view is of a brick wall” etc. so you can avoid them!

I LOVE Sea Containers - had a fab upgrade there to a river view suit - ohhh that was fancy!

Dakota is a great chain and certainly a treat type of hotel!

Never stayed here, but looks interesting! Some of the rooms are ‘special’ for intimate times as well 😁
https://www.hotelpelirocco.co.uk/

Try The Pig hotels. Beautiful rooms and great food!

Also check out The Plumb guide and the Michelin guide as lots of them have rooms and are amazing

A friend of mine often stays at Fanhams Hall in Ware (on the train line to London); he likes that a lot. I went over to meet him for coffee there one morning and I must say that it looked very nice and the bar area was lovely. He much preferred it to the more expensive Hanbury Manor. The gardens there are glorious too.

£330/night mn excluding food is a bit beyond the OP's budget

Our local Pig is ridiculously expensive - £490 per night for a room in a shed in October 🤣

I find its room specific as much as the hotel. You can have an amazing hotel but get a small or noisy room and you’ll be disappointed. Whilst getting a bigger room, fantastic view or a balcony can upgrade your opinion of a less fabulous hotel.

I really liked the Park Plaza Westminster. Stayed several times. Everything from the view of the Houses of Parliament to the pool and spa were great. Until I booked a terrace room for my son birthday ( huge expense) and it was awful. Broken decking, beds not made up, dark side of the hotel. No one cared when we complained even though we were returning customers. Never been back but clearly they are busy enough for it not to matter.

How about the Albert Cottage Hotel on the Isle of Wight? It’s part of Osbourne House estate where Queen Victoria put the guests that didn’t stay in the palace. So even if the room does disappoint for any reason at least the setting won’t. Fantastic gardens and good restaurant. It does have quirky bits as all Island hotels do but they do try. The biscuits in the room were local and organic for example.

I'd also consider AirBnB.

You can get some lovely accommodation on their and then we find somewhere local for a naice breakfast

The Cave hotel! The best hotel we’ve ever stayed in & the food was amazing

Don’t go to a chain if you want something special. Look at Mr & Mrs Smith website. What about one of ‘The Pig’ hotels

Very noisy in the grounds though: it's right next to the M25.

I’ve stayed in all of these in the last 18 months

Sea Containers are fab stayed there a few weeks ago and had a river view perfect for a weekend. That would be my first choice

park plaza Westminster is lovely upgrade to a superior room and they have a pool

Park plaza county hall London eye is lovely but no pool

park plaza waterloo is nice but not as good location

leonardo Tower hill - opposite Tower of London great location rooms a bit small but lovely pool

Hilton London bridge is fab

Malmasion brighton is lovely if you a harbour view room

Have you tried looking at www.Tripadvisor.com for reviews?

The rooms are all different prices, we've booked room at the 250 mark on numerous occasions

We stayed at the De Vere Latimer in Chesham recently and liked it. Interesting nods to its history and beautiful building and grounds. Lovely breakfast!

I really like The Pig chain