‘I will never use Travelodge again’ says guest after stay

The hotel, next to Redbridge park-and-ride, is now 10 years old, and has a 3.9 out of five overall score on reviews site Tripadvisor.

While some guests have been happy with their stays, posting favourable reviews, at least two guests this month left discontented with one guest saying she would never stay in a Travelodge hotel again.

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Clare P posted a one-star review, saying: “The beds are hard which I personally find really uncomfortable to the point that I’ve barely slept.

“The air conditioning doesn’t work and started flashing brightly throughout the night, illuminating the whole room, had to cover it with a sock. Because it was too warm had to keep the window open which lets in too much noise from the road.

“Thirty minutes free WiFi – what cheapskates. The only redeeming quality is its next to the park and ride. I will never use Travelodge again.”

Eli K also posted a one-star review, which said: “We booked a one-night stay as we were travelling through Oxford with our dog.

“Looked for something reasonably priced that allowed pets. All employees we met were friendly and helpful, lobby was nothing special but clean and properly lit. As was the bar area.

“The rooms were something else – big stains on the carpet and furniture not sure what is was but it was gross, looked like poop or puke.

“Talked to reception and we were moved to another room. This one had less stains but still some. Kids were tired so we accepted.

“Turned out the AC was barely working and gave a musty smell, unsurprisingly the filter maintenance light was lit. Bathroom had multiple moldy spots in and around the bath.”

Nathan who also stayed earlier this month was very happy with the hotel and left a five-star review.

He posted: “Lewis is always helpful and works long hours. Stayed here three times now and can not fault it.

“Good food, clean tidy rooms with Air Con. Nice friendly bar and a good pint. Food is good also.”

The hotel which opened early in 2016 was one of the first budget hotels to be built close to the city centre.

It emerged in March how a woman staying at a Maidenhead Travelodge was sexually assaulted after a man lied to staff to get a key card to her room, triggering an independent review of security measures at the chain, which has its headquarters in Thame.

Kyran Smith was jailed for seven years and six months for the attack in December 2022.

The reporting of the Maidenhead case led to other people coming forward to report security concerns at Travelodge hotels.

The company has since updated its room access security policy and internal procedures around the escalation of complaints.

Henley and Thame MP Freddie Van Mierlo has written to Travelodge, saying he had been contacted by some customers who “felt dismissed by boilerplate responses when raising a complaint and felt the company”.

Travelodge said in a statement they welcomed the MP’s “engagement”.