‘Hotel trade really does need a good kick up the rump’

Aug 14 2008 by Our Correspondent, North Wales Weekly News

I READ with interest that both the Travelodge and Premier Inns chains are seriously looking at Llandudno as suitable sites for new hotels.

As someone who occasionally uses both these companies’ facilities I have always found them to be quite basic but relatively comfortable and spotlessly clean.

This type of hotel is fine for the odd night when travelling, but they are not the type of facility that I would wish to spend a weekend or a week in.

I find them to be rather sterile and impersonal in the way they operate and as many of them have late check-in and early check-out service getting a good night’s sleep is sometimes difficult.

There is nothing to fear from the big chain hotels because the £10 per room prices are only available at certain times when booked in advance and are subject to availability.

From my experience the cheap rooms are rarely available when I need one and a more typical price is in the region of £50 to £80 per room excluding breakfast.

The real problem I find in Llandudno is finding a hotel that is well-run, well-decorated, clean, and does not have rocky, lumpy beds and tatty furniture.

Some of the smaller hotels and B&Bs are excellent, but to be frank I have stayed in almost all the hotels on the promenade at some time or other over the last few years and I have yet to find one that I would visit again.

I will not name names, but there are several establishments that are nothing short of appalling.

So come on Llandudno hoteliers, instead of complaining about competition take a leaf out of the Hotel Inspector’s book and then give rivals a run for their money.

You may not be able to compete on price, but quality is another matter. Have a good look around your hotel and ask yourself would I be happy to stay in this room?

After all, what may be acceptable for the coach party trade getting a cheap holiday is not necessarily acceptable to those of us who pay upwards of £35 per night for B&B.

DAVE NEATH

Tottington, Bury

I DO business all over the UK so I stay at many hotels.

Before the squeeze I used the net to book quality, affordable, business-friendly accommodation at hotels like Ibis, Premier Inn, Novotel, Travelodge etc.

These are geared to business needs. Llandudno, for me, has never been so disposed. There are one or two decent guesthouses, but nothing special.

I am not going to pay the normal rack-rate at hotels so it is wonderful to hear Travelodge is interested in opening a hotel in the town.

I do not want to get into a slanging match with hoteliers, but my knowledge of the way business is done in the town makes me think the hotel trade really does need a good kick up the rump.

I have travelled far and wide and used my credit card across the world. Only at one hotel have I had to fill out a form when buying lunch on a credit card and that was in Llandudno.

A modern and slick business-geared hotel will be great for commercial stays and will raise Llandudno to a more competitive level.

A Travelodge for Llandudno? Bring it on!

DECLAN MARKS

Southport