alya

Never! having spent over 2 hours trying to use their website.

I initially began trying to book their SuperSaver rates but now I just want a room and it's the closest place to my FIL's house for my MIL's funeral on the 18th.

It lets me get to the 'book now' but then wants me to book a room for tonight - I expect in the next minutes it'll want me to book a room for tomorrow

Once I enter ALL the info. it comes up with this
"Important Information: We’re serving a large number of customers at the moment and unfortunately your session has been interrupted. We apologize for the inconvenience, please try again"
Why can't they tell you that at the beginning?

We did email them last week with the problem but they haven't responded to the email at all.

It's Bracknell for goodness sake! hardly the centre of tourist activity and since I spoke to one of their online people I do know that they have availability. it's 10p from a BT landline, goodness only knows what the charges will be for one call that lasted 10 minutes from the US. I failed with that call because we hadn't told our CC that we were going to be out of the country so they had a security block on my card.

I've tried booking direct again but once it gets to the 'transferring you' it drops the call- 3 times

I usually avoid the Hilton - but maybe....

kybourbon

See if you can locate their fax number and fax your reservation.

alya

There is a problem- you can't book directly with the hotel you have to go through their call centre. Calls are still dropping and if they didn't respond to an email? I can't think they'd respond to a fax

If this wasn't within walking distance of my Dad-in-Law? I'd have given up last week but now my Mum and best friend are staying there so I'd like to stay at the same hotel for some quality time with them.

Urg!

annhig

alya - a colleague stayed at the Plymouth one and was not complementary.

however, if you must, how did you mum manage to book ?

alya

ann, last year we passed the Travelodge (Bracknell Central) and it's brand new - so here's hoping.

I did finally manage to book by using our Lloyds bank account - we don't keep many funds in there but it does come in useful for cheques for nephew/nieces for their birthdays.
When I spoke to the call centre to book the hotel directly with Travelodge they declined my Chase CC and my Lloyds CC but when I spoke to Lloyds there was no reason to decline the card and no activity from the Travelodge, so I'm assuming the problem was with Travelodge booking.

Hopefully once things have calmed down and funeral visitors have left for home there will be a spare room at Dad's house (he has 3) and we'll be able to cancel the rooms and stay there. Just at the moment however we don't want to be in the way - and we do like our own bathroom.

Plus there's a pub with good food midway between Dad's and the hotel I'm craving gammon, egg and chips and a good ploughmans already.

alya

BTW - I just spoke to DH (he's in Vegas) and he reminded me that last time we stayed at the Travelodge in Ilminster 15+ years ago we found porn magazines in our Family Room.

They still owe us a free overnight.
Oh dear, it's not looking good is it

bellini

We have recently stayed at a couple of Premier Inns and been impressed. Budget but good quality.
www.premierinn.com/Bracknell

Ozarksbill

Just back from a trip including stays at a Travelodge in Berkshires, Mass. Probably worst motel ever and we are not generally picky. Will mention this in my travel report.

ira

Hi a.

I take it that they don't have a phone number?

humptynumpty

Holiday Inn Express and Travel Inn are far better quality.

We had 2 bad experiences with TL and swore never again. Just a poor corporate culture.

As far as I can remember Dubai International(ie Dubai royal family) own them and I make a rule to avoid businesses that are owned as investments rather than by people who have a passion for their business. Particularly, when that business (like food or hotels) needs passion.

alya

bellini - last year we stayed one night at the Premier Inn in Ascot - it will forever be known as the Premier 'Bin' in this family.

I might as well call that particular 'hotel' and ask for a free night since they recompensed us the full price for the 2 rooms that I gave them feedback for. Hopefully it is in the process of being demolished and rebuilt

We did contemplate the Premier Inn in Bracknell (Central with a Brewers Fayre onsite) but Bracknell Central TL is so close to my FIL that we can walk - I don't look at a 1.5 miles walk as any problem - it's mostly through a residential area.

ira - you can't book directly with the individual TL so contacting the hotel doesn't help

Humpty (playschool? ) I really hope to be able to stay with my FIL for a few days and I'm thinking we might take a day trip to France. So we might not put too many pennies in their already full coffers.

This won't be the last you hear of the TL from me, good or bad.

chartley

Travelodge is generally a cheaper brand than Premier Inn, Ibis or Holiday Inn Express, and I think this shows in the facilities and service provided. You pays your money and you takes your choice. We certainly know people who manage to book Travelodge at very low prices, and seem happy with what they get. They are certainly a lot cheaper if you book well in advance.

Travelodge in the U.K. is a different company than Berkshires, Mass. The worst hotel we ever stayed in was also called a Travelodge and was in Butterworth, Malaysia at the depth of the financial crisis there.

annhig

Travelodge is generally a cheaper brand than Premier Inn, Ibis or Holiday Inn Express, and I think this shows in the facilities and service provided. You pays your money and you takes your choice. >>

rather than stay in these uniform dormitories, i prefer the personal touch of a B&B. I've found a terrific one in Plymouth - lovely big rooms, very clean and quiet, excellent bathrooms - and it's cheaper than the Travelodge. I even save on my parking.

humptynumpty

" i prefer the personal touch of a B&B"

...and you are contributing to the financial stability of a worthy couple not the capitalist mad state of Dubai which clearly had ideas beyond its means.

hetismij

It's not such a daft idea to look at B&Bs - there are plenty of them in Bracknell. One may even be closer to your FIL.

annhig

...and you are contributing to the financial stability of a worthy couple not the capitalist mad state of Dubai which clearly had ideas beyond its means>>

good point, humpty, though I do it because i prefer them.

alya

I had contemplated a B&B but DH isn't a huge fan - he actually likes the anonymity of hotels, he's in Caesars Palace LV as I type - for work not fun.

It will just be a place to hang our clothes and catch up with other members of our family and friends who are attending the funeral and lay down our heads at the end of the day. Three of DH's brothers are also staying there, the fourth is staying at the HIlton.

Uk2011

Give them a break, they are probably too busy killing bed bugs to work on their site.

annhig

Fair enough, Alya. It can get a bit much when the owner wants a chat and you just want to crsh out, or when you'd like a drink and there's no hotel bar.

as you are going to be with family so much, the home comforts aren't going to be missed so much I think/

TravelodgeUK

Hi Alya,

I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you have experienced to date. Our Customer Services team need some information from you in order to resolve your query. Please can you email your contact details to: [email protected] and a team member will contact you as soon as possible to help with your booking. Thank you, Travelodge.