I'll start with the good: the crackling fireplace in the hotel lobby on a chilly late autumn evening, and our attic room in the original 1900s structure with rustic charm to spare - plainly but comfortably furnished, very clean, and with vaulted ceilings to boot.
Sadly, that's where the good ends. Our room didn't have much of a lake view; the carpet (to judge from the fibers coming loose near the walls) needs replacing; and in case you fancy bringing along some wine, cheese and strawberries, say, you'd best keep in mind that you'll be lacking a fridge for the duration of your stay - a matter of small inconvenience to us, but potentially more serious for couples planning a longer visit.
The greatest inconvenience for us, however, was the lack of wifi in the rooms, which made it impossible to plan our activities for the day. They offer a few free leaflets downstairs, but (of all things) the actual fold-out maps are £1.50 apiece - certainly not the end of the world, but have you ever tried to use one of these things while driving a rental car? The only place to connect to the web is in a downstairs lounge, where the connection speed is utterly abysmal, and which doesn't open for coffee until later in the day. Any way you look at it, this is a far cry from the industry-standard versatility you probably expect by simply having access to Google Maps from the comfort of your own room.
None of these things would matter at a discount hotel. At this price point, however, I'd wager there's better value to be had in the area. read more