Damnit, another listing I added to Yelp where someone beat me to the punch of writing a review. Side eye.
Anyways, I used Expedia to book this place because I was looking for cheap accommodations in Southampton. Earlier that morning, we'd gone to Stonehenge, and then Old Sarum, and then we checked in, went drinking at the Red Lion, and then another place after that I can't really remember because I was drunk af, and then back to the hotel. In my experience, this place is a lot more like a hostel or guest house. Really, I'd say it's a combination between the two. It's got a twin/full bunk bed set-up like a hostel, but like a guesthouse, each room has its own bathroom. It's perfectly sized for two travelers on a budget, who are just looking for a cheap place to go.
When you enter the room, straight ahead, you'll see the twin/full bunk bed, and a towel and some soap on the beds. To the right side corner, there is a small desk (which we kept our luggage beneath and on), and right above that was a small flat screen TV we did not use, so I can't tell you what channels are provided. There is a window with a green blind, right behind the desk. To your left, you'll find another door (I believe it was a sliding door) and a small area outside the door that includes a mirror, sink, and place to rest toiletries. Towels are provided on a rack beneath the sink, and several glasses were resting on the sink itself. There was a toilet and stand-in shower in the bathroom, but they were a little dirty. I'm not surprised, though, as it was a TIGHT SQUEEZE in there.
PROS:
-Cheap accommodations, I think we paid $50, which split between two people is more than reasonable.
-Bunk bed featuring twin/full configuration, so reasonably three people could have stayed in the room.
-Located within walking distance of a few pubs. We went to the Red Lion Inn, and a few others.
-Super helpful and friendly staff that were still around when we came in at like 3am.
-We were provided a towel and soap in the room on check in. (Mentionable because of how much like a hostel it is, and this isn't common practice in a hostel, though this is common in a hotel.)
-Lower bunk bed came equipped with two reading lights (on each side of the bed).
CONS:
-Uhhm, it was not very clean. There were dead bugs on the top bunk mattress, hair in the drain and sides of the shower, and the floor made my white socks gray.
-£7 per day parking fee, which was... Unexpected.
-Café is not open 24 hours; I read that it was somewhere, but that is not the case.
THE VERDICT:
During my almost 2 week trip throughout the UK, we stayed in everything from a fancy pants Hilton Hotel, to entire apartments on Airbnb, and as well as a few inns and a b&b. Each experience was different, so let me just say this: you get what you pay for here. I was conflicted on the rating... While the accommidations are pretty much on the med end of budget, the staff was really awesome. They were really helpful and they provided intelligent conversation, so it's times like these I wish I could give it 3.5 stars. But I poitedly talked to the staff, and if I hadn't,it would have been a solid 3 star experience, so ehhh... It's very much the kind of place youngish people seemed to be at, as most of the people we say in the lobby or café were in there 20s-30s. It's at a great price point for travelers and those on a budget, especially if you want a little more personal space than a typical hostel provides. But... the dead bugs had me nervous... read more