Even a broken clock is right twice each day. In that spirit, I offer the following kind words…read moreabout the Thames Riviera Hotel:
* The room I wound up in was fine; and
* The riverside location is attractive.
And with that, the positives will end.
I hiked 10+ miles to reach this hotel which a travel agency booked for me. As I approached I could tell, even from the outside, that the place had some deferred maintenance. Stepping inside clarified my observation: the carpets looked worn and the interior shabby and tired. The woman at the front desk told us to wait, pointing outside to a gentleman smoking. "He'll help you when he gets back" she offered.
Help here is a relative word.
The smoker checked us in, showed us to our room, and mentioned that he'd upgraded us to a river view. As he walked out I walked to the far corner of the room to look out the window. Turning my neck at a 90 degree angle I could see and hear the car-filled bridge and spot the teensiest slice of the River Thames. Opening the window revealed that the window hardware was broken and a quick look around the room revealed the same shabby, tired interior that had greeted me at the front desk.
This room was not acceptable.
A new room was requested (we blamed the traffic noise) and keys were given to a satellite building behind the main building. After hauling luggage up several flights and walking down a hallway with stained carpet and sour smells, I stood outside our new room. Its handle had a "do not disturb" sign hanging from it and I could hear people inside.
This too was not acceptable (obviously).
A return to the front desk brought a bit of attitude, as though this was some big favor, requesting not to stay in an already occupied room.
The third room? It was fine. Also in the satellite building, it actually had a balcony, a river view from there, was quiet, and had no traffic noise. It was charmless but by this time it was clear that charm wasn't this hotel's specialty.
Breakfast, like all places in the UK, is included and with the exception of the fresh fruit and the pastries this breakfast was my least favorite of any I had on this trip. I didn't care for the taste of their eggs or potatoes.
Maidenhead (birthplace of Theresa May!) is an odd town but surely there must be better lodging options here than the Thames Riviera Hotel. For every reason above, I'd be very reluctant to recommend you stay here but if you insist, ask for an unoccupied room in the satellite building, one with a river view and a balcony, and plan to eat your breakfast elsewhere.