Worst/best night in a hotel or guest house?

papaoscar, your guest house sounds just like one we spent a night in 43 years ago, somewhere near Helston. At least one of the other guests appeared to have partaken of some illegal substance; at least, he was off his head. It was noisy, cold, uncomfortable and ... cheap.

Logis in south-west France. Arrived 4pm, 30+ degrees. Nobody there, but door open.Looked in book, saw which room we had, took keys, went and had a look at room. Decided it would do (probably a mistake). Owner turned up. Think his wife had recently left him as hotel did not seem to be functioning properly, in fact hardly at all. Dinner OK, but cooked by visiting chef who came in, cooked and left. Hot, sticky, mosquito-ridden night. Owner produced stale bread for very poor breakfast. We paid and left. Realised we had forgotten ice packs (our forgotten ice packs are in hotels all over France and Spain). Went back. Nobody there at all except hapless Dutch family who had got up later, vainly hoping for breakfast. Went into kitchen, found ice packs after extensive search, took them and left.
Then there was another very spooky one where they took our booking then told us they were no longer a hotel, but still "took" people. Decided we were in the Roald Dahl story where they eat the guests. Happily not.

Best was Wildflower Hall near Shimla in India. I have never been in such a superb hotel and doubt whether I will ever be in anywhere like it again.
The memory of it will stay with me for ever.
Worst was probably a B&B on the west coast of Scotland about 40 years ago. To say we were made to feel less than welcome was an understatement but she cheered up when we paid ! I seem to remember breakfast was eggs and bacon except we had misunderstood that it was eggs OR bacon.

Worst was a so-called hotel on the banks of Loch Duich. We (darling hubby, daughter and I) were the only guests. It was like the Marie Celeste. The food was an apology for a meal, the rooms were cold, the place was a mess. We were very glad to leave after one night and head east to Inverness. Best was a little B&B near Uig on the isle of Skye. Spotless, comfortable, inexpensive, breathtaking views across the bay, and a fabulous breakfast. Happy memories.

Best was the Waters Edge Hotel situated in Cobh, the Port of Cork. Ths was the last port the Titanic visited before heading off into the Atlanic and her fate.
The room had French doors that opened straight onto a small boardwalk and then there was the river. At one point a small tug boat was tied up outside out room! Everything was spotless and the staff were lovely, crazy and great fun.
Attached is the Jacob's Ladder Restaurant where the food was the best I've ever eaten.
Breakfast was served by a mad Irish waitress who declared it was too nice to eat inside so she persuaded the guest to help her carry the tables out onto the boardwalk where we ate a lovely breakfast.

PapaOscar think I've stayed in that place...was it in Slough by any chance?

No, Aka, it was between Hay-on-Wye and Ross-on-Wye. We've never been back.

The worst B&B I ever stayed at (with ex, nearly 40 years ago!) was in Menai Bridge, N Wales where the bedroom had candy-striped nylon sheets, sticky carpets and...nose-pickings on the wallpaper near the headboard. Oh, it was horrible!!!

Worst was a seafront hotel in Folkestone in the 70s. We arrived to find the extensive glass frontage had some broken windows. There was no-one on reception till the chef cook?? wandered out. The lift didn't work, the bed had a broken leg and when we sat down for a much-needed evening meal, my Sardine Provencal was one sardine in tomato sauce from a tin on one lettuce leaf! We left and booked in to an inn in Winchelsea - heaven!

Best was a lovely old B and B in The Lakes. A view over Coniston, simple but tasty evening meal on a terrace scented by honeysuckle and roses, very friendly, funny owners who knocked themselves out to please everyone and a sumptuous soft bed to sink onto for a great night's sleep.

Worst was the hotel room we were offered in Naples. Very dirty with the wardrobe doors hanging off. When we told the manager we would have to go somewhere else he said that if we waited they would prepare another room that had just been vacated. It wasn't a great room, but at least it was clean! Every morning we would see the manager surreptitiously handing money to various suspicious looking characters so we made a point of not spending too much time there.

The best was Brownsea Castle on Brownsea Island. It is leased by John Lewis for their partners and we spent a long weekend there with a huge bedroom with a proper bathroom, and more food than even we could eat (and we can eat quite a lot!)

Most fun was the hotel on Burgh Island, Devon, cut off at high tide. Joining instructions told us what time Watersmeet was so we could time our arrival.
Deedaa I think I was in that one in Naples 3 weeks ago - on my own, so I was very twitchy!

Aka I really want to go to yours now.

Worst was a hotel in Sunny Beach, Bulgaria. Gloomy rooms with dark brown furniture. Place stank of sewage. Lots of flies everywhere. Breakfast was stale bread and curled up slices of processed meat. Staff were surly, bordering on downright rude. My son and I both became very ill and spent two days in and out of the toilet. Very loud music from nearby disco went on till 3 a.m. When I returned home I had migraine attacks each day for the next week and couldn't go to work. I still don't understand why we didn't complain.

Best was a "pot luck" late deal where Thomsons chose the hotel we stayed at according to what they had available (we specified a minimum 3* hotel). We ended up in Camp de Mar, Majorca, in the most beautiful 4* hotel (should have been 5*). We had a lovely room with a large balcony overlooking the sea. The food was out of this world and the facilities were absolutely fantastic. When we checked in the brochure, we'd paid around £200 each less than the advertised price. We used to go on these "pot luck" holidays quite often and were lucky enough to end up in quite good, or very good, hotels. I don't think they do these sort of deals any more and I'm not sure if I'd be so willing to risk "pot luck" now.

My favourite places, though, are Kefalonia and Menorca.

Like When our best stay in a B&B was in the Lakes at an inn overlooking Ullswater. Basic but friendly, fun and very good value for money.

The worst was a stay last year in East Sussex. I suppose it could be described as bijou or boutique but the dining room only sat four people at a sitting! The bedroom was so cramped we slept with our heads on the windowsill and if you wanted a morning cuppa, you had to make do with powdered milk!! The bathroom was shared between three rooms. It was the only B&B near to the venue for a 60th birthday party so we didn't really have a choice. Nice breakfast but we gulped when we got the bill for £80

Worst was a caravan at Mawgan Porth in Cornwall, in 1968. We arrived at lunchtime, after an overnight train journey from Heywood, Gtr. Manchester, with 3 young kiddies, only to be told that we couldn`t access the caravan till after 2pm. When we finally got in there, it seemed OK, until it was time for bed. We turned the settees into beds, and although we`d brought our own sheets, they provided blankets, those thick, grey itchy ones, which turned out to be slightly damp and infested with maggots!
Best was bed and breakfast at what was then the post office in Redmire in the Yorkshire Dales. We called in on the off chance, and were provided with a gorgeous room, and a beautifully comfy bed. Breakfast wasn`t too great, but we still stayed for 4 days, and loved it.

Best was without doubt the two nights we spent in a suite at Northcote Manor following our daughter's wedding. The room, food and service were truly exquisite.
Worst was a couple of week's ago in Sale, Cheshire when we had to move the hotel bed into the middle of the (albeit very large) room in order NOT to hear every sound from the adjoining room. The walls were so thin it was like having a sheet of cardboard between the rooms.

Worst was a night in Canterbury in the town centre, so noisy at night, all night long. The room was tiny, barely big enough to walk round, the curtains thin so the street lights shone through all night, the lift was next to the room and I believe the water tanks must have been above us, as every time a loo was used somewhere it sounded like next door. Everything was dark brown. It wasn't cheap, either.

The best was The Dorchester, years ago. Ex used to take me there for functions quite often and we would stay the night. I loved it, especially near Christmas when they would decorate all the trees outside with little white lights. I shall never be able to afford a night there again in this lifetime.

Not necessarily the best in terms of luxury no spa etc but as I was there on business, it didn't matter (biggest downside no lift, but lovely staff who were more than happy to help), but absolutely the best in terms of quality with value for money, the Alma Lodge in Stockport www.almalodgehotel.com/.

Stayed there twice on business and both times were exemplary. Lovely rooms, very good restaurant, great staff!

Best was the hotel Rely on Lake Garda. The dining room was sort of circular looking out onto the lake and the mountains. Worst - we hired a gite in France some years ago. It was horrendous. It was practically falling down. The windows were filthy with crumbling frames. There were fly papers hanging from the ceiling with dead flies stuck to them. There was a hole in the kitchen floor which they had put a dirty rug over. There were bricks and rubble in the shower. The bed linen was damp. We went into the back 'garden' to hang the linen on the line to try to get it dry and there were cow pats and beer bottles strewn everywhere. It was described as having a barbecue. This was six house bricks with a metal tray on top! We had to stay one night as it was late. All night we could hear something scratching at the door (I dread to think what). We had to find alternative accommodation and cut our stay short as our money ran out. I took lots of photos which I still have. We eventually got our money back. The owners (English) said 'no one has complained before' !!!!! We have hired many gites in France which have been fantastic. We just put it down to bad luck on this occasion. Aka - I love Cobh. Eloethan - We've been to Sunny Beach - the hotel was fabulous. Just bad luck sometimes.

Most recently, the Hallmark Hotel in Derby. It was excellent.

www.hallmarkhotels.co.uk/our_hotels/derby/

We are going back again later this year. The rooms are huge, good walks are nearby, as is the station and the town centre is a short walk away. The food is great. I loved the thick soundproof walls and the great big rooms - and the delicious biscuits and treats they leave in the room!

Worst was a hotel in Malta some years ago. The hotel next door was being renovated and during the night rats invaded our hotel and scrabbled about in false ceiling absolutely the worst night , we left in the morning! Not sure of the best night.

Last Saturday night we stayed at the Hard Day's Night Hotel in Liverpool. Fantastic if you are a Beatles nut like me.

Delightful little hotel, high up in the Aosta Valley in Italy, where Greatnan and I spent a couple of nights. Nothing fancy but clean and friendly, glorious mountain views from the balconies and really excellent food. Such great memories of a never-to-be forgotten trip with a sadly lost friend.

Worst was a hotel in Switzerland that had slatted beds which were so sparse that we fell through them several times a night. Also, on the same holiday a promised cot didn't materialise and DD2 had to sleep in the bath.

Best, always, The Brudenell in Aldeburgh which is why we go at least once a year!

Best, when I was a 16 and my parents lived in Malaysia. Weather conditions made it impossible for the plane taking us home for the holidays to land at Kuala Lumpur airport so it flew on to Singapore and BOAC put us up overnight at the Raffles Hotel. My DS and I had a suite of rooms with air conditioning (the ultimate luxury in the 1950s). We also ate a la carte in the main restaurant. My father rang us up and said ' Enjoy yourself girls, I cannot afford to take you there'

The worst, DH had both been working very hard and were tired out. We decided to have a relaxing weekend away in Winchester. We booked a lovely hotel, our room was wonderful as was the dinner we ate there - then we went to bed, no no, shenanigans. The mattress on the bed was so hard, we would have been more comfortable sleeping on the floor. Given that we were both tired to begin a sleepless night on a hard bed was the final straw. We were both so tired the following morning we just ate our breakfast, also very nice, and went home. We haven't been to Winchester since.