The Merton Guest House

The Merton Guest House in Broadwater, Worthing is situated just outside Worthing's town centre and the entrance to Broadwater shopping parade. This place has special memories to my wife and I as it was here she first stayed when we met over 4 years ago. Since she first stayed there it has changed owners but this hasn't changed the Guest House as the new couple who run it are so friendly and helpful just like the previous owners. It has off road parking and close to many places to eat out and easy route to either the beach or the Sussex Downs National Park. The second time we used The Merton was for our wedding. My wife and her family stayed here and the owners made things flow so easy on what you can imagine be a stressful day. All her family they placed on the same floor with the big suite for our wedding night close by also.

Luxury suite where we spent our wedding night

 

 

A photo shoot was taken around the house as well as the use of the beautiful garden at the rear,

 

 

The beautiful garden at rear with places to relax during the evening

 

As it is bed and breakfast I cannot leave out the breakfast, like you expect you are offered a choice of cereals, hot drinks or juices and various cooked breakfasts by the owners in a friendly family way. We all felt more than relaxed here and found time went just too fast

The dining room

This Guest house has been awarded 4stars more than once and once you stay there you know they are well deserved. you will find nothing is too much trouble for the lovely owners to make your stay special

 

 

Old Loans Inn

The Old Loans Inn can be found in Troons Scotland, outside it is modern, stylish and once inside it is bigger than it looked. My wife and I had an over night stay there with an evening meal included which we both were looking forward too. The reception is small but leads into the much larger part of the Inn where we were informed of the where abouts of our room. Once entering the room it looked pretty much like any hotel we had stayed in, lay out the same, furniture the same, wi fi available, TV etc.

What we both laughed at was on it's table for two near the window was a small plate with 2 small apples on it with a very small bottle of water in front. We felt "why?" and who has the bottle as it was clear they couldn't spread to 2 bottles. We unpacked and looked for the kettle to find it was within the wardrobe plugged in and instead of a generous choice of drink options and biscuits we found just 2 cookies and a few tea bags and coffee sachets.

When it came to evening meal in its restaurant downstairs we found it very busy and had a big selection to choose. However, things didn't go to plan as our sweet was delivered first then taken away then our main course came and was wrong. As we had already waited so long we decided to keep the wrong option. Once finished our sweet returned, the same ones, now almost melted so we were not happy. My wife ordered another drink that never arrived. In fact she still jokes about still waiting.

 

After our meal we returned to our room got ready for bed and relaxed in front of their TV which has very few channel options. Late evening when we about to retire the phone rang saying they made a mistake over our meal price. They asked if we could return to the restaurant and my wife explained we were in bed they still expected us to return. We asked if it could be sorted in the morning in which they replied "no". In the end a waitress banged on our door after the extra money for the wrong food we were given. To top this disaster of an evening at 2am we were woken by the receipt being put under our door. 

Even thou The Old Loans Inn looks nice we both found the service and the attitude very disappointing. We may of stayed on a bad day by needless to say we both won't be returning again.

The Caledonian Hotel

The Caledonian Hotel in the beautiful bay of Oban is deceptive at first look as the outside exterior looks old and worn but within it has had a major update and modern look. Especially the reception and entrance hall, café and restaurant and lifts.

bar / café

café

restaurant

The staircases are so big and have a nautical look to them as if your climbing some cruise liners grand stairway.

grand stairs

 

In some parts guests may find the hotel needs repairs but it makes up for it in the top quality antique furniture throughout each bedrooms. Each room has everything you need with wi fi and a very old stylish décor to suit the Hotels age 

within our bedroom

The hotel is near Oban's train station plus bus stops opposite, including the bays tour bus. The pier is also right across the road which includes shops and places to eat. The view from the front bedroom windows over look the stunning Oban Bay which at night is just as beautiful as the day but with lights and reflections bouncing off the claim water.

In fact some nights we turned the TV off and the lights and just lay on the bed looking at the view by night just so relaxing 

view at night from bedroom

 

The hotel food was as expected in such a tasteful hotel however we decided on only using it's breakfast facilities purely due to Oban having so many places to eat out even thou we could of booked an evening meal.  The breakfast we were offered had a massive range of self service as well as cooked breakfasts. Staff were polite and helpful and served cooked breakfast to our private table.

view from front bedroom window

 

We both found the hotel an ideal base for our long weekend break as everything was so close by and it was comfortable and friendly and that is all you need for a great stay

view from one of the bedroom windows

 

 

 

  

Keppels Head Hotel

The Keppels Head Hotel, what a historical treat it was to stay here. Based in Portsmouth not far from the historical Dock Yard which is home to The HMS Victory, The Mary Rose and not forgetting HMS Warrior which you see from the windows of hotel rooms at the front of the building. 

 

The hotel was once owned by an Admiral and a lot of it's features within are from this era in our history. Some may say it needs attention, repair or updating but this would just ruin the feel of this lovely hotel. As you enter reception the pure detail is like walking in to history and all the staff are so friendly and helpful.

reception

The lift is very dated but we both found this very fitting the history of the hotel. it is clear if you want modern hotels with modern mod cons then don't book here. However if your visiting Portsmouth for it's history this is the place to stay as you really get the feel of living back in the 1800s when this hotel was originally built.

dinning room

The dinning room is outstanding the detail in the ceiling alone, even thou it needs work still looks amazing. The service is fantastic you can get choice of breakfast from counter but also staff will wait on you for various options of cooked breakfast.

dinning room ceiling

 

My wife and I have stayed here more than once as we love the atmosphere of just being there the friendly staff and the views are totally awesome. Over looking Portsmouth train station, bus terminal and just from the bedroom window viewing HMS Warrior to the right and Portsmouth's Spinnaker Tower to the left. Not naturally being nosy we found watching life go by out the windows mesmerising. At night the sun would set through the HMS Warrior looking so beautiful even ITV's weather loved the photo below

view from bedroom window

The hotel has wi fi which states only in the bar downstairs but we found after connecting with password it was fine to connect in our room. The bar is staffed by reception and we found we got close to the staff laughing and joking and enjoying a few drinks before retiring each night.

nautical bar pump in bar 

 

I like to be honest so I admit some may stay here and pick holes at lack of repairs around the hotel and it's need for updating but really we found none of that important as the lovely stay out numbered any little moans some may have. It isn't just close to the docks and all major transport but also to Gunwarf Quays and near the ferry to the Isle of Wight.

This is a special little historic gem and my wife and I know we will be staying again

view from bedroom window

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 





 

 



Park Hotel



The Park Hotel, Kilmarnock in Ayrshire Scotland. where to begin? well my wife and I was treated to an over night stay here for her birthday by the children. What a present it was too, Yes it is within the grounds of Kilmarnock football stadium but don't let that put you off if your not in to the sport.
The whole look of the hotel is top class 5star comfort, a very modern look with lovely rooms with everything you need within and an outstanding restaurant and service by the staff.

The room had the high standard you expect for this style of hotel with the offer of room service, breakfast within room. In our stay we had evening meal and breakfast and even if you really tried you just could not find fault on the meals or the service by staff.
Evening meal - we were shown to a private table romantically lit with our own personal waiter for the evening. We had a 3 course meal and we decided to try things new and the presentation and taste was pure heaven. The portions were enough to perfectly enjoy all 3 courses comfortably and we retired to our rooms with a drink a very happy couple.
Breakfast - yet again we were shown to a private table and offered various styles of cooked breakfast but we both opted for the traditional Scottish fried breakfast. Once again we had top service by the staff with outstanding food.
The whole break away was so relaxing and enjoyable my wife rebooked to use the hotel for a family treat which again was a wonderful evening.
We both would highly recommend anyone staying here as we both just cannot speak highly enough of this hotel.

 

 

Highdown Hotel

My wife and I stayed at Highdown Hotel for an anniversary, we booked a table for an evening meal and over night stay in its hotel at the rear of this complex.
Highdown has been many things over the years including a night club and after our experience there we would of preferred the night club.
On arriving things seems all above board we checked in, got shown our room for the night which was pretty average lay out nothing special. We unpacked and went for a stroll around the beautiful gardens just next door. Now these gardens are outstanding and worth the visit if your near the West Sussex Downs (National Park).
After the stroll we rested before the booked evening meal and started to notice the bangs of doors around the hotel section of Highdown but did not think too much of it.
We went for the meal which turned out to be very little option but their poor served up Calvary where the Yorkshire pudding was excessive in size to almost fill your plate leaving little else. So to say we left still hungry was a fair statement but we took a drink back to our room as after all it was our anniversary.

Then the nightmare began as we tried to enjoy our time together all we heard was BANG of one door then BANG of another and we discovered the walls separating one room from it's neighbour was so thin we could hear the TV in the next room as clear as if in our own.
As the night went on this did not ease as voices got louder, more TV's were heard from rooms around and no one from Highdown was on duty you were left to yourself with no evening service.
It got near midnight when it got so unbearable we got dressed, packed and called a local taxi company to take us home.
I must add we sent in official complaint to receive no reply and notice on other sites of more complaints.
So even thou it has wonderful grounds, a near by amazing gardens this place if your thinking of staying over THINK AGAIN.