For Parker's birthday we decided we wanted to visit Peppa Pig World, located in Hampshire. We're in Kent, so not too far away. Wanting to make the most of our trip however, we decided to find somewhere to stay overnight close to the park.
We decided upon the Southampton Central Travelodge - just a short drive to Peppa Pig World, easy to get to and in a great location for shops and restaurants too. We ended up staying for two nights, giving us a complete day down in Southampton, something we were very pleased about!
Arrival & Check-in
We travelled down Sunday night, arriving at the Travelodge around 9.30pm. I was worried it would be too late, but check-in is open 24 hours so we had no problems. After finding a spot in the underground carpark we easily found out way to reception. With just my name we checked in within minutes and were in the lift to our room on the third floor - room 307.
Parking is £5 for 24 hours for Travelodge guests. I was surprised this wasn't included within the price, and the car park is pretty small. There were clear signs for alternative parking however, and £5 for a whole days parking is very good value.
Room
We were on the 'business floor' which was a quiet area. I did find this strange as we obviously had two children with us (aged 2.5 and 1). However with how tired we were the whole time, there wasn't much noise from them.
Our room was spacious, clean and well presented. There was plenty of space for the four of us, with a kingsize bed, two single beds and room for our travel cot as well. We didn't actually request a travel cot when booking (I assumed mentioning I had a 1 year old when booking would mean we had one), so I'm glad we came prepared with our own. Checking the website these are free to book though, just make sure to call ahead first!
Our bed was very comfortable, with two plump pillows and a cosy duvet. There were no complaints from Indiana either, who looked very happy in her bed (she didn't even wake when she rolled out haha). Our rooms were cleaned and tidied whilst we were out, something I was not expecting during a two night stay. So it was lovely to come back to a tidy room again!
The bathroom was small but had all you needed. Fresh towels were provided for each of us as well as shampoo and soap. Hairdryers aren't included but are available on request.
There was a spacious desk area, which was perfect for storing all the important bits and pieces we had (aka keeping things away from Parker haha). Tea and coffee making facilities were included and replenished during our stay. The kettle would be fab for making bottles too, so no need to bring your own.
There was a small TV which had the usual Freeview channels, and you can access the wi-fi free of change for 30 minutes a day. I opted to pay for 24 hours worth of internet, costing £3, which was easy to set up. The signal strength was fab too; we were able to watch Netflix on my Mac once the children were sleeping!
Overall we were hugely impressed with our room, and it provided a comfortable spacious base during our trip. The only problem we had though, was that it was SO hot. The lack of air conditioning and being on the third floor; our room felt like a sauna.
We were left this little card, which shows that they are aware of the problem though. A fan was also provided in the room which was 100% needed. We had to have it on all night as it was so hot - you couldn't open the window as the traffic outside was loud with it open. Despite the duvet being cosy, it was far too think for the heat, so it would have been useful for a sheet to be provided instead too.
Breakfast
There are two options for breakfast during your stay; the 'Lighter' which includes toast, croissants and cereals, or the 'Full' which includes a cooked option. Both include unlimited teas, coffees and chilled fruit juice, and are 'all you can eat' - a perfect way to start the day! These can be pre-booked or you can choose to add this option once there.
We of course went for the cooked option, and despite the restaurant area looking small we were really impressed! Especially as they offer Kid eats free (if choosing the 'full' option). The tables were clean and had everything you needed, and the highchairs were also spotless.
The kids loved the fruit selection (there was SO much choice!), and Indiana really enjoyed choosing her little cereal box and bringing it back to Jack. The staff were also lovely and checked if we wanted our croissants warmed up, which was a great touch.
The hot drinks were average, and the cups of juice were tiny! It was all you could eat though, so we just made sure to refill a few times instead. Overall though we all thoroughly enjoyed our breakfasts, and they were a great way to start a busy day.
As we had paid for parking for 24 hours, we decided to leave the car in the car par after checking out and have a little explore. The Travelodge is in an amazing location - out the front door and to the right is the West Quay shopping centre and town centre, as well as a huge retail park! Buses also pulled up out the front if you wanted to hop on and visit anywhere else too.
We had such a lovely couple of days away, and apart from the heat, we couldn't have had a better stay at the Travelodge. We had never taken the kids away on a UK break like this before, and it's definitely made me worry less, and want to travel more! I'd 100% recommend a Travelodge to stay in, and I know we will be visiting again.
Disclosure - We received a two night stay and breakfast in exchange for our review. This is our honest opinion.
This looks like a lovely base for a break away. Shame about the heat! x
ReplyDelete