Whether you a tourist coming to visit Leeds for the first time, a regular on the party scene, or someone who travels for work - it is essential you find somewhere to stay.
After a hard day exploring and taking in everything that this beautiful Yorkshire city has to offer, it's vital that you find somewhere decent to get a good night's kip. And it's just as important after a night out at one of the city's many pubs, restaurants or theatres - or even after a busy day at work.
Chain hotels are often your best bet if you're looking for something 'cheap and cheerful', and Travelodge tends to be one of the first to spring to mind. And while they're usually a trusty old favourite, one important thing to remember is that chains can still differ depending on their location.
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Travelodge Leeds Central is advertised as "an excellent choice for travellers visiting Leeds, offering a family-friendly environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. The rooms offer a flat screen TV, and getting online is possible, as internet access is available, allowing you to rest and refresh with ease."
However, if Tripadvisor is anything to go by it seems visitors would beg to differ. As many as 116 visitors rated the chain hotel as terrible, 87 guests said it was poor and 186 dubbed it 'average'.
But some reviews certainly stand out from the crowd - and for all the wrong reasons. There are complaints of bad smells, blood on the towels, hairs in the loo, rude staff, "horrific" noise levels and one guy even turned up to find he had no room due to a broken bed. Here's what Tripadvisor has to say about Travelodge Leeds Central.
One reviewer, just last week, wrote: "The room absolutely stinks of weed. Absolutely boiling but no aircon. Can’t open the window because the music from the bar below is absolutely blasting, even on the third floor. No need on a Tuesday night!
"Thought it would have gone off by 9 but no, still going strong !! Even with the window closed and the iPad on full volume it’s still blasting. The bath is dirty and there’s splash marks up the wall behind the loo. Décor is scruffy, carpet is ripped up in parts."
In a statement given to Leeds Live, Travelodge has said there are "external factors" the company cannot control, such as noise. It did however reveal that it is working with neighbouring businesses and the local council to try and rectify the problem.
Another unhappy customer, Ellie, who stayed for a business trip earlier this month, said: "Room stank of faeces when I first walked in, smell didn’t go with the window open. The room was stuffy and boiling (weather was mild so no reason). Hairs in shower.
"Stayed here a Sunday night so thought it would be quiet…. I slept 2 hours, the noise from guests was extremely loud! Doors have no quieting mechanism, they slam every 10 minutes and this continues until past 4am!!!!! I was constantly woken up by talking in the rooms connecting, shouting and the sound of tv. At 3am I was woken to what sounded like someone trying my door then knocking on the door of the adjacent room. Felt like they were coming through my door. Which scared me as I was a young female travelling alone.
"My first business trip stay before a work conference. I had about 2 hours uninterrupted sleep. It was the worst stay ever. I understand it’s budget, but for context I’m a 24 year old student so I have a low threshold for noise!!! That level of disturbance on a Sunday is just unacceptable!"
Another person uploaded a review entitled 'poor experience'. He penned: "The hotel room smelt disgusting - as if someone had been smoking in there. the bathroom also stank - it was very musty.
"There were no hand towels in the bathroom. There was a very poor breakfast - some food stale (croissants and pancakes) and stewed beans. Over cooked eggs and a very poor greeting by staff."
Travelodge says it operates a strict no-smoking policy, although guests are allowed to smoke outside.
The budget hotel got another poor review from Liane, who said it was the worst place she has ever stayed. She wrote: "Room stunk even after covering it in air fresher and airing for 5 hours! Corridor had unwelcome smell too but different smell. Only 2 super rooms in whole place so no alternatives.
"Family room right next to train lines and music until early hours even on a Wednesday night!! Not the cleverest place to put a super room! Worst place I have ever stayed in. Basically shouldn't mean dirty!! Had to leave!"
Travelodge disputes that there were 'no alternatives' as it says hotel staff have confirmed there are 25 'super rooms' in the hotel.
Another recent review reads: "Sorry to say, but it really was poo. While the lady at check-in was nice enough she was definitely a bit robotic as when she asked us why we were here I said I was here for some hospital treatment and she replied with 'oh how lovely'. To say I was a little taken back by her comment was a understatement. She clearly wasn't listening and to be honest it came across like she was trying to impress some guy boss who was watching her.
"We had a so-called super room, there was nothing super about it. There was no air con at the hotel even though I phoned up before and asked and they said yes. We had a fan on however it was full of dust. The room was so hot. The so called upgrades a kit kat bar each were melted and the room had a nasty smell. In the bathroom it for worst someone else's blood was on a towel. Hairs in the toilet of the curly kind. And the flooring was coming up becoming a trip Hazard.
"I think they must be hiring cleaners with sight issues as the room shouldn't of been allowed to be open for public use. I've uploaded photos. Also the shower leaked whenever used. We were told someone was on reception 24/7 but that was another lie we tried to complain but in the end after a bad nights sleep and with a long day of treatment ahead we checked out around 7am again no one on reception. Wouldn't stay here again. Plenty of options within the city this is not one that should be considered."
Travelodge says the 'blood' stain was actually 'red threading colour' caused by a laundry issue which has now been resolved.
Leeds Live put the above reviews to Travelodge. A spokesperson for the company said: "Annually we welcome over 20 million customers across our 580 UK hotels with over 500 hotels achieving a high score of 4+ Dots on Tripadvisor. This includes tens of thousands customers staying in our five hotels in Leeds which score on average 4+ Tripadvisor Dot scores.
"Our Leeds Central hotel has a rating of 4.5 Tripadvisor dots and it has been awarded the 2023 Travellers Choice Award. We operate a no-smoking policy in all of our hotels but customers are allowed to smoke outside.
"As you would expect from a busy city centre hotel that is situated by the railway station, restaurants, bars and clubs there are external factors that we cannot control such as noise. We are working with the local council and local businesses to rectify these external issues.
"We are dedicated to providing great value rooms and continue to invest in our hotels. We are sorry that these customers did not receive our normal high level of service."
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