I have spent this week staying in the Travelodge at Leicester. There is no particular reason why I am doing such a random thing, except that I have the profound misfortune to be dating somebody who comes from Leicester. I thought it would be nice for us to spend some time together, since we didn’t have much chance before Christmas, and I managed to get a room in the Travelodge for £30 a night.

I am not a snob when it comes to hotels, but my feelings about Travelodges are mixed. I love Premier Travel Inns, and would happily stay in one any time, anywhere; their breakfast is of the highest quality and their rooms are always clean and comfortable. Travelodges, on the other hand, seem considerably more basic although they aren’t always considerably cheaper, and so many little niceties like soap in the bathroom are missing. The first time I ever stayed in one I was most put out to discover it didn’t serve breakfast and that instead my £5 a day would earn me a brown paper bag placed outside my room each morning, with a dubious looking apple and a yoghurt pot of cornflakes (more…)