Sunday 24 June 2012

The Kings Cross Hotel


I would like to take you on a little journey, a little journey to the hustle and bustle of London.

You will be staying at the not so chic Kings Cross Hotel and as soon as you step through those very narrow doors, you will wish that you had not.

I write this from the confinement of room Four, our second room on our second night stay.

Arriving at the Kings cross Hotel was not a horror moment...but we were in for a few shocks!

The corridors are narrow and the rooms could be compared to that of Harry Potter's cupboard under the stairs... Although it has to be said, I think he has much more space.

The rooms are furnished with dust and grime and if you are especially lucky you will have a little rodent friend. No this was not in the room description.

I am all for boutique style, in fact I love it. I have stayed at some great hotels but unfortunately I will not be adding the Kings Cross hotel to my top ten visits of all time. Not even with the highly innovative flowers that have been bulked out with feather dusters...deliberate or lazy cleaners?

Speaking of lazy cleaners with feather dusters, instead of just using them as decoration maybe they should use them on the surfaces around the room?

I can look past the fact the room was pokey small, and I can accept that we had a communal bathroom... And shower, it was all forgotten when I found the tea, coffee and a tin of green peas, and it has to be said that the beds were not too uncomfortable.

The first night was everything I expected of a budget hotel, but on the second night while following Twitter and minding my own business, I suddenly saw a rather large shadow dart behind the sink....The flick of a long tail and a shake of large ratty ears was our furry room mate saying hello.

The cheeky rat darted backwards and forwards making his presence known, Becky at was soon up on the bed shining her phone light while I strategically kneeled on the floor trying to locate our furry friend... A unwanted dweller who was not even paying towards the rather steep room rate!

So of course a complaint was filed, and the manger on duty came up with a great plan to get rid of the rat... I would like to say that he called an exterminator but that would be bending the truth. No he had a much more imaginative idea... His plan was to Sellotape down the carpet by the sink where the rat was making his entrance into our oh so glamourous room.

Of course this was not good enough in our eyes and the cheesy smile that spread all over the managers face was not entertaining us either.

The fact that the hotel has a rat sneaking up through the floor boards is not the greatest reason to stay is it?


I let him know that maybe a exterminator would be a better option?

The agreed solution was a brand new room, so here we are taking in the new sights and sounds...Only now we are right by the reception, and our personal details have been taken directly off the booking forms... And used to find us on Facebook. I find this highly un-professional and rather scary, not to mention a complete and utter violation of the Data Protection act.

The manager on duty even  took it one step further and sent me a direct mail to my inbox. I had no contact with said hotel manager over Facebook but below is his contact attempt to me. I have taken out his name (just to respect his privacy! You know...like he did not...)

It is safe to say that I will writing a very well informed trip advisor post and warning anyone and everyone... Not to stay at the Kings Cross Hotel... Unless you like big fat rats and creepy hotel managers!





14 comments:

  1. I too have stayed here and it is grim as dishwater. I remember finding my sheets wet with erm bodily fluid and someone tried to get in my room the night I stayed. Generally if I stay in London I won't pay less than £175 now for my health and safety. Hope you are ok x

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    1. Eeek! You too! Oh no that is awful..I mean I have no problem with budget hotels but they do need to be clean and proffessional. Without that...Well you get this!
      I am gine thanks lovely. I hope you and Roo are too! xx

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  2. Goodness Hun I can't believe you had an unexpected visitor in your room! I was a bit shocked when I saw what you girls were staying in but when it's somewhere to lay your head for a night it doesn't really matter as long as the bed is comfy. You should seriously ask for your money back and threaten to report them to the Local health deportent. X x

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    1. I could not believe it either. Thought my eyes were playing tricks on me at first but that rat was very real and he was poking around our room!
      xx

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  3. That is SO scary! What did the email say? Who are you with?

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    1. Email is up now lovely. I was with Bex. So glad to be back in my own bed tonight! x

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  4. Blooming eck! Make sure you get a refund!

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    1. Bex is in the process of speaking with them! x

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  5. That is awful, I can't believe all that-what an awful trip! You better get a full refund for that stay! What a shame!! x

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    1. Brit Mums was amazing however the room was not all that great as you can probably gather! Hope you are well lovely!? x

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  6. lush! I feel its not a place any sane human would want to stay in! you need a good old bath :) x

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  7. I've posted on FB, but worth posting here - you can great a room in London from £75 with ZHotels (Soho or Victoria) - there's free Wifi, 40 inch TV, lovely beds, wet rooms - providing you don't mind the rooms being super, super teeny. Really recommended. http://www.thezhotels.com/

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    1. Thanks Sally. I saw it on FB and I will think about this the next time I need a hotel!
      x

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