Hotel Royal Oak Tipton (Tipton, United Kingdom)

No frills or frippery, just a good welcome so you’re made to feel at home straight away.

The rates are dirt cheap but rooms are clean! They include television and even free Wi-Fi. Can’t knock it; not at these prices. It’s easy to take free parking for granted, until you are faced with paying through the nose for it. No worries here, though; it IS free!

Bar snacks and main meals have a good reputation + breakfast (surcharge) is available to B+B guests. Psst! If you miss it, there’s a place across the road which also does a great breakfast.

High on the list for any refurbishment programme; rooms currently leave a lot to be desired and access to them can be unusual to say the least. If you can’t go through the function room (*‘cos there’s an event on), you have to go through someone’s living quarters. Very strange!

The priority is to pay up front and in full. After that, there is little interest in providing a receipt. Not of huge importance for some, but essential for those staying on business and who need to record expenses.

If you’ve not ordered breakfast, there’s nobody around as you depart. Just leave your key and leave! Not the best customer service + you can only wonder if someone might have been around, even if you’d ordered – and paid for – breakfast!