Why I Love Staying at Best Western Hotels in the UK

After watching the recent 3-part Channel 4 TV programme: ‘A Very British Hotel Chain’ and I have to say thoroughly enjoying it, I decided to put together my thoughts on Best Western hotels and why I love staying at them so much.

I’ve been a Best Western Rewards card holder for the last 5 years and in that time have had some truly memorable trips and experiences.

It turns out that I’ve stayed at 13 different Best Western hotels and I now have enough points for a free night or two. I can’t wait for the current Covid-19 crisis to be over so I book in some long awaited for trips and choose where I’m going to use my points.

Some of the hotels featured in the documentary series may well get my vote. I’m salivating over 3-Scone Thursday at The Bell in Driffield and swooning at the fabulously unique, quirky and can I say risqué decor at the newly acquired Rudloe Arms, Marco Pierre White’s hotel near Bath.

So, Who Are Best Western Hotels?

Best Western is one of the World’s largest hospitality chains with thousands of hotels across more than a hundred countries. They have a huge presence here in the UK; in fact they are the largest independent hotel chain in the UK.

This means that each hotel in the chain is managed individually rather than conforming to a set of standard ideals and processes. They get to retain their independence while benefiting from Best Western’s reach, marketing and full service support. These are just a few of the many advantages that come with the Best Western brand.

At the time of filming the documentary Best Western GB had 265 hotels under their umbrella and are hoping to grow to in excess of 500 hotels by 2022. Now Covid-19 might have something to say about that, but I hope that they manage it and they bring to my attention lots of other new, exciting and different places to stay.

But Why Choose Best Western You Might Ask…

Well as far as I’m concerned, they are a great hotel chain. Although I have had some interesting experiences with them, as well as one that I have no wish to repeat (ever), the challenging situations that arose were handled impeccably by the staff involved. I’ll tell you about that later…

Variety

What you get with Best Western hotels is variety. In some situations I like knowing what I’m going to get with a hotel. For example, I’ll only ever book a Travelodge in London now, having being faced with some terrible experiences at random hotels that have cost a fortune. I know what I’m getting with Travelodge – a fabulously comfy bed (that suits me anyway), a clean and tidy room that is en-suite and they nearly all look and feel the same. The stay is all paid for in advance and you just drop the key through the slot on leaving. In London, when I’m always on a jam-packed itinerary, I’m only in the room long enough to sleep and that’s it, so a Travelodge is perfect.

Something for Everyone

However in other places I like to try something different and Best Western has something for everyone, from cheerful, sleek and modern city centre living to sleepy backwater country pubs and luxurious countryside spa and golf resorts. The various levels of luxury I’ve had across the range of hotels I’ve booked with Best Western have always been matched with a price I’ve found to be extraordinarily good value for money.

So whenever I’m looking for a hotel – yes I have a browse on Booking.com and maybe check to see if there’s a local Travelodge, but I will always search for a Best Western first.

Individuality with Good Standards

And the main reason why is although they are all managed individually, therefore retaining their own style and character, there is still a certain (decent) standard they have to adhere to, to become and maintain their membership with Best Western. If you watch the programme, you’ll see that unannounced visits are made by the Best Western team to stringently review the condition of each hotel and issue action points where necessary.

Obviously not all hotels are going to suit your taste, whether it’s the decor or the comfort of the seats in the bar, but at least knowing that a certain level of care and service is guaranteed; the ‘Best Western promise’ I guess you could say makes me confident in choosing one of their hotels for my trip away.

The Different Best Western Brands

There are various brands that sit in the Best Western portfolio and having looked at them, it can seem like some are only marginally different. However the 3 core brands are Best Western, Best Western Plus and Best Western Premiere and largely they provide what is suggested by their title.

The typical Best Western covers the timeless flagship hotels providing comfortable environments for a good value stay.

Best Western Plus offers that little bit more style, comfort and additional amenities to appeal to both leisure and business travellers and as a result tend to fall into the mid-range price point.

Best Western Premiere hotels go the extra mile. They are more stylish and luxurious with an increased range of amenities and services and little added extras to provide superior comfort.

I have stayed in each type and I’d have to say that each has provided what was promised. And while I may have found a few decor decisions to be questionable and one or two paint jobs that could do with a face lift, these have been my only quibbles. No matter which level of Best Western I’ve been at, the service has always been exemplary with staff willing to go that extra mile to give you an enjoyable stay.

My Best Western Experiences

During lockdown I’ve been binge watching the full 10 seasons of Friends (AGAIN), so I’ve taken inspiration from their episode titles to present my experiences at Best Western hotels.

I’m going to start with the nightmare trip, as from there – it can only get better right?!

The One with the Heatwave – The Stuart Hotel: Derby

I would like to start by saying that it wasn’t the hotel’s fault as to why my trip was a nightmare. But unfortunately The Stuart Hotel in Derby will not be remembered fondly.

It was the hottest day of the year in July 2016 and I’d been on a short one night city break in Derby with my husband. When we arrived at the hotel sweating cobs after a long day traipsing around in sweltering heat, all we really wanted was a shower, a fan and just to feel cool again. But in the unprecedented heat – the whole hotel was a sauna, with of course no air conditioning as who normally needs that in the UK? Every occupied room had their doors chocked open with windows open where possible to try and get some through air movement. But it was oppressive.

The reception staff had magic-d up a fan from somewhere though it had very little effect (we now travel everywhere in summer with a fan in the boot of our car.) They also came round with complimentary bottles of water which I thought was a lovely touch and I feel if they could have done more they would, but it was 1-NIL to the weather.

It was one of the most uncomfortable nights of my life; I got very little sleep and even resorted to extra showers in the night and morning. Not a night I’m in a hurry to repeat that’s for sure… However I would happily give The Stuart another go – I’ll just make it winter next time.

The One with the Suave Decor – Best Western Nottingham Derby

I am a regular visitor to Nottingham and have stayed at many different places, two of which have been Best Westerns hotels.

The benefit of the Westminster Road hotel is its proximity to the city centre. However my favourite of the two and one that I would happily go back to again and again is the Best Western Nottingham Derby which is situated out by the M1 at Long Eaton.

The hotel looks very much like the typical motorway hotel from the outside, but step through the doors and it’s a different ball game. The modern sophisticated interior surprised me and I fell in love with the suave lounge furnishings in a grey, pink and purple colour palette.

The bedrooms were spacious and had a sink area separate to the bathroom which is always a bonus in my opinion. As I was visiting with my Mum to follow the Hoodwinked sculpture trail, the ease of acquiring a twin room at the Best Western Nottingham Derby was a big draw. The beds were also very comfortable – perfect when you’ve been on your feet all day exploring a city. The only problem was getting up in the morning!

The One with Arty Style & Sophistication – Best Western Rockingham Forest

Similar to the look and feel of Nottingham Derby both outside and in, Best Western Rockingham Forest greets you with a light and airy reception featuring a warming pinky-purple lighting scheme, modern art on the walls and comfy sofas to relax in. I’ve decided I rather like this type of Best Western.

The One with the Swanky Suite – Best Western Wakefield St Pierre

When I wanted a hotel close to the city of Wakefield to visit the Hepworth Gallery, the Rhubarb Festival and Wakefield Cathedral, I alighted upon the Best Western Wakefield St Pierre. What a little gem of a place – it fit the bill so perfectly that I returned for my birthday last October to visit friends nearby and visit the National Trust property of Nostell.

It was a wonderful surprise to find we had been upgraded to a suite, just one of the many benefits of being a Best Western Rewards card holder. If they have the rooms available, you may just find you’re a recipient of a free upgrade. It was certainly a lovely birthday surprise and the room was fabulous. The bed was one of the most comfortable I’ve slept in and it was so nice to have a settee and armchair to relax in. And while we didn’t require a TV in both rooms, it was nice to have the ability to choose and I could think of a number of situations where this would be ideal.

The breakfast at the St Pierre was the typical Best Western buffet style, but with what seemed like more choice in the Danish and fresh fruit selection and yogurt flavours.

Unfortunately I think buffet breakfasts may well be a thing of the past thanks to Covid-19, so I just hope going forward we still get excellent ‘value for money’ breakfasts – they are great to stoke your timbers for the day.

The One with the Woodland Feel – Best Western Ipswich

Visiting Ipswich in 2019 for the Elmer’s Big Parade sculpture trail, the Best Western Ipswich hotel offered everything I needed for a budget two night stay, knowing I would only be in the room long enough to sleep.

Not the most aesthetically pleasing on the outside, the hotel rooms surprised me by being warm and cosy. The rich brown and cream decor complimented the woodland view from the window. With images of deer on the walls, there was a forest-like feel throughout.

The One with the Best Ever Fruit Platter – Best Western Dundee Woodlands

Next up is one that was actually set in some woodland as the name suggests. I think this hotel has become one of my favourite Best Western Stays which was a good job as I was there 4 nights, visiting Dundee for the first time on a city break.

Located in the Dundee seaside suburb of Broughty Ferry, the Best Western Dundee Woodlands offered one of the best buffet breakfasts I’ve ever had. As well as a truly impressive fruit platter, you could also get a wide variety of hot foods made fresh including an omelette which became my staple choice every morning.

The hotel was in a lovely tranquil setting and no matter which window you looked out of, be it the dining room, bar, bedroom, gym or swimming pool, all you could see was greenery which I find so relaxing.

The One with the View – Best Western Webbington Hotel & Spa

This is an attractive hotel to look at and can be seen from miles around thanks to its elevated position and bright white paint job.

Like many hotels, the original Edwardian manor house has been extended to provide a huge leisure complex and I’m gutted I didn’t get to sample these facilities while I was there. I was only passing through en route down to Cornwall from the North of England, using the Webbington Hotel to break up the journey.

The one thing that impressed on me however was the view over the Somerset countryside, right the way to the coast and rounded hillock of Brent Knoll.

The One on the River – Passage House Hotel

Like the Webbington, I was only here briefly (the following night) for a stop-over en route to Cornwall, but I couldn’t think of a more peaceful and idyllic river location than this. The Passage House Hotel nestles alongside the River Teign in Devon. Its long, thin form stretches out along the line of the river maximising the number of rooms to take advantage of the view.

The hotel has a beautiful dark wood conservatory and attractive river terrace making it the perfect place to sit and watch the sun rise or set. I would love to stay longer next time to experience this.

The One with the Rustic Country Pub – The Jersey Arms Hotel

The Jersey Arms Hotel is an 800 year old country inn and you can’t help but feel on stepping inside that nothing much has changed in that time. Uneven floors, low ceilings, dark oak beams, exposed stonework and one very impressive fireplace in the bar.

Sitting in front of an open fire when it’s literally freezing outside is wonderful. After a day spent in the snow at Blenheim Palace, the Jersey Arms hotel was a welcome sight.

The rooms were similarly oldy-worldy complete with creaky floorboards. Now some might not like this quirk, but to me it just gave the place more character. We also had a room with the BIGGEST bathroom I’ve ever seen in a UK hotel. The Jersey Arms was certainly a charming surprise!

The One with the Sodden Croquet Lawn – Mayfield House Hotel (Sure Collection by Best Western)

The Mayfield House Hotel is the only hotel I’ve stayed at in Best Western’s Sure Collection brand. They are classed as upper-economy hotels offering simple stays with more of the finer details.

This trip away will always be remembered for being a wash out. It poured down for the entirety of my Cotswolds trip which did mean that I got plenty of time to enjoy this country house hotel, but no way could I make use of the sodden croquet lawn!

On arrival Mum and I opted to have dinner from the a la carte menu as there was no way we were venturing back out into such inclement weather. I was so excited to see Moules Frites on the menu (rare in the UK), that I pushed the boat out and it was all very tasty.

Breakfast was a similar delight with cooked breakfasts made to order and choices of kippers, smoked haddock and salmon available….yummy!

The One with Grandiose Style – Best Western Plus Orton Hall & Spa

Orton Hall near Peterborough successfully combines a grand and elegant estate with an onsite traditional country pub – the Ramblewood Inn, so visitors get the best of both worlds. The ultimate in fine dining one night followed by wholesome locally sourced pub grub the next.

I could quite happily have stayed here for a week as there are lots of different spaces to relax in and its location on the edge of Nene Park provides excellent walks from the doorstep. Lots of home comforts are provided and I can highly recommend the luxurious spa treatments, especially the hot stones massage.

The One with the Delightful Pool – Bank House Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort (Best Western Premiere Collection)

You could say I’ve left my most luxurious experience till last. The Malvern View Spa at Bank House Hotel near Worcester really has the feel of a proper spa hotel. You know – the ones where you feel comfortable wandering round in your dressing gowns (which I did between my room and the pool.)

A bit of luxury was definitely required after a long day following the Worcester Stands Tall sculpture trail. I even managed to get the pool all to myself one morning which was a delight in itself. The pool loungers are among the most comfortable ones I’ve ever used and the Temple Spa products are divine. They are provided in room too and I ended up buying some products to take home. If you’ve not come across it before, I can report that it’s a gorgeous brand.

The quirky colour scheme in the breakfast room provides a bright and cheerful start to the morning and they served waffles which gets a huge tick from me.

So there we have it – my round up of tried and tested Best Western hotels scattered all over the UK from Devon to Dundee.

I hope I’ve given you some hotel inspiration ready for when we can travel the UK again. I know I can’t wait to add some more experiences to my repertoire.

Get in Touch…

Are you a Best Western Fan? Which hotels have you stayed at?

Please drop me a line in the comments below and give me your recommendations. I’d love to hear from you.

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