After shopping at Bicester Village, I took the train directly to Paddington. The hotel was right at the station exit, so it was quite easy to find. I checked in after 6 PM, and the front desk asked for an additional £30 deposit. Upon opening the door, I was pleasantly surprised because the room was larger than I expected, especially the area from the entrance to the bed. I could open two suitcases on the floor without blocking the walkway. Also, the room card was already inserted in the slot, so the air conditioning was very cool. The bathroom was spacious and well-lit, feeling very clean.
Overall, the stay was decent, but since it's a Hilton, I can't help but voice a few complaints:
1. There was no refrigerator or hairdryer in the room. It was hot, and my hair dried quickly, so I could overlook the lack of a hairdryer. However, no refrigerator is definitely unacceptable, as everyone knows. So, I called the front desk, and they told me it wasn't standard and I needed to register at the front desk every morning. By this time, I had already finished dinner and wasn't in the mood to deal with it. I asked if I could register by phone in advance, but they said no. So, I went to the front desk the next morning to register. When I came back in the evening and found no refrigerator, I called again. They told me the same thing – I needed to register in the morning. I explained that I had already registered in the morning, and then they said it was first-come, first-served and they needed to check with housekeeping, and couldn't guarantee availability. That's when I got annoyed. I clearly stated that the hotel requires check-in after 4 PM, which means there wouldn't be one on the day of arrival; second, since they asked me to register in the morning and didn't mention any lottery system, I assumed it would be provided. Now I had bought ice cream, and it was melting, what should I do? The customer service person then asked how many days I was staying, implying that if it was a short stay, they might not bother with me. I said I was staying for 5 days, and if there was no refrigerator, we would check out. I also added, 'This is a Hilton, is this the standard for a 5-star hotel?' They asked me to wait again. After dinner, there was still no news, so I called again. Around 8 PM, they finally told me they would send a mini-fridge. Although I eventually got to enjoy cold drinks, the entire communication process was very unpleasant and a bit disappointing.
2. There were long red cords installed on one side of the bed and in both the washroom and toilet. I accidentally pulled one, and immediately someone knocked on the door asking if I needed help. Perhaps my room was for guests with disabilities, which is a nice touch. However, I have to complain about the toilet design in the bathroom. I'm not sure what the small sink next to the toilet is for; it forces you to sit slightly sideways, and your head can easily hit it when reaching for toilet paper, which is very inconvenient. The vanity sink protrudes, so if you want to get close to the mirror, you have to stand a bit to the side, as looking straight on makes it seem far away. The toilet paper might be due to cost-cutting; it's quite narrow, about 1/3 smaller than normal, and they didn't provide a spare roll after the first one ran out.
3. The overall decor of the room felt a bit old. Specifically, there was no charging spot next to the bed. I tried to unplug the table lamp, but found it had a special round plug that wasn't compatible, which is a real design flaw.
The hotel also sends SMS messages through some 'Easy Verification' service, asking about the staff and stay experience. The problem is, I wouldn't dare reply, who knows if it's a scam, right?
Overall, considering transportation and dining options, it's quite convenient, and I would recommend staying here.
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