Single Room with Shared Bathroom, 2.5kms from Lincoln Central

Terrible check in process. No staff on site. Problematic. Positive: The room was good, Negative: I received no info by email on how to get into the property. The video doorbell did not work. I found a helpline phone number in an email and called it. The person spoke English with such a thick accent that I struggled to understand them. They explained how to put the code in and we must have tried it 20-30 times. He even got another guest to drive back to the property but they then had the same problem. I insisted that the code was correct (I could hear the lock motor whirring to unlock it) but that the lock must be broken or the door must have a second lock on it. He would not listen and was adamant that I was putting the code in wrong. After at least 15mins of this a guest inside was also stuck - they could not unlock the door from the inside - so 3 of us were stuck at the same door (2 outside, 1 inside). Eventually the lock worked from the inside and we got in, wedging the door with a fire extinguisher. Later that night a maintenance chap attended and taped the door lock to stop it locking. The next morning it was fixed. Also that night there was a power cut which set off all the burglar alarms in the street, including this building's fire alarm -so we had to evacuate. A power cut should not be activating the alarm immediately like this - alarms are meant to have a back up battery to stop this. There was only 1 shared bathroom (downstairs) for a dozen rooms (although some have their own bathroom). The shower was completely cold throughout, despite running it for several minutes.

The many difficulties gaining access to my room did not make this a restful stay. Positive: The hotel was very clean, and in a reasonably central location (for someone who likes walking, at any rate - these who don't may prefer to drive). My room was small, but comfortable and well-equipped. It was pleasant in the evening to relax and watch a little television with the windows open. Negative: When I arrived in the local area, the online visitor guide I had been emailed began telling me my booking was on a street with the same name, in Leicestershire not Lincoln. This turned out not to be so, but it was a cause of some anxiety at the time. After that, on reaching the hotel, the keypad on the main door did not accept the security code I had been sent. I telephoned the number supplied, and the lady was very pleasant, but she couldn't help. She supplied two alternative codes and they didn't work either. In the end, another guest had to let me in (although to be fair, there were no troubles with the code to my room door). Once I was in my room, I was messaged with a code for the main door that was different to that of my room door. However, up until then the visitor guide had told me the codes were the same. It was not reassuring to me that there was confusion over this. In future I will try to only stay at hotels with on-site staff, and good old-fashioned keys. Hotels that prefer up-to-date technology should make sure in advance that the technology works. In addition, there was only one bathroom for many rooms, and the decor of the hotel is grey and forbidding. The many large signs informing guests that they were on CCTV did not give a welcoming feel.

Positive: Nice clean property Negative: Not enough bathrooms

Positive: 30min walk into the centre. Flat route so no need for an uber Negative: Shared bathrooms facilities. We were on 3rd floor and had to go all the way down to even put water in the kettle as the kitchen and bathroom was on lower floor too..can't complain, we knew it would be basic. I think a sink in the room to wash your hands or clean your teeth would be helpful if you're on the upper floors. We bought some wipes in the end. It served a purpose and the kitchen was spacious and hardly used.The breakfast is a few items in the fridge, jam, bread,milk and cheese and beans. Better than nothing just don't expect a fry up or proper continental breakfast. I think this maybe student lodgings used off peak but I could be wrong. Bed was comfy. I won't rush back but it did the job. Lower your expectations and all will be well.

Sh*t hole Positive: Nothing Negative: Mold in the bathroom. One toilet for the whole building. The toilet was also the shower, so if someone was having a wash no one could go to the toilet. Other customers didn't follow the noise curfew. Constant smell of drugs. The external locks didn't work, I had to know on people's windows to get them to open the door.