Pro & Con between life in UK & US

May I remind everyone if you don't like someone's posting style, you are free to hit the ignore button. 

I know exactly where I should post this but I like the idea of putting it here.

I saw for the first time tonight a Brit production called, Hotel Inspector. It was on BBC America. They showed three episodes, one right after the other.

The show showed how miserable and expensive small hotels can be in the UK.

I am surprised because from what I have seen the homes in the present day UK are very modern, nicely decorated and comfortable but these privately owned and run hotels are very unappealing. Even after the makeover I wouldn't want to spend a night in them. In my view they are a ripoff.

DW remarked and I concur that we would only stay at a Holiday Inn or Travel Lodge in the UK so as to be on the safe side. This would be for overnights because we usually stay at self catering places for a week at a time.

On these episodes, if any of you watch the series, there was a hotel in Blackpool, York and Western-Super-Mare. They were all bad news except maybe the one in York. That one was OK after the makeover.

I think it is all very well for the guests to say "I'll never stay there again" but they have your money so I think that people should instead ask for their money back and maybe they would improve their facilities. I did that in Southern California last year and they credited me with half of the bill to my CC.

Jim, obviously a show like that is going to show the worst examples of small hotels, but frankly, they are just sensationalist. I have stayed in a variety of small hotels and B&Bs throughout the country and 99% of the time have had comfortable rooms, nice service and a great breakfast. It isn't difficult to find out about the quality of a guest house in the age of the internet, as most places have reviews from both guests and tourist boards, so to confine yourselves to stay in soulless chain hotels (which can often be just as miserable and expensive!) because of a stupid programme is very silly indeed.

I'll tell you what's a rip-off on both sides of the pond:  women's haircuts.

 

Depends on the salon. I've had excellent haircuts from 2 different places in two different towns and not paid more than £13 (not including a wash).

Even that would be a rip-off.  DH goes to barber and gets a trim: £8.

I got to a salon and get the same thing (no layers, just a trim): at least £18.

Choices are rather limited in our neck of the woods, FWIW.

Yeah, there are salons around here that charge £30 or more for a trim with no wash! It's daft. I've gotten layers done my last few haircuts, but when I was just getting trims it was a tenner. Still more than barbers though, which is rubbish.

I saw for the first time tonight a Brit production called, Hotel Inspector. It was on BBC America. They showed three episodes, one right after the other.

That was a Channel 4 programme!  I mean, I'll bet Jeremy Kyle's brother is director of production over there.

Of course they're going to dig up all the folks who probably managed to sell a cracking lot of coke and somehow have wound up with a swag of dosh to buy their business and who run a B&B like an ice smoker.

 

Of course they're going to dig up all the folks who probably managed to sell a cracking lot of coke and somehow have wound up with a swag of dosh to buy their business and who run a B&B like an ice smoker.

  

 

Seriously, have you seen that show?  It's Channel 4 at its finest.  And Ruth is hysterical! 

Seriously, have you seen that show?  It's Channel 4 at its finest.  And Ruth is hysterical! 

No, I haven't, but if it's all about ice-smokers running a B&B, I might have to check it out. 

I will be staying in my first English B & B in less than 2 weeks, although since it's run by New Yorkers, I'm not sure it counts, exactly. I'm going for the full American breakfast with pancakes, dude!!!! 

 because of a stupid programme is very silly indeed.
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A! Watch it!

Where there is smoke there is fire.

Where there is smoke there is fire.

No, there really isn't.  I have stayed at many small hotels and inns in the UK and never had a bad experience.  Some were better than others, but nothing was terrible.  Holiday Inn and Travelodge, OTOH, are always dingy and depressing. 

Absolutely right.  Nice hotels and B&B's wouldn't make interesting telly. 

I have said in some fabulous B&B's all over the UK, and a couple of crap ones as well.  I hate staying in Travelodges, they are soul destroying.


Vicky

Absolutely right.  Nice hotels and B&B's wouldn't make interesting telly. 

I have said in some fabulous B&B's all over the UK, and a couple of crap ones as well.  I hate staying in Travelodges, they are soul destroying.


Vicky

This tacky hotel with a kiddies theme in Blackpool wanted £400 a night.