rockershovel's Blog

Ah!  I remember it well!

    Brian.

I’d largely forgotten it. Forms of politeness are strongly followed in the Arab and Turkic world, and to be the subject of a complaint is a serious solecism which isn’t looked upon with indulgence. They are also early risers, for their own reasons, so there’s that in common. 

 

To a considerable extent, the same is true of Americans. It’s probably something to do with all the guns.  

 

Regarding general standards, I’ve become habituated to staying in major chains which I no longer get the option of! That said, for all their advertising, Travelodge and Premier Inn are primarily patronised by business travellers of varying descriptions (mostly mid-management and specialist construction trades) and they aren’t given to late revelry although you DO get the occasional frantic phone call, in which case etiquette indicates that you use your hands-free in the car park) 

 

 

I’ve just spent a night in a Best Western in Skegness. Apart from the question of why I’m so far from home on a cold, wet Bank Holiday, it was quite pleasant. 

 

I quite like Best Westerns, although they can be unpredictable. They are often converted from older buildings, which tends to result in small rooms, odd layouts, creaky floorboards and weak WiFi, and their inadequate carparking (often gravel) is unwelcome in the wet, but they are usually comfy and the food is usually quite good. 

 

At least, a change from the sometimes over-priced chain blandness of Premier Inn, or the coach-party trade which was a disadvantage of Southview. 

 

There is a BW in York we used to stay at when No 2 Son was studying there. 

I’ve just encountered a local chain previously unknown to me, Corus St James’ . I can’t recommend you to seek them out... I’ve had a long tiresome day on the barge, starting at silly o’clock with s lengthy detour resulting from a closed road (accident, apparently) .. but the barge was bigger than usual and I did get fed on board, so there’s that. 

 

It claims to be the “best hotel in Grimsby” and the depressing thing is, that could well be true. Still. I’m too tired to care and they do breakfast.