To be, or not to be, that is the question (Hamlet)
To travel, or not to travel, that is not a question (Seeing The World In Steps)
I am off to explore some of the off-the-beaten tracks of England and the UK. I have always wanted to check out the Cotswold and those charming little villages. It is finally time for another road trip to the UK. It is so easy for us Singaporeans. First up, I will be headed up north to the furthest point of my trip, Stratford-upon-Avon. I will then make my way back down south to London. This is the home of Shakespeare. I am sure everyone has heard of Shakespeare. It would be really interesting to visit this place and learn more about it. It is a rather small city and there aren’t many hotels in this area. The DT is probably one of the better ones and belongs to a chain. The location is excellent for exploring the cosy city on foot and they also provide free parking. That plays very well to my plans! It is just on the fringe of the city. Everywhere is walkable here and it only takes like 15 mins or so to stroll to the river. With regards to chain hotels, there is also another Indigo in town.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I booked directly with Hilton and got the base-level room. I will be staying here for 1 night. It is just a stop for me on the way to checking out the Cotswold. I was upgraded one tier to a deluxe room. Somehow, I got a Junior Suite upgrade ahead but then got downgraded again to a Deluxe room. I am not sure how this works but it isn’t too much of an issue since I am only here for a day. I will also be out more of the time. I reach out to the hotel to get some information. Parking costs £8 per night with in and out privileges. For Diamond members, they do it complimentary. DoubleTree by Hilton Stratford-upon-Avon comes with 105 guest rooms and suites spread across 3 categories. You can check out the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Bathtub | Room Size |
|---|---|---|
| Guest | Yes | 19 Sqm |
| Deluxe | Yes | 24 Sqm |
| Junior Suite | Yes | 30 Sqm |
Checking In
I landed in LHR and collected my rental car, from there it is about a 2 hours ish drive up. The traffic was smooth. I stop by Warwick before coming to the hotel. I got here at around 4pm. It is a rather lovely property in the classical building. There is parking surrounding the building, you can just park at any of the lots. It is available on a first come first serve basis. Parking costs £8 and for Diamond members, they do it complimentary. You just have to register your car plate with the reception desk after checking in. This is a rather nice touch and doesn’t cost too much for hotels to show that they are nice to elite guests.
It is very quiet at the time of my arrival and there isn’t anyone at first at the lobby. It took quite some time for someone to turn up and I was helped by a guy that wasn’t even from the front desk. I was told that they are having a staff meeting which seems like a really weird time to plan one since this is the peak check-in time. The guy that was checking me in was warm and polite. He didn’t really have all the information but got the keys quickly in my hand and wished me a warm stay ahead.
I didn’t even get the cookies until I left the hotel later on. It is so nice to have warm cookies in this cold climate and weather. I had it on the stroll to town. I met the other front desk staff later on throughout my stay and they were excellent. A late checkout was offered but it isn’t required.
Deluxe Room
I was assigned a deluxe room on the second floor. I got room 323. The rooms are on the second floor despite the room number starting with 3. That is rather confusing. The rooms are a long walk from the elevators. It was pretty confusing due to all the turns and twists caused by the historical building layout. Right upon entering, you can find the bathroom to the left. It is a cosy one and nicely appropriated with amenities.
As per usual, Crabtree and Evelyn products can be found here. The bathroom also comes with a cosmetic mirror. It is on the dated side with the shower tub combo with curtains which I hate. It comes with a handheld shower head that can be taken down or mounted to the wall. The water pressure is decent and the temperature control is good.
By the entrance, you can also find a full-length mirror that will be great for checking out your fit. Here you can find a wardrobe set up with the minibar in the middle. It comes with a kettle and packaged coffee. There is also a mini fridge below with two bottles of complimentary water. You can request for additional ones. I am glad to see that they are not being stingy with it.
On both sides of the minibar, there are wardrobes with plenty of hangers, and safe and ironing kits. You can also find a hair dryer inside. Pretty generous space for your short stay.
The main space of the room is in a rectangular layout. By the side, you have a portable luggage rack to place a cabin-size suitcase. Additional ones are available upon request. The TV is of a good size for the room and high quality. It comes with a good number of both local and international TV channels.
The working desk comes equipped with a chair. This is decent for a short period of working. Power outlets are located within reach. The wifi is easy to connect to and the connection is good. The spot also comes with a desk lamp which comes in handy if you need to get some work done.
The centrepiece of the room naturally goes to the plush king-size bed. I love that the building is on the firmer side which I prefer. I am not a fan of soft mattresses. The pillows also provide decent neck support. Additional ones can requested from the staff. Flanking both sides of the beds are nightstands with controls for the lighting. Surprisingly, there aren’t any power outlets here. You can only find USB ports. Kudos to them for installing these but I would still prefer to have some traditional power sockets.
There is a small sitting area consisting of two couches and a coffee table. It is nice to have an additional seating area in an entry-level room. There wasn’t much of a view here given that it simply faces the nearby carpark. Nothing too fancy in this aspect.
Fitness Centre
The hotel comes with a gym which is similarly located on the ground floor. It is open 24 hours and you can access it with your key cards. The facility is located just beside the reception area. It is not an overly huge space but just comes with a couple of equipment. Handy to get the job done if you want to exercise. It is nothing too memorable but clean and well-maintained.
Breakfast at Quills
Breakfast is served at the hotel’s main restaurant which is located just opposite the reception. Quills serves breakfast from 7am to 10am on weekdays. They have extended hours on weekends and bank holidays till 11am. I went down to have breakfast at around 9am. While it is on the busier side, the place isn’t overcrowded.
Breakfast will cost £15 if not included in your rate, this consists of a small buffet breakfast as well as a small ala carte menu that you can order from.
The items are pretty simple and just full English breakfast items. You can also find some pastries, fresh fruits, juices, coffee and tea. The pastries were really food and fresh. I love their danishes which they have freshly from the oven. I enjoyed it.
I also tried the pancakes and scrambled eggs from the menu which were delicious.
Conclusion
It is a very simple affair here. I am happy with the property. It gets the job done for me. There is nothing much to speak about and nothing too fancy. The property offers a comfortable, clean and safe space for my night in Stratford. It is nice to get a little room upgrade, breakfast and complimentary parking included which helps in controlling my expenses. The parking was a nice touch for making me feel appreciated. You will not be disappointed over here. The hotel boasts a very nice location that allows you to explore on foot after parking your car there. I appreciate the warm service and their not being stingy with the water. A comfortable spot for you to explore this charming little town and the birthplace of Shakespeare.
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