I have chosen Swindon as my base for exploring the Cotswolds. There were several hotels in the area and I have also considered the Cheltenham. The DT Swindon works the best given the price point and location. It fits my needs for a simple and safe place. I do not need anything too fancy since I will be out most of the day exploring. The location is great to explore with everything that I am keen on within a short drive. The hotel is also just off the ramp to the freeway which will work well for travelling in and out. The town is also nearby if we need to grab dinner or something.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
I booked directly with Hilton and got the base-level room. I will be staying here for 2 nights. It is just a base for me to check out the Cotswold. I was upgraded to a deluxe room. The price is affordable and it gets the job done since I just need a place to rest and shower. Free parking is also extended to Diamond members which makes it even better. The parking normally costs £3 per night with in and out privileges. For Diamond members, they do it complimentary. DoubleTree by Hilton Swindon comes with 171 guest rooms and suites spread across 6 categories. You can check out the breakdown below.
| Rooms | Bathtub |
|---|---|
| Guest | Yes |
| King Guest | Yes |
| Family | Yes |
| Deluxe Family | Yes |
| Deluxe | Yes |
| Junior Suite | Yes |
Checking In
I drove from Stratford where I was staying prior. I made my way south, checking out a couple of towns and villages on the way before heading to Swindon in the evening. I got to the hotel at around 6pm. The location is very convenient with the hotel just off the ramp to the freeway. I was greeted with a lovely sunset right upon arrival. You can find parking lots right in front and around the hotel. You can then provide your registration to the front desk. It can get pretty packed late at night.
There was a little wait to check in when I got here. Somehow, it is still quite busy at this hour. I was warmly welcomed by the staff and was told that they tried to find a suite upgrade for me but it ain’t available. I appreciate the effort. Check-in was polished and fast. I was told to register my car, offered cookies and soon had the keys in my hand. Details for breakfast were also offered. By the lobby area, you have some seating. The bar and restaurant are also around the area on the same level.
Deluxe Room
I was supposed to be upgraded to a Junior Suite but it got booked last minute. I ended up getting assigned a twin deluxe room located on the second floor. I got room 243 to be exact. It was just a short walk away from the elevators. The rooms look dated.
Right upon entering, you have a mirror at the side and then the wardrobe. It comes with everything that you might need for the stay from hangers, a safe and an ironing kit.
Next to it is a little amenity area or side mirror area. This is rather awkwardly designed and placed. The amenity spot comes with a mirror but no stool. This limits the usefulness of this area. There are some amenities and snacks left for your enjoyment. It consists of a mini bottle of wine and some snacks. I wasn’t expecting this.
Next to it is a luggage storage area with a portable rack. Additional ones can be requested from the staff.
In the middle of the room, you can find the TV chest which consists of a small TV with plenty of both local and international cable TV channels. I wish that it was bigger side. Left on the table was also a minibar corner consisting of some packaged tea and coffee. I am also pleased to see that they have a kettle and a proper Nespresso coffee machine. Capsules are provided. Do take note that there is no fridge here. It felt like a rather basic amenity in a hotel and can be easily placed in the cabinet below.
The round table acts as both the working desk and dining table in the room. Outlets are within reach and the wifi works well here. Bottles of drinking water are left here. They are also not being stingy with it. You can request additional ones from the staff. The connection is good. The chair offers good support for short periods of work.
There isn’t much of a view and I just kept the curtain drawn most of the time.
The twin beds are left together. I love that the mattresses are on the firmer side and I slept well. The bedding was clean and decent too. The pillows were a little on the softer side but we got additional ones. On both sides of the bed, you can find nightstands with power outlets and controls for the lighting.
The bathroom is located in the corner and it comes with a single sink. The shower and tub combo is also my least favourite thing to see in a bathroom. To make it worse, they only had a wall-mounted showerhead that could not be taken down. The bathroom is badly designed and the toilet seat cover cannot be fully opened. This is single-handedly the worst part of the room.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is located on the second floor, the same level as my room. You can access it with your key card. It is just a simple space with a couple of equipment like treadmills and a lifting station. Towels and water are provided. It is open 24 hours and you can access it any time you want.
Breakfast at 14Twelve Brasserie and Bar
Breakfast is served at the hotel’s main restaurant which is located just next to the reception. Breakfast is served from 6.30am to 10am on weekdays. They have extended hours on weekends and bank holidays from 7am till 11am. I went down to have breakfast at around 9am. While it is on the busier side, the place isn’t overcrowded.
Breakfast is served buffet style and you can find a usual full English breakfast. They can also prepare eggs made to your liking. It is nothing fancy but gets the job done. I appreciate it having included as part of my status and on a road trip, it is best to get fuel up so you can drive straight to your first destination. I will let the pictures do the rest of the speaking.
Conclusion
It is a very simple affair here. It was decent for the price I paid and worth the value. This hotel is not located in the city centre and will work best if you just want to rest up and shower. It is best for customers with a car. The location and affordable parking make sense for your road trip. The only aspect that I didn’t like about my stay was the bathroom. Other than that, I am pretty happy with my choice. If they can include a fridge, that will also be better.
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