Pamper and Save

My daughter recently treated me to a pamper session at a hotel spa, something which I’d never actually experienced before, but which turned out to be very relaxing.

Unfortunately, I didn't leave with a
figure like this!

This pamper treat took the form of a five-hour session at the Bridgewood Manor Hotel, Kent, part of the Q Hotel chain. The spa area itself, though not large, houses a pool, sauna, steam room, relaxation beds and treatment rooms. If you’re not feeling as lazy as we were, (we went for the relaxation and pampering not a workout) then there’s a gym, and there’s also a lounge area to slump with a coffee. Sadly, what was missing in my view was a Jacuzzi/hot tub, which I would have loved!

On arrival, we had to fill out a health questionnaire, on which I was impressed to actually see ‘hypermobility’ as a category. I suffer from hypermobility* syndrome, but a lot of people and places still fail to acknowledge this condition, so it was refreshing to see it taken into account on this occasion.

Still, on with the spa. We were shown the facilities by a member of staff, then left to wallow at our leisure until the time of our pre-booked facials. We promptly changed into our swimwear (changing rooms were adequate, lockers nice and large for belongings) then took to the pool. This was quite modest in size, but reasonably warm, and not overcrowded as there weren’t too many people there.

My daughter ventured into the sauna, but found it much hotter than others she had tried, but I bowed out of that one. However, we did both enjoy a couple of sessions in the steam room, which was small, accommodating about four people. Unfortunately, we never did manage to spend any time on the heated relaxation beds, as these were always in use when we were free to go on them, but did relax on the poolside loungers.

We were both booked in for express facials, which involved 25 minutes reclining on a warm bed in a dimly lit room, listening to relaxation music, whilst a therapist massaged our faces with a selection of oils and treatments (having first assessed skin type and any problems). I can be a bit of a sceptic when it comes to beauty treatments, and was doubtful as to whether there would be any lasting effects, but have to report that my skin did feel softer for several days after – and it may have been my imagination but looked a bit more glowing too!

Following our facials, we enjoyed a little more relaxation time before adjourning to the lounge for coffee and pastries.

“And what did all this cost”, I hear you ask? Well, not as much as you may think. Although this was a gift from one of my daughters, she operates on a budget, so had made use of a deal from Groupon, a company that I’d heard about but never used. Our five-hour session, including towel hire and the coffee and pastries (actually choice of tea, filter coffee or hot chocolate and two mini Danish pastries each), but not the facials, cost £11.50. For a further £7 each we could have hired robes and slippers, but found that we didn’t really need these. As part of the Groupon deal, we could choose up to two beauty treatments apiece for a 20% discount, meaning that the mini facials came to £24 each as opposed to the normal £30.

My overall verdict of the day? I did feel quite relaxed and enjoyed my time at the Bridgewood Manor Spa, and may repeat the experience once in a while, when offers are available. And I’ll certainly be looking out for other great deals via Groupon.

* You can read more about hypermobility syndrome here  

Travelodge – A Peaceful Harbour

It’s been some time since we stayed in a Travelodge, having not had any distant family gatherings or long haul visits needing accommodation in the past year or so. However, a couple of weeks ago, hubby and I decided to have an impromptu break whilst our son was up to knees in a river in Wales (geography field trip).

My husband had wanted to visit The Turner Contemporary in Margate for some time, so we decided to head down to Thanet and make an overnight stay of it. The gallery itself was disappointing (see wheres-turner for more about that) but our choice of Travelodge was a great success.

Before travelling, I’d trawled the Internet for B&B accommodation that looked promising, but didn’t find much to my liking. So I decided to see if there were any Travelodges in the area that may be worth a try. I was immediately drawn to the Ramsgate Seafront hotel, which overlooks the harbour. Prices were reasonable (£47 for double room) and we decided to go for the breakfast option bringing the total to just over £60.

Although this branch did not have dedicated parking, it was opposite a public car park where it cost just £4 to leave our car for 24 hours.

On arrival we received a friendly greeting from the guy on reception and were promptly directed to our room. My immediate thought as I entered said room was that it actually looked different from other Travelodge rooms we’d stayed in before. It definitely felt a bit ‘higher end’ with a really comfy king-sized bed, tasteful decoration and a smarter looking bathroom. I understand that Travelodge is currently updating some of its hotels, so hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy more of these improved rooms.

The cleanliness of the room was also better than some we’d visited and all of the staff that we encountered during our stay were friendly and helpful.

We’d never gone for the breakfast option at a Travelodge before, partly because all that had been on offer was a ‘pre-packed’ version, but at this branch a full buffet breakfast was provided. By pre-booking our breakfast it was £1 cheaper per person than if we’d decided to request it on the day, a small saving but worth bearing in mind. We were able to help ourselves to whatever we wanted from a number of choices including various cereals, fruit, croissants, scrambled egg, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, beans, toast and various preserves. There was apple and orange juice to drink as well as tea and a range of coffee. We left feeling very replete!

There had also been an evening meal option too, but we had decided not to go for this, as we had wanted to stroll out in the evening and eat elsewhere. As luck would have it, just a very short distance from where we were staying, we found a pub/restaurant called ‘The Goose’. This worked on the principle of a Wetherspoons but the food was actually nicer and even better value. We enjoyed two main courses for just £8.95 and two delicious desserts for just £4.75 (not each but for the two!) I can highly recommend the food and service at The Goose!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Travelodge Ramsgate Seafront and would certainly return for another visit. Thank you to everyone there.

You can view this accommodation at travelodge.co.uk/hotels/510/Ramsgate-Seafront

You can also read my previous Travelodge reviews and comments by visiting:

travelodge-tales-latest

travelodge-tips

travelodge-tales  

March’s Random Thoughts

I hate it when I see someone wearing a garment identical to one that I own and love. If they look awful in it I think, “What? Do I look that bad?” Yet if they look great in it I think, “Damn! They look so much better in it than I do!” Either way I can’t win!

I don't need a grand tea, just some peace!

I’m amazed (and a bit irritated) that when I opt for a quite cup of coffee in a supermarket café, that at times my peace is shattered by some kind of staff meeting. Do they really not have the facilities in a large supermarket to hold their meetings behind closed doors, rather than take up a large area of the customer restaurant? It’s most annoying.

I sometimes wish that supermarket trolleys were fitted with little motors and footplates too, so that we could stand on the plate and ride them round the supermarket like little scooters. It may help to take the strain out a big weekly shop.

Further to my blog post earlier in the month reminiscing about the sweets that I used to enjoy, I realised that I totally forgot to mention floral gums. Do you remember them? Tiny little gums in a small packet with a squirrel on that tasted, well, flowery.

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Free Coffee

There have been loyalty cards available from coffee shops, and indeed anywhere that you can purchase a cup of the brew, for many years.

I’ve spent a good many years myself peeling the little stickers off McDonald’s coffee cups, collecting the required six per card to claim my free cup of latte.

For some time I’d also had my Marks and Spencer loyalty card stamped, although this required ten stamps to qualify for a freebie, until the service at my local branch deteriorated somewhat, and I decided to seek refreshment elsewhere.

Last year I acquired a Tesco Family Café (Fonta Nella) card, which in the spirit of McDonald’s requires six stamps for a free coffee, and is handy for grabbing a latte to get me through the weekly shop.

But most recently, I’ve added a Greggs’ loyalty card to my collection – rather startling considering I’d had a bit of a falling out with them just over a year ago. I still haven’t returned to their cafés, but do sometimes grab a take-away coffee when on a shopping mission. In this case, you have to get the card stamped nine times (strange number) to be rewarded with a coffee, so it’s not as good as Tesco and McDonald’s but preferable to M&S.

Mind you, all of the aforementioned cards appear to offer better deals than a Costa card as far as I can see. I abandoned thoughts of getting this one, when it appeared that I’d have to spend the equivalent cost of a small family home (OK, bit of an exaggeration) to having any hope of having a coffee on the house.

But I have to say, free is always good, so I’ll keep collecting those stamps!

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The Right Cut

I’m someone who never seems to get round to getting my hair cut until I wake up one morning, look in the mirror and think, “Help!”

I invariably just pop into a hairdressing salon when out on a shopping trip, in the hope of having a rescue cut there and then. I’ve previously visited various branches of Supercuts, the chain that has a no appointment policy, so attempted to get a cut there again last week, when it got to the stage that I could not longer see past my fringe.

Calling in at a branch of Supercuts in a local shopping centre, I was pleased to see that no one was queuing there. I presumed I would only have a minimal wait and attempted to book in. However, I was told that a man was in front of me, although he’d currently wandered out, which I thought strange as I have always been told that once you have booked in you have to wait in the salon, otherwise if anyone comes in whilst you are away, they get priority. Apparently this rule does not seem to apply to everyone. In addition to this I was told that I would have a 45-minute wait. Now, I’m not being rude, but when said man walked back in during this conversation he didn’t have that much hair to work with so where did the 45 minutes come from? Especially as there were two stylists in attendance at this time.

 

This information, together with the generally unhelpful attitude with which it was delivered, made me decide not to stay. The question was where else could I go at short notice?

Not far from the shopping centre was a small hair and beauty salon that I decided to pop into on the off chance. I received a warm welcome and was pleased to find that a stylist was available straight away. I was then offered tea or coffee – no chance of that at Supercuts with its conveyor-belt mentality!

The stylist, Alec, then proceeded to wash and condition my hair, with a gently head massage, then cut and styled it very professionally, being friendly and helpful throughout. He was careful to angle the hairdryer away from my face, something that I appreciated as I hate being blasted full on the face (it makes me catch my breath) as some hairdressers do.

The whole experience only cost me £24 and the salon operates a loyalty scheme. So if you live in or are a visitor to the Medway area of Kent, do call in to Phixx in Chatham for a great hair cut in a friendly atmosphere.

Of course, for those of you living elsewhere, I recommend that you abandon some of the more impersonal hairdressing chains in the High Street and give a smaller independent salon a try.

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January’s Best And Worst Buys

The Best

I’ve been enjoying Tesco Micro Oats, but have been frustrated that I’ve had to buy the variety box in order to obtain any of the apple and blueberry flavour. Despite online research suggesting that this flavour was available on its own, I’ve been unable to find any in store. I was delighted, therefore, to find that Sainsburys Express Porridge is available in apple and cinnamon and raspberry and blueberry flavours, costing £1.59 for 10 sachets, or currently two boxes for £2.50.

I prefer the healthier breakfast option

I immediately bought a box of each of these two flavours for £2.50 and have to say I really love them. They are also available in original and golden syrup varieties and they make a tasty, filling start to the day. This will definitely be the brand that I’m buying in future.

The Worst

I was intrigued when I noticed Tesco Steak and Cheese Pies (frozen) on a recent shopping trip and just had to try them. At £2 for four, and containing British beef, I thought they would make a tasty change for the family meal. Sadly, however, I was very disappointed.

They seemed to cook unevenly, with the pastry topping cooking well and the pastry case remaining soggy and slightly undercooked. The feeling did not taste of cheese at all, but just like any other type of steak pie that I have sampled. I really won’t be buying these again.

On the subject of Tesco, I have to say that I was appalled to find, on a recent visit to my local branch’s Family Café, the cost of their toasted sandwiches has risen from around £2.30 to up to £3.95, depending on the filling, when the only other thing that appears to have changed about them is the packaging! I expect a supermarket café to offer a budget menu, not charge as much, if not more, than trendy coffee shops. (By the way, you can get a basic cheese and ham toastie in Costa for £2.85.) You need to think again Tesco!

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Keeping The Old

Long before local councils provided recycling facilities, we used a different form of recycling in our homes – it was more a case of re-using.

I grew up in a family where my nan kept buttons and the cards from tea packets in old toffee tins, my dad stored nuts and bolts in old coffee jars and my mum kept ‘odds and ends’ in an old biscuit tin. Things were re-used in all sorts of other ways too, rather than discard perfectly good items.

Today, many a jar, tin and box can be found in my house, put to some good use or other. I too have a button tin, but mine is in the shape of a house and once contained stationery. I fill it with the spare buttons that come with items of clothing and also buttons from garments that are past their wear – you never know when they may come in handy.

My sewing items are stored in a rather snazzy Marks and Spencer biscuit tin, circa 1984, which is just the right size and shape for all my needles, pins and reels of cotton. Then there’s the box full of things my children made at school, the jar of small change, the old sweet tin that gets refilled with treats (didn’t like the latest plastic version of Christmas chocolate containers though), the ‘odds and ends’ pot, the old tins containing pencils, pens etc – need I go on?

Just like my dad, my husband keeps assorted nails, screws and ‘things-we-might-need’ in numerous jars. Amongst the gifts I bought him at Christmas was a retro radio shaped tin containing toffees, in which he now intends to keep stationery items.

I love some of the clever designs of tins that exist and I much prefer to use them for storage than some of the (frankly quite expensive) trendy, purpose-made options in the shops. Why buy empty tins to put things in, when you can buy full tins, use or consume the contents then re-use for storage? It’s cheaper, kinder to the environment and much more fun.

So take my advice, it can be good to keep the old.

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Travelodge Tales – The Latest

A recent family get together saw us travelling towards Manchester from Kent, and it was therefore inevitable that we would once again opt to stay in yet another Travelodge.

Regular visitors to my blog may have read Travelodge Tales and Travelodge Tips chronicling my previous experiences and thoughts, but if you’ve not yet read them, why not take a look now?

Anyway, back to my most recent Travelodge experience in Cheshire. To ensure the best price we booked about 23 days in advance (cheaper than booking fewer than 21 days before), paid the money and looked forward to our rooms (one for hubby, son and me and one for mother-in-law).

On the day we travelled the roads were a bit of a nightmare, and although we left home before 5pm, we didn’t arrive at our destination until close on 11pm. Thankfully we were greeted by a really lovely, friendly receptionist on arrival. Much to our horror, however, she informed us that we could have lost our rooms, despite being booked and paid for in advance, as the Travelodge had been about to go into overbooking.

On receiving this information we just stared blankly at her, so she explained if all the unbooked rooms got full, they would then re-allocate rooms that had been paid for, if they had not been claimed by 10pm. This was certainly news to us, but we were grateful that on this occasion our rooms were still actually there for us.

For the record we asked what would happen if we turned up and our rooms had been re-allocated. The answer to this was apparently we would be sent to the next nearest Travelodge with an available room. That would not have gone down well after the journey we’d had, I can tell you. However, we did learn, for future reference, that if we are held up, as long as we ring the Travelodge concerned before 10pm, we could book in over the phone and our rooms would be safe. This is definitely worth remembering, although when Travelodge have already received money for a room, I believe it should not be re-allocated, unless officially cancelled.

Our other big shock of the night was that although both the rooms were booked together, they were nowhere near each other: one was on the ground floor, the other on the first floor. Unfortunately, the one on the lower level had been made up as the family room, whereas it was much more needed by my tired mother-in-law, who felt too weary to manage the stairs (there was no lift).

But once again our friendly receptionist came to the rescue, ensuring us she would move the extra bedding up to the first floor room. Not only did she do this immediately, but also actually made up the sofa bed for my son, whereas we are normally left to do this for ourselves. We were very grateful for this little act of kindness, as we were shattered!

We were told that to avoid getting rooms so far apart in the future, we should ring the Travelodge concerned directly, to request that the rooms be together and to request ground floor if needed. Well, we all learn by our mistakes!

Despite these little blips, I have to say it was the most peaceful, well-kept Travelodge we had stayed in. Rooms were clean and well stocked with tea, coffee etc and the staff members were really helpful and friendly. Thanks for a lovely stay!

July’s Blog Review

Wow what a scorcher! The temperature rose, along with tempers in some cases, but I’ve had a fun month and hope that you have too! We’ve been out baring our lily-white legs and complaining about the heat in typical British style, whilst making the most of what the great outdoors has to offer.

With the change in weather I managed a spot of camping and am spending much of my summer in my static caravan on the east coast. What are your summer plans?

Back on the subject of rising tempers, some of the things that annoyed me this month were free bus passes being automatically issued to those in their 60s however well off they are, stores putting their returns departments on their upper floors and people having loud phone conversations, peppered with expletives, whilst on public transport.

There were mixed reactions on the bus pass front, with suggestions that there should be some form of charge for issuing the passes to help with admin costs and comments that the qualifying age should be raised to 70, both of which I feel would help the situation.

In response to my ‘Mobile Madness’ blog, bemoaning the loud, explicit phone conversations passengers have on buses, JC remarked that this is a generational thing, which I agree with to a point, although I can’t help but smile when a really upbeat, current tune sounds as a ringtone, and is promptly answered by some grey-haired little old lady on the bus.

Reviews this month included ‘bake at home’ products, body creams, curl treatments and coffee shops. I also took trips to Colchester Zoo and Penshurst Place, both of which I highly recommend.

There’s lots more planned for August, so keep reading!

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Coffee Culture

Coffee has become a big part of our daily lives. Everywhere you go, you see individuals suited and booted for work armed with a ‘coffee to go’, or coffee shops filled with friends meeting over a cup of some caffeine-laden concoction.

Coffee shops have become big business, with our High Streets filled with Costa, Starbucks, BBs etc and many shops and stores also having their own coffee lounges.

Since coffee was introduced to the UK (there are mentions of it in 16^th century writing, with coffee houses taking off in 17^th Century) we have enjoyed it to some degree. However, ‘coffee mornings’ used to mean meeting up in someone’s house over a cup of instant and a plate of bourbons, as opposed to congregating at the local coffee shop, chatting over double shot skinny lattes.

The English have long been considered to be more of a nation of tea drinkers. Advice issued to American serviceman when they came over in the 1940s included the comment, ‘The British don't know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don't know how to make a good cup of tea’. But whether we prefer tea or coffee, it’s easy to buy a huge variety of either when out and about.

When shopping in the High Street I sometimes grab a McDonald’s coffee, which is low cost, and for every six I buy, I can get one free by collecting the stickers on the cups. Sainsburys’ and Morrisons’ cafés offer cappuccino or latte for £1.55, which though not quite barista quality, is a fair cup. Many other retailers sell a variety of coffees for over the £2 mark and I had previously presumed, wrongly as it seems, that places such as Costa would put a higher price tag on their drinks as say Greggs or Tesco (Fontanella coffee is £2.15 for a small cup at Tesco Family Cafés)

Recently my daughter treated me to a coffee at Costa, where a small (reasonable size I thought) cappuccino cost just £2.15 – the same as Tesco. I also indulged in a lemon and poppy seed muffin, which was rather delicious, containing a surprise (sorry, I’ve now spoilt that for you} lemon curd style filling.

Whatever your favoured choice of coffee and wherever your chosen venue for buying it, we certainly have become much more a nation of coffee lovers.

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Penshurst Place and Gardens, Kent

Situated near Tonbridge, Kent, Penshurst Place is a great example of a 14^th Century house – ancestral home of the Sidney family and birthplace of Elizabethan poet, Sir Philip Sidney.

Today the ‘set’ for many films and television programmes, such as The Other Boleyn Girl’, the building and gardens make for an interesting and enjoyable visit.

We had a great time on a recent day out there, wandering around the stunning, fragrant grounds, which include formal gardens, ponds, rambling orchards and the odd little ‘secret garden’ tucked away. The house was very impressive, boasting many original features, furnishings and artefacts, whilst there is also a great little toy museum. My son was interested to discover that the sound of the creaking floor in the Long Gallery was actually recorded and used in the Harry Potter films.

In between all of this, you can pause with the kids at the adventure playground – a mixture of traditional swings and seesaws and a little ‘assault course’. Ice creams and coffee are a reasonable price (there is a kiosk by the play area) and there are plenty of picnic benches, although there are also two restaurants if you fancy treating yourself to a meal.

Admission prices are good value: Gardens, adults £8, children £6; House and Gardens adults £10, children £6.50. Under-fives are free and family tickets are available.

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Breakfast Biscuits

When I first saw breakfast biscuits advertised I thought the idea was a little strange. Ok, so I’ve been known to grab a couple of rich tea or digestive biscuits with a coffee on days when I just can’t face a ‘proper” breakfast, but a biscuit actually designed for the job, could that be healthy?

Whenever I can, I try to have a bowl of cereal or slice of toast for breakfast, with maybe some eggs or a croissant at weekends, but when I have to make a really early start I can’t always face a full meal.

So one day I caved in and bought some breakfast biscuits.

The first ones that I tried were Belvita Breakfast Crunchy Oats, which are apparently 68% cereal. These were OK but lacked something for me and are actually quite pricey (when not buying them half price, which surprise, surprise is what I did).

Another day, another offer, and I tried Belvita Breakfast Yogurt Crunch with live yogurt and honey. I much preferred these sandwich-style biscuits with a honey taste, but still consider them far too expensive when not on offer. They apparently contain 115 calories per biscuit (they come in sealed packs of two), 4.4g fat and 6.6g of sugar, whilst the average digestive contains 71 calories, has 3.2g fat and 2.6g of sugar, and is kinder to my purse. 

Looks like I might as well stick to plan A then – a couple of digestives when I can’t face breakfast!

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Azera Coffee

I find those adverts for Azera coffee really annoying. You know, the ones where a woman flutters her eyelashes at her partner telling him that ‘he knows what she wants’, resulting in said, (very good-natured, I must say) partner climbing out of bed on his quest.

He then feigns leaving the house by opening and shutting the front door, before going to the kitchen to make a cup of Azera. Why she doesn’t hear him clattering around the kitchen making the damn coffee, I don’t know. Coffee-making complete, the guy sticks his head out of the door to wet it from the rain, for that authentic ‘I’ve just been out’ look, before presenting the coffee in her ‘favourite mug’.

Yes, I do find these ads annoying, but yes, I have been tempted to buy the Azera cappuccino and latte varieties, helped by the fact that Tesco have had both of these on ‘half price offer’.

The oval boxes for these contain six sachets apiece, and normally sell for about £2.99. Just make up the sachets with hot water, adding a little milk for that ‘barista authenticity’.

There is a lovely aroma when you make these, and there is a good coffee taste without it being overpowering. The latte was not as creamy as the Nescafé Café Menu Latte, which has a milder coffee taste and costs the same price for eight sachets as opposed to six. After trying the latte, I sampled the cappuccino, but really couldn't tell that much difference between the two. The cappuccino had a slightly stronger coffee taste, but certainly wasn't as frothy as I'd expected - in fact the latte seemed to froth more.

Azera coffee isn’t bad, though not as good as I'd hoped and a bit pricey for my liking.

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Pubs – The New Coffee Shops?

Pubs have undergone many changes over the years. A large number have closed, due to falling trade and the effects of the recession, whilst others have had to ‘re-invent’ themselves to survive.

Several pubs in my area have been taken over by pub/restaurant chains, which has actually changed (for the better) the amount and frequency that we use them.

Many of these chains are family-friendly, with children not only well catered for on the menu, but also often provided with indoor/outdoor play areas and mini TV screens showing children’s programmes.

But what I’ve particularly noticed is that many of us now think of popping into these pubs just for a coffee. My favourite chain for a coffee break is Wetherspoons, as it offers reasonably priced tea, coffee (including cappuccino and latte) and hot chocolate (topped with whipped cream). The surroundings tend to be comfortable and friendly, with many customers enjoying just a hot drink or a snack, as opposed to an alcoholic drink or a full meal.

With coffee prices much lower than in coffee shops such as Costa and Starbucks, high street branches of Wetherspoons make a handy coffee stop on a shopping trip, or somewhere to pause for refreshment on a family outing – my son loves to have one of their ice cream sundaes while we enjoy a coffee.

To my mind, pubs really are becoming the new coffee shops.

What do you think? comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk

Travelodge Tips

Following my Travelodge Tales last week, I promised to share a few tips with you on how to get the most from your Travelodge stay.

Despite some mixed reports, I feel that Travelodge offer good value, basic rooms, which are sufficient for overnight/short stays, whilst visiting family or friends, breaking a long journey or for going to visitor attractions that are too far from home to visit in a day.

Just remember the following points to help make your stay an enjoyable one.

1. Book at least 21 days in advance to get the best deals, which can cost from just £19 per night for a family room.
2. Don’t expect luxury, rooms contain what you need without the frills. If you want luxury, then Travelodge is not for you.
3. If you have children staying in your room, remember they will need towels as a maximum of two bath and two hand towels are allocated per room per day regardless of the number of occupants.
4. If you don’t have enough pillows, then do ask for more. Travelodge are usually happy to provide extra on request.
5. If you have children staying with you, take some extra cups as usually only two are provided per room.
6. Daily provisions for each room usually include two tea bags, two sachets of regular coffee, two sachets of decaffeinated coffee, some sugar sachets and four pots of milk, so consider taking some extra supplies. I often take sachets of instant latte or hot chocolate and cold drinks can be useful, as the rooms can get quite warm.
7. Check on parking facilities when booking. Information is available on the Travelodge website for each individual branch. Out of town Travelodges tend to have reasonably sized, free car parks, although some may have limited spaces. However, branches in towns and cities tend not to have their own car parks, and you will often be directed to a local car park instead. In some cases, this can prove costly, adding somewhat to the price of your stay. On our recent Travelodge stay at Norwich Central, we used the local (Chapelfields) shopping centre car park, costing a flat fee of just £1.50 for parking between 3pm and 8am, even when we stayed until almost 11am the following day it only cost £4.40. This was a secure car park, which was locked at night.
8. Plan where you are going to eat. Many Travelodges do not have their own restaurants, although many have a Little Chef or some such eating-place next door. These can be pricey and not always great. Even when we stayed at a Travelodge that did have a restaurant we did not eat there, as their menu seemed quite dear for what was on offer. We tend to make good use of out-of-town supermarket cafés (great for cheap breakfasts) or trusted local pub chains for evening meals.
9. If you do have any complaints report them to reception, but clearly and politely. The poor person on reception may not actually be responsible for your problem and it’s not going to help shouting at them.

Enjoy your stay.

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Travelodge Tales

I have recently completed my sixth stay in a Travelodge, this time at Norwich Central. I’ve read some very mixed reviews about the budget hotel chain, but have to say my own experience has, on the whole, been favourable.

Our Travelodge stays around the country have cost between £19 and £35 per night for a family room (myself, my husband and our son), consisting of a double bed, sofa bed, bathroom containing a bath with a shower over it, TV and some basic storage. Towels have been provided (for the adults) along with a little tea and coffee. Ok, five-star accommodation it is not – but then the prices are hardly top notch so what do you expect?

Don't expect this level of luxury

Speaking to a few fellow guests, I’ve had the impression that they are sometimes disappointed by what they find, but have their expectations been too high? We know what to expect, and providing our room is clean and equipped with the basics we are happy. Of course, people with real grievances should report their problems, but need to be polite to the reception staff. I’ve seen a Travelodge employee being shouted at very loudly, when they had only just come on duty and could not possibly be responsible for the problem at hand!

Our most recent stay at Norwich Central was ideally located for the visitor attractions and shopping centres alike. Our room was very clean and comfortable – in fact the bathroom was the best we’d had – the staff were friendly and helpful (extra pillows were provided on request) and we had a very enjoyable stay.

Other Travelodge Experiences include:

Chichester Emsworth, an out of town location, although conveniently placed on the A27. We visited this one a few years back and had a reasonable stay although it was looking a little tired. Apparently it was due for refurbishment however, and we’ve not visited since.

York Tadcaster, another out of town location, but very easy to access York from here. We were provided with slightly more ‘rations’ (more generous with tea and coffee) here and staff were helpful – slight blip with the hot water though.

Acle, situated on a roundabout, but much more peaceful than we would have thought. We were ‘greeted’ (used loosely here) by a very surly man on reception, to whom being helpful didn’t come naturally. We arrived to find our room bereft of towels, which he would only provide following interrogation. Thankfully other staff members were more cheerful and the room itself was fine.

Rugby Dunchurch, a rural setting, with good country smells wafting through the window to prove it, but within handy reach of Warwick, where we visited the castle. We loved our first stay, great standard of cleanliness and friendly staff. However, a subsequent stay was very different. Our room on arrival was fine, but the following day it was not serviced – no clean towels, no fresh tea, coffee, milk etc. When we complained we were told there were ‘staff problems’, which may have been true, but it was disappointing after such an excellent first visit.

However, we will continue to use Travelodge for short breaks, family visits etc, as they are reasonably priced, convenient and largely clean and comfortable (in our experience). To get the best price be sure to book at least 21 days in advance, but remember you can’t expect luxury if you’re not paying luxury prices.

Next week I’ll be sharing some ‘Travelodge Tips’ to help you make the most of your stay.

What’s your experience of Travelodge? comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk

EDF – Customer Services To Complaints

We’ve been customers of EDF for many years and have always found their customer services advisers generally helpful at sorting out queries with bills etc. Until the latest little problem …

A letter was sent increasing our direct debit payments quite sharply, despite our current balance being easily cleared within a couple of months on our existing payments. Never mind, we thought, we’ll speak to them.

Ha! That’s when the fun (not) began. Three attempts were made over three separate days to contact EDF. Each time we waited patiently whilst being subjected to the most irritating music, before having to abort the exercise due to other more pressing matters.

One day, we finally got lucky … sort off. We were actually connected to a customer adviser, it’s just a shame she didn’t seem to have a clue what she was doing. We were (wrongly) told that EDF did not supply us with both gas and electricity – must have been a phantom energy company all this time then! The subject of payment was lost in the confusion, so we requested a chat with a superviser, who was supposed to ring back within half an hour.

An hour and a half later we received a phone call, from a rather irritated individual, who said the original adviser had got it all wrong (you don’t say), but by the way if we didn’t agree to the increased payments, we would be removed from the direct debit system! (I will be featuring direct debit payments in a later blog). Anyway, what she really wanted to do was to ring us back on Monday, for unspecified reasons, but probably because this was 1.30 on Saturday and she was due to knock off at 2.00 and needed to rinse her coffee cup or something before she went.

In frustration, we rattled off an email to the EDF ‘Complaints Resolution Manager’, who actually proved to live up to the title. In less than 24 hours of sending the email, we received a call, which actually quite painlessly resolved the situation, allowing us to keep our existing payments without any fuss.

Yes, of course we would have preferred to resolve the matter with our first phone call, but it’s nice to know that at least EDF’s complaints department is on the ball. Perhaps a little re-training for some of the customer advisers/supervisers wouldn’t go amiss though, so come on EDF let’s have your whole customer services team working efficiently!

Let me know your experience of customer advisers. comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk

The Aldi Experience

I previously wrote that I had never bought anything in Aldi, as my only local store was dark and dingy, had the appeal of a badly organised jumble sale and offered no choice of items, i.e. only one type of coffee, one type of tea etc.

However, a new branch of Aldi has recently been built within a reasonable distance from my home and so I decided it was time to give it another go.

First impressions were much better – lighter and brighter, with more space, although the central section still vaguely resembled a kind of rummage sale. Product ranges were definitely an improvement, with some items available in several choices of both known and unrecognised brands and varieties.

I still don’t feel I could do a decent shop in Aldi, but have tried a few products that I feel are worth a mention.

Snackrite Crisps, pack of 24 for £1.99. I loved the variety of flavours – ready salted, salt and vinegar, cheese and onion, chicken, barbecue rib and prawn cocktail all in one pack – in Walkeresque style packaging, and the crisps were really tasty. Verdict: a good, value-for-money buy.

Alcafe Latte, 11 sachets (one free) for £1.49. I really enjoy some of the instant latte sachets around, specifically Nescafe Menu Latte, which can work out quite expensive at £2.99 for 8 sachets (although I tend to only buy it when I find it on offer), so I was keen to give a cheaper version a go. I was not that impressed with the initial flavour, but discovered that by replacing about 1/3 of the hot water with warm milk, it became quite drinkable. Verdict: With a bit of modification I can make this work.

Would rather eat them than smell like them

Lacura skin care range, a handy budget range of skincare items including moisturisers for £1.99 and eye care items from £1.49. So far I’ve only tried the Shimmering Day Cream, which is easily absorbed with a pleasant softening effect, but has a bit of a strange, sickly scent – a bit like fruity boiled sweets –which is a bit of a shame. Think the effect was more ‘sparkle’ than ‘shimmer’ really. Verdict: Am tempted to try other products from the range, but worry they will all smell this sickly.

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Saying Sorry

We all make mistakes and are hopefully big enough to admit to them, apologise and correct them if we can. I sometimes think that we do this better as individuals than as companies. Too many businesses and organisations fob off customers with poor excuses or denials in response to stories of bad service or faulty goods, but fortunately some are still prepared to come clean.

I remember having trouble with British Gas in the past and ringing them to query errors with my bill. How refreshing it was when the voice the other end said, “Oops, we really messed up this time didn’t we? Yes, it’s our fault, we apologise!” This admission of guilt was followed up by promptly rectifying the problem, which made me respect the company much more than if they’d tried to pretend they were not at fault. Companies everywhere could learn from that – deny your mistakes and customers will go elsewhere, face up to them and put them right and you earn a customer’s loyalty and respect.

We should all put up our hands and admit mistakes

More recently, a local coffee shop was in the doghouse for poor treatment of a breast-feeding mum, reportedly requesting that she used the toilets as a place to feed her baby. Following public outrage, the Rochester Coffee Company in Kent issued an apology and took it one step further by pledging to donate 50p from every coffee sold during the course of a week to a breast cancer charity. A marketing ploy? Possibly an element of that, but I hope it was offered and will be carried out with suitable remorse and understanding. Hopefully, the coffee shop will have learnt from this episode and be more amenable to breast-feeding mums in the future.

So we should all remember, the issue is not whether we make the mistakes in the first place; it’s the way in which we apologise and correct our errors that really counts. As for businesses, don’t try and deny that things go wrong or shift the blame, honesty and courtesy is what keeps customers loyal.

Do businesses do enough to apologise? Contact comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk

Afternoon Tea

The term ‘Afternoon Tea’ conjures up pictures of Edwardian ladies eating dainty, wafer-thin cucumber sandwiches and bite-sized, melt-in-the-mouth scones, served on delicate floral china in the drawing room.

Even when I was a child (long after the Edwardian era) ‘tea’ was still a meal we had, especially on a Sunday. Then it consisted of bread and butter with tinned tuna and tomatoes, followed by Hales Lime Layer Cake (whatever happened to that) for example.

Now it seems that ‘Afternoon Tea’ is well and truly back on the menu at many Supermarket Cafés, so why not give one a try?

Morrison’s Afternoon Tea – definitely the best value, £2.05 - £2.59, price has varied between branches I have visited lately. For this you get sandwiches filled with cheese/ham/egg or whatever is available, a cream-filled scone or egg custard tart (sometimes 2) and a pot of tea, so great value whatever you pay. I love the fact that sandwiches come with this one – it doubles as a light lunch.

Sainsbury’s Cream Tea, £2.55 - £2.75. Consists of a fruit scone, pot of clotted cream, mini jar of jam and a pot of tea (£2.55) or cup of coffee (£2.75). I seemed to have more cream and jam than I needed, so took the rest of the (yummy Taste The Difference strawberry) jam home, bit tricky to do this with the cream though. Nice this gives you the choice of tea or coffee.

Tesco’s Cream Tea, £3. The poorest value, which is unusual for Tesco.  The standard pot of tea, fruit scone, clotted cream and a pot of jam, which is quite ordinary, but charged at a higher price than the others.

One point that I would like to make about all these teas though  is that they are served with fruit scones, whereas I would prefer a traditional Devon (plain) scone – as would my husband who has a violent dislike of sultanas and currants.

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