Bonnington Hotel London - London, United Kingdom 

It was my third stay at this hotel -- and definitely the last one. In the two previous occasions (in September 2005 and April 2006) it was still called the Bonnington, the prices were reasonable (GBP 59 per night for a single room) and the overall value for money was much higher -- as my previous reviews indicate. Alas, my last stay however was rather disappointing. The Park Inn now boasts 4 stars and tariffs that are twice as higher than they used to be only two years ago when it was still called The Bonnington. However, the 4 star promise is false advertising. In some aspects, this hotel is even worse than what it used to be during the Bonnington days! Upon arrival I was given room 642 which can only be described as a shoebox. I couldn’t even unpack my suitcase in such a tiny cramped submarine cell! I asked the receptionist to change it but he said this could be done only in the morning. In the morning they changed it to a slightly bigger room in the fifth floor. The latter room had old decor, awful Edwardian sash windows that you can hardly open to let in some fresh air, paper-thin walls that enable you to hear every twit from the neighboring rooms (more on this below) and they no longer leave bottled water in your room. I realized that I'd been ripped off. Have no mistake: this is the same old 3 star Bonnington, with an amazing tariff of GBP 110 per night (the rack tariff is much higher, mind you) for a single standard room and a slightly less courteous service. If I had known all that in advance, I wouldn't have booked this hotel in the first place. My worst experience was during the second night. Hoping to get a good night sleep after an exhausting day, I went to bed at midnight. An hour later I was waken up by loud noises from the neighboring room: doors banging, loud giggles, screams, and other "sound effects". Apparently, one of the guests invited a lady of the night (or perhaps two ladies?) and decided to throw a little party. After an hour of incessant loud noises I called the night concierge and complained. It helped but my night sleep had been ruined already. And to think that this was supposed to be a respectable business hotel! Another annoyance: You need to leave a plastic slip on the pillow to indicate that you want to have the sheets replaced everyday. I left the slip on the pillow but I noticed that the same stained sheet remained unchanged for three nights! How convenient for the hotel and the maid to pretend they didn't notice the slip... On the positive side I can commend the excellent breakfast, the good location, the in-room safe and the large bathroom. Upon checking out, I had another dismaying experience when the porter who stored my luggage started to interrogate me about my destination and opened a long discussion about the conflict in the Middle East, his support of the Muslim Brethren in Egypt etc. I was terrified that he might tamper with my suitcase while I was out for 7 hours. I decided to take the suitcase out immediately and store at a friend's apartment in London. This last scene epitomizes my Park Inn experience: I should have stayed at a different hotel in the first place. The Bedford and the President just a few yards away cost GBP 70 per night and offer more or less the same amenities, albeit at a quieter and safer environment. I've learned my lesson well!

When we were planning our 25th anniversary "once-in-a-lifetime" trip back in October, the Bonnington Hotel jumped out at us. Though it was being remodeled, we felt sure it would be finished by our trip in late May, and that it would be better because of being recently renovated. We didn't know there would be a name change as well. I guess Park Inn bought out the Bonnington. We had locked in on prices back in October, but noticed the prices increased significantly in recent times. I don't think we could have afforded the increased prices, but we felt like we got lucky to get a post-renovation room and service at pre-renovation prices. But when we arrived, we were not at all disappointed. The hotel is completely non-smoking which makes it much more pleasant for non-smokers. There is air conditioning in each room, which makes it comfortable at night without having to open a window and hear outside noises. The room we booked for two was plenty large and had extras such as large LCD TV with DVD player, coffee pot and biscuits left each morning. We enjoyed a very clean bathroom, even including an electric towel warmer. On our last day, we found a terricloth bathrobe for each of us with slippers. As for service, we were very pleased. We got early check-in when we arrived in the morning, which was very helpful. We took a two-night trip out of London and needed to store our large bags, which was done without charge, and were there when we came back for another night. I had written an e-mail to ask about these needs a few days before arriving, and my e-mail was returned with all my questions answered. The consierge was very helpful in giving information about our activities and made calls for us and hailed us a taxi when needed. It did appear that this hotel caters to business customers, but we were very satisfied as tourists, and I would recommend the hotel for its service. It is a short walk to the tube stop, and buses pass there regularly. The only problem we had was with the air conditioner. The condensation began to leak from the ceiling and drip onto the floor. We reported the problem the next morning, and by the time we returned to the room, it was repaired. The breakfast was outstanding. When we reserved our room, the breakfast buffet was included, though it is only given now to business class rooms. It was very good and helped us get through the day. Check-in and check-out was quick and easy with no surprises. We ate one night at the restaurant, and the meal was delicious, though a bit expensive. I think you would enjoy your stay at the Park Inn, but I think you will pay a lot more now than we did. It certainly was worth the price WE paid. It was a good hotel with great service.