Best Western Atlantic Hotel in Chelmsford

Review of Best Western Atlantic Hotel

Overall rating: 4  

Fine

Review of Best Western Atlantic Hotel

Overall rating: 3  

My wife and I recently stayed here and whilst uninspired by the outside of the building and its immediate environs, I was very impressed with the ambience and cleanliness of reception. On a very hot July afternoon the air conditioning was very welcome. You can only be greeted for the first time once and the young lady on reception nailed it. I was however a little bemused by the fact that having ordered a newspaper for the morning I was issued with my bill on arrival. What if I wanted room service I thought?
Accommodation was modern and clean. The room was adequate but I would have preferred a shower enclosure rather than over the bath. If I had paid full price for the room I would have been thinking over priced. The price I did pay was fair. Again we were welcoming of the air conditioning; due largely to the very loud Bangla music emanating from the carwash next door and preventing any open windows.
Staff? I only saw three [one being the chef]. This perhaps accounts for the fact that when we asked about food we were not encouraged. We had a drink at the bar but no snacks available. Enquiring for food we were handed the evening restaurant menu. Not suitable so we returned to our room and having perused the welcome pack found a room service menu. I still wonder why we had to find this for ourselves. Ringing for room service we were informed that we were 2 minutes early and the line went dead. We rang 10 minutes later and placed an order that took 45 minutes to arrive. Whilst the food was very nice the service was appallingly slow and disorganised. Perhaps there wes not enough staff?
Out of the hotel between 1930 hours and midnight. On return I took our room service tray back to reception. Breakfast was self service. It was OK. On booking out I asked for a copy of my listed extras since booking in and was informed I had been given it when I arrived. How can I have a complete list when I arrive? I can understand the need to secure a credit card on arrival (I'm a 54 year-old business professional and perhaps I look dodgy); but my experience of hotel acumen is that a completed bill is produced when leaving. Can't wait to see what i have been billed with when the credit card printout arrives.

From your advertising it is clear that Best Western has higher pretensions; I'm sorry, but on this occasion the service let you down. It just wasn't good enough and we won't be returning to this hotel.