DoubleTree by Hilton Bath — Hotel in Bath

A Weekend at DoubleTree by Hilton Bath: A Masterclass in Fiscal Audacity and Dim Lighting

Let us begin by acknowledging the gravitas of paying over £200 a night for the privilege of lodging in a building that appears to have borrowed its check-in policy from the Ministry of Silly Walks. One might assume such a sum would buy more than a glorified nap in a room where the absence of a bath—in a city called Bath, no less—feels less like an oversight and more like a wry commentary on humanity’s hubris. Alas, no. The DoubleTree experience is less "Roman thermal retreat" and more "Saharan austerity camp," complete with a shower cubicle so utilitarian it could double as a confession booth.

The Good(ish):

The hotel’s location is undeniably its pièce de résistance, nestled between Waitrose (a temple to middle-class quinoa procurement) and Bath’s historic attractions—all a mere 15-minute trudge from the station. The room, while lacking in aquatic indulgence, was spotlessly tidied, as if housekeeping had been briefed by Marie Kondo herself. One almost expected a note: “We joyfully folded your socks. The bath? Not so much.”

The Bad (Where to Begin?):

Let us dissect the check-in time: 4pm. A 4pm check-in, paired with an 11am checkout, suggests a business model optimised for those who enjoy paying £200 to store luggage while contemplating life’s fleeting nature. Arrive at noon with dreams of freshening up? The receptionist will greet you with the cheerful nihilism of a British train conductor: “See you when the sun slinks off, love.” By 4pm, you’ll stumble into your “upgraded” King Room—a term that here translates to “space where a bathtub once died of loneliness.”

The lighting scheme, meanwhile, is a triumph of anti-romance. Forget mood lighting; this is void lighting. The absence of a central bulb turns every evening into a treasure hunt for misplaced earrings or that single black sock you swear you packed. Intimacy? Fear not. The dim glow ensures any amorous endeavours will resemble a fumbling reconnaissance mission. (“Darling, is that your elbow or the tea tray?”)

Then there’s the HVAC system: a industrial-grade hum that alternates between “distant lawnmower” and “poltergeist with a vendetta.” It’s less white noise, more existential soundtrack.

Breakfast: A Study in Missed Opportunities

The morning spread was… fine. The butter was creamy, the bread unobjectionable, the tea served in a pot that whispered, “We’re trying, aren’t we?” But where was the pride? The regional flourish? The brag about Bath-sourced sausages or milk from a cow named after Jane Austen? Instead, we got a buffet that could’ve been airlifted from a motorway services. One half-expected a sign: “Yes, Romans loved our beans. Probably.”

In Summary:

For £100 a night, this would be a charmingly eccentric stay—a twee farce of First World problems. At £200, it’s a financial haemorrhage wrapped in en suite absurdity. The DoubleTree Bath is less a hotel, more a satire of hospitality: a place where you’ll pay handsomely to yearn for a bath, squint at your partner, and marvel at how very British it all is. Bravo. Or perhaps: Brav-no.

Final Thought:

If Jane Austen wrote a review after three gins, this would be it. Proceed with lowered expectations—and a...

This has been one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had. We booked our room and upon check in was told that there was no a/c anywhere in the building (temperature is 85F). When booking my stay the day before, they asked for my number to send updates regarding my reservation and was NOT told this in advance. They then tried to make it “better” by offering complementary breakfast and a drink. When I said I can’t use that since I already paid for a brunch the next day, the lady at the desk proceeds to sass me and speak rudely to me. I was rightly upset, but was not rude to her at all, as I knew it was not her fault and out of her control. I then asked if I could have another way to be compensated for the inconvenience because knowing the temperature I would have not stayed at the Hilton or any hotel for that matter if it did not have a/c. If you are paying 250/300 dollars you should have a/c and sleep comfortably. The lady was unhelpful and rude and made me even more upset about the situation than I was before. I get you can’t control if the a/c blows, but warn your guests in advance and don’t be rude to your guest who have just traveled 3+ hours to come stay with you. Shocking. But I’m not even done yet.

We get to the fourth floor to our room and the hallway is boiling hot and a mess (ex: rogue slipper, cleaning supplies, etc. in the hallways). We get in the room and the windows don’t open even when we were told at the desk they would so we could get a breeze. We had to call the main desk to ask maintenance to open the window because it was locked shut with a big “DO NOT OPEN WINDOW” sign on it.

My husband had a work meeting and was expecting to be able to use the “Premium Guest WiFi” to have a 30 minute Zoom call. That didn’t work either. A 0.8 mgbs internet connection in a +$250 hotel room is a joke and he needed to reschedule the meeting because of this.

When we left for dinner we spoke to another guest who was staying on the second floor. She said they had a/c and it was slower, but still cool in their room… and that she was behind someone who was checking in and got moved to the floor with a/c. I was told NO rooms had a/c and there were no rooms to switch into that would be better.

Later after dinner we came back and another lady was at the desk. We stopped by the see if there were any updates and she is just as unhelpful and stand-off ish as the first lady who checked us in.

I am now sitting in the room boiling hot with a fan on me, flies flying around the room and groups of seagulls squawking (because of the open window) trying to stay cool. Worst staff, worst experience. When booking at any hotel, you expect 3 basic things 1) sleep comfortably, 2) friendly/helpful staff, 3) clean room (our room was at least clean). When you stay at a Hilton hotel, you should expect more given its price and reputation.

Save your money and go somewhere that actually knows what hospitality is, because Hilton has clearly lost it. I will never stay at a Hilton Hotel ever again and would never recommend them to anyone. You’re better off at the Travel...

The hotel is very comfortable although my room was a tad on the small side. The bed was very comfortable.The staff are very friendly, helpful and professional. I had a river view room which was a plus and the views across the hills were beautiful.

Disappointments for me were 1: the bedroom hospitality tray. The coffee provided is cheap and nasty and no still water is provided meaning that one either has to drink bathroom tap water 😳 or buy one's own in the town. This just seems mean to me. 2: the bedroom light switches were very temperamental. Switching them off at night didn't always work straight away. 3: Breakfast: I would say that the only reason to include breakfast in the tariff is convenience. The bacon is the fattiest bacon I think I have ever come across! Then there were the eggs. The scrambled eggs were watery and the less said about the fried eggs the better! Coffee machine coffee was just awful and left a really nasty aftertaste in my mouth. I had to brush my teeth a second time after drinking it. And the toasters don't toast bread adequately. I didn't try the continental breakfast. There are plenty of lovely cafés only a few minutes walk from the hotel and unless one is pushed for time, I would recommend trying one of those for breakfast.

The communal areas of the hotel, bars, lounges, corridors and lifts, are clean and well maintained and, as I said earlier, the staff are friendly, welcoming and very professional.

I would definitely return but won't include breakfast in my booking next time. Were it not for the breakfast, I would have awarded the hotel four stars.

UPDATE: In addition to the above I must add that I was extremely disappointed by the housekeeping or lack of it at the hotel. Having been out on business all day, I was somewhat taken aback on my return, at about 6 p.m. to discover that my room had still not been made up. I went down to reception to express my disappointment. The receptionist was very apologetic and assured me that the room would be fully refreshed by the time I returned from my evening in town. I was therefore incredibly disappointed to discover that although the bed had been made and the towels changed, the toilet bowl was dirty and there were toe-nail clippings on the floor. Very poor show!

UPDATE September 2022: This return stay has been very disappointing so far. Firstly, the room I was allocated on arrival wasn't the room I had been told I was being given when checking in. They only changed my room when I threatened to cancel the booking and leave. Secondly, breakfast this morning was very disappointing. Sausages and bacon overcooked. This happens when you have precooked food sitting under hot lights for a long time. The fried eggs were disgusting inedible and the scrambled eggs were watery. Overall I'm very disappointed so far and, so far, feel disinclined to return or recommend the hotel. Not what one expects from the Hilton brand. I hope that someone in Hilton Hotels management reads this. I look forward to receiving...