DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central — Hotel in Great Britain

Some good things and some problems in terms of this Hilton. We booked a simple double room - two double beds and a pull out sofa. The beds were comfortable and the sheets were clean. The sofa was obviously dangerous, though, and my toddler immediately got hurt on it. We phoned the front desk, and they sent someone up who agreed that it was dangerous and maybe a bit broken. This will need to be replaced, but I wonder why it wasn’t replaced when it became obviously worn out and why we had to point it out, which was awkward.

The electrical wiring for the bathroom was a bit faulty and made a buzzing noise and needed the switch flicked a few times in the bathroom. The water pressure was good and the cleaners are excellent. The TV doesn’t have internet access so you can’t use Netflix or even YouTube even though it’s a smart TV, which is frustrating if you have kids or just want to watch something that isn’t daytime TV. Parking is wildly expensive. Room service isn’t very good value for money, because the food isn’t tasty, unfortunately - with the exception of the superfood salad, which was fresh and tasty. I recommend it, but not the dry burger or limp and undercooked chips, or genuinely terrible pizza.

The people working at reception are always polite and professional, and we got warm cookies when we arrived. That was really nice and made a great impression. The water in the pool is very warm, which is great. However, they’ve gotten rid of the sauna, and getting to the steam room means going up and down some rickety stairs that are past their prime. The tiles could do with a good scrubbing and maybe replacing, the pool could use some updating, and the changing room had big puddles and was very slippery except where a few non-slip mats were down. The tiles on the bathroom floors in the rooms are much better - a bit rough for traction, which makes them much more safe. It would also be great if they had swimming rings for sale for children and babies like the cheaper Glasgow Life public pools do, not just water wings.

The shampoo, conditioner and body wash is mounted to the wall in the bathroom (a bit hospital/industrial seeming) and during a bath, you have to stand up to access it then sit down again. When kneeling on the floor to bathe the kids, it’s stressful that these are so high. I also noticed that the conditioner was empty and hadn’t been checked. This was fixed when I phoned down, but I was surprised I needed to. There was no mini-fridge, and just those cheap UHT milk pods and Twinings tea and instant coffee with a kettle. In 2024, most hotels I go to have a wee coffee machine in the room that takes pods, not the instant Nescafé sachets from 2002. There was no bottled water, and no pitcher for getting water from the tap.

There are extensive roadwork outside the hotel, but this can’t be helped - however, the signage showing where people should park could be better and clearer. One of the lifts broke while we were there, but the lift doors open for only an instant and then close again so quickly you sometimes don’t have time to get on or off - some other reviews mention this as well, and I’ve never seen lifts like these (with that timing) anywhere else before.

The curtains were amazing for blocking the light, and there were a good amount of light sources to choose from in the room. We slept well, and the room’s thermostat worked well and we were able to select the most comfortable temperature for us. That was really good. There was also a hair dryer and an iron and ironing board available, and good storage space in the drawers, though not very many hangers in the wardrobe. We also had to phone down to get the Do Not Disturb sign, which was not in the room when we arrived. All in all, not quite what you’d expect from a Hilton, but there’s definitely worse...

My recent stay at this so-called four-star hotel was nothing short of a debacle. Although the location seemed convenient, ongoing construction rendered it a nightmare for anyone unfamiliar with the area. Unloading multiple pieces of luggage on a busy main street while cars honked behind us was stressful, and the hotel’s failure to inform guests for the parking to be the temporary access in advance only added to the chaos.

Upon arrival, my frustration was further compounded by the front desk staff. When I requested assistance with our luggage, the woman at the desk merely pointed to the luggage trolley and told me to "help myself." Given that we were paying a premium for this stay, such a dismissive attitude was inexcusable and starkly contrasts with the level of service expected from a four-star hotel.

I then had to navigate the hotel’s lobby with my elderly grandparents, who helped to roll in four large suitcases, two carry-ons, and several smaller bags. Although one staff member later recognized our distress and helped us to take our luggage upstairs , the initial lack of assistance set a very negative tone.

To make matters worse, our room was devoid of a refrigerator, which was a crucial amenity for us. My grandmother is diabetic and requires insulin to be kept cold, so the absence of a fridge was a serious oversight. I called reception to confirm, and they initially suggested an ice box can be available. But it will be £5 if I don't get it from the bar. When I went to the bar to retrieve it, I was met with blank stares and was told they could only offer a bucket of ice. Clearly this request was not communicated to them. This was also an impractical solution for our needs.

The alternative solution proposed—storing medication in a fridge located downstairs and accessible only through 24/7 room service—was both impractical and unacceptable. The idea that a diabetic guest would need to access critical medication four floors down at any time is a glaring oversight in guest safety and convenience.

After several more calls, a mini fridge was finally provided, but by then, the impression of the place was already damaged. I also faced issues with room service when I requested plates and cutlery for our ordered in food. Not only did they fail to deliver these items, but I was also instructed to fetch them myself from the bar, leading to cold food that I couldn't obviously microwave because they don't have one in the room.

This hotel lacks the fundamental amenities and services that define a four-star establishment. According to industry standards, such hotels should offer 24-hour reception, room service, concierge and a range of other features. Unfortunately, this hotel falls woefully short of these expectations. The poor management and lack of basic services have left me questioning the validity of its star rating. I strongly advise potential guests to consider other options that truly meet the standards of comfort and service one would expect at this price point. I have been to multiple establishments of many different ratings, nothing has disappointed me more than this. Especially because of it's price point and rating while being under Hilton's management. If i'm staying at the Hilton I expect to be treated like Paris Hilton.

I know the UK isn't particularly known for their hospitality but damn I'm paying for service and still not getting worth the price point.

ps- no bottled water service??? where is this...

Good in parts - quite a few things need improvement though. |The staff are always friendly and willing to help but frequently seem stretched and very busy in their duties. They remain a credit to the hotel though.|I stay here frequently as I work for a well known brand that has a need to routinely accommodate staff in Glasgow. I travel widely and in general I find the hotel average compared to others I stay at. The rooms are clean and tidy but mattresses are hard and often have bumpy and uneven mattresses. ||Breakfast is a fair spread but it’s all low cost food (don’t expect French quality croissants or sourdough toast). I like scrambled egg but Doubletree Glasgow sets new low standards for oily and waterlogged (drowning) scrambled egg! My toast is soggy within seconds. The budget hotels in Germany definitely win this comparison. ||The gym is the low point of the hotel. It’s dirty, dusty, grey and hygiene all around is doubtful to me. The machines are old, poorly maintained and don’t appear to get much cleaning or servicing. Of the three treadmills one operates ok-ish though it wobbles a bit, the second squeals and whines continually as it functions, and the third hasn’t worked at all for some time. Dust balls decorate the visible power cables along the scuffed and dented walls and the water tank hasn’t had any water in it any time I’ve been in there. The layout is more like that of a store room that’s had a few machines and free weights tossed in to it. I get annoyed every time I use it (only because the rain means outdoor exercise options are limited). I wish they would invest properly in the gym, but given that it’s been in this entropic decline for years, I am likely to be...