Grand Burstin Hotel Folkstone

One night was more than...

Liked: Location and the view
Disliked: The hotel has seen better days and needs a big revamp and bringing to the 21st century.

Very good

Liked: Good location with friendly staff.
Disliked: Nothing

Very good

Liked: Better thsn I thought it would be...nice balcony

Unpleasant

Liked: When arrived I booked in, and I was allocated to room 1001 on 8th floor as a Premier room. The second standard room which I booked has been given on the six floor 656 and not as requested nearby.When I went to my room, I was not happy considering as a Premier room. The windows were not cleaned. I went back to the reception and asked to change of the room. The reception told me that they are fully booked, and they cannot change. I was instructed by reception to phone Bitania Hotel and see what they can do. I called the booking office and spoke to Natasha who informed me that they have available two rooms. Back to reception and told them that there is available room. They told me that there is one room – then I asked can I have a key to view the room. The answer received – they can’t give me a key unless I exchange now in the reception. The first time I experienced this kind of answer. “I wonder if the people at reception know code reservations and allocation room at hotels .” I asked to speak to the manager and Ms. Levi come out from the back room and with the tone of “we told you that we do not have any other room and you are coming third time, and you can see that we are busy “ I was astonished to have this arrogance in the management without any courtesy to the customer. “ So, I was left with any alternative. “In room 1001 – the dresser was dirty, not adequate lighting in the bathroom. Th electric shower doesn’t work, no towel bath matt supplied. On the balcony the rail dirty and sticky and this was called Premier Room.? I understand that if I pay price for Premier Room, I should have a better standard. With comparison to the standard room 656, my Premier room was much worse than the Standard room. The shower in the standard room 656 was connected to the main bathroom tap with the proper pressure water. I could not wash in my Premier room – electric shower not fit for purpose.
Disliked: We are sitting in main bar and order drinks. I order Gin and Tonic – the barman give me a small glass, which was too small for Gin and tonic, so I asked for bigger glass and he brings me beer glass which it was too big. I give-up. My next order was just English tea, then it was so milky that I asked for another one. When he went to make it, I followed and saw that he is pouring milk to the cup from a big carton box appx 25cm x 25cm square with straw fitted on the top middle. I refused and asked for refunds.I would like to point out the accident which add to all the unpleasant stay at Ground Burstin Hotel. A man walking with the small dog in the middle of the bar floor – and the dog sits down and urinated on the carpet, we have been shocked. The man picks up the dog and walks out. We waited that the incident will be reported, and somebody can come and clean the area. Nothing happened.The next morning, we went to Victoria Restaurant for breakfast. As we don’t eat English breakfast I asked only for toasts, marmalade with tea. At first, we have been refused to stay in restaurant as this is only for full breakfasts, and we have been informed that we can have tea and marmalade at the bar at 10 o’clock. Called the manager and the lady allowed us to stay in the restaurant.

Passable

Liked: Great location, but hotel needs renovation

Old, dirty and in need...

Liked: It was 15 minutes from Dover
Disliked: Car park was full, had to pay £20 for another car park. Rooms (X2) were not clean (at least not to the standard a hotel should be). The bathroom taps barely worked and the decor is from the 1970s (which is probably the last time the carpets were shampooed). This is a £20 per night hotel at best.

Very poor

Very good

Liked: Well priced clean bed for the night before Dover ferry crossing
Disliked: In need of decorating/updating but will be our goto in future before hopping over the channel

Very good

Liked: The room was well cleaned. The staff were friendly and courteous. The hotel’s location is excellent. We liked everything else as well.
Disliked: People in the neighboring room were smoking on the balcony, and when I asked them to stop because the smoke was coming into our room — and it was hot, so I didn’t want to close the door myself — they just ignored me and kept smoking.