THERE’s a universal rule of thumb that ‘you get what you pay for’ – so when I booked a £23 hotel in one of the UK’s most popular seaside destinations, I was definitely apprehensive.
It’s estimated that Blackpool has around 500 to 600 hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses. And with that many, the choice can be overwhelming.
Scouting for the cheapest option, I came across The Vernon costing from just £23 – or £11.50 per person, per night.
While alarm bells ring when I find something this cheap – will it be clean, is it even real – after a couple minutes of hesitation I pressed the looming booking button.
Within 24 hours, my Booking.com reservation was confirmed, with a check-in time of 4pm and no further instructions.
The hotel itself lies on a street just off the main promenade and is only a couple of minutes’ walk from both the beach and the closest tram stop.
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So when it comes to location, I really couldn’t have asked for better – far enough away from the hustle and bustle to not hear it, but close enough that I can enjoy it and pop back to the hotel in two ticks.
Standing outside the hotel, I could have easily mistaken it for a pub, with textured cream bricks, two large bay windows and a sign that has seen better days.
Though, it was still in a better shape than I had anticipated.
Stepping inside was rather like stepping back in time, with elaborate carpets, mahogany beams and textured plaster walls.
To check in, there was one man standing at an old counter with a notepad and pen at the ready.
With no computer in sight, I simply stated my name, which he then checked against his notepad and highlighted to signify that I had checked in.
Sometimes, the old school way is the simplest.
The old school theme continued when he handed me my keys (physical door keys rather than an electronic card) with one for the front door of the hotel and the other for my room.
The hotel has 15 rooms ranging from family options to singles, but I was staying in a ‘superior double’.
After a rather arduous 20 minute battle with the door lock, when it just would not open, I was in.
The room before me was flooded with light coming from a large window.
Mind you, you don’t get much of a glamorous view (not that I would’ve expected one for the price).
Instead, I peered out to see a flat grey roof, scattered with empty pill packets.
On the surface the room looked neat and tidy enough, and a decent size, with a double bed in the middle with two towels placed neatly at the end.
Deploying tactics learned from years of binge-watching Channel 4‘s Four in a Bed, I got straight to work.
The bed was comfortable and clean, with sufficient pillows on each side and there were no bed bugs in sight.
But just when I felt pleasantly surprised at the cleanliness of the room, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a crescent in the carpet.
By the skirting board, there sat a rogue toenail clipping.
It felt like a budget hotel ‘rite of passage’, but it was definitely a souvenir I didn’t want from my time in Blackpool.
Two bedside tables also featured reading lamps, though the remains of two defunct wall lamps still hovered above them.
One wall boasted a TV and another had a full-length mirror.
By the window was also a chest of drawers where I found the kettle, tea, coffee and milk pots – of which there were plenty.
Expecting to find layers of crusty limescale, I popped the kettle lid and… nothing. It was spotless.
I was simultaneously disappointed and relieved – so far, so good, I thought to myself.
Then onto the en suite. While ultimately outdated with a cream-coloured bathroom suite, it was notably clean.
As if they knew I would inspect the cleanliness of the toilet (I was taking this very seriously), the seat was already lifted up to reveal a perfectly polished bowl.
The shower had the same clean sheen.
In fact, the only things to note in the bathroom were a broken tile, a slightly scruffy window seal and a watermark on the ceiling.
Just don’t expect any complimentary shower gel, shampoo or conditioner…
Obviously for this price you don’t get breakfast, but downstairs you can make the most of a social room with a large pool table and even an in-house pub.
Now, I’ve stayed in some pretty grotty places and I’ve also experienced my fair share of hostels.
While I am young, I might still opt for the hostel especially as these tend to be part of big chains that set a standard.
But if I wanted privacy, then The Vernon wouldn’t put me off.
While my experience wasn’t awful, it is worth noting other guests who have recently stayed have left reviews commenting that the milk in the room was out of date, some of the beds are uncomfortable and despite advertising there is a hairdryer in each room, there isn’t in some.
But for the price, and its location, can you really argue at any of the hotel’s imperfections? Personally, I think not.