Royal Albion Hotel

Stayed here last week 1st-4th Oct '10 and enjoyed the stay. The staff were helpful and freindly but as most of them were not English they lacked communication skills, not their fault. For example jugs of milk with the deserts instead of cream, which they didn't understand was wrong. Soon changed though. The buffet meals were cooked fine and you could have as much as you wanted. A little lacking in imagination with food choices. Our room was oposite a night club which was VERY noisy till gone 3am, so very little sleep. The windows, original sash, were absolutely filthy inside and out and hadn't been cleaned for years. There was secondary glazing but even this was filthy. We had a sea view but spoilt because of the screen of dirt. The beds/linen and bathroom/towels were spotless. No entertainment at all and the TV in the lounge and the bedrooms didn't work properly. Yes we would stay again but would ask for a room away from the club. You don't get 5* at 2* prices!

This hotel is totally tired, jaded and altogether run down and needs a total refurbishment. We had the misfortune to book this hotel through a local tour operator.
We were at first put in a dull and dingy room, filthy windowsill littered in dirt and cigarette ends. We asked to be moved to another room and told there was only one available. This had to be seen to be believed. It was what they call a duplex room, a tiny bedroom area and a totally useless upper part. There was no window! Only a skylight 12 feet in the air so no way of opening it.
In the upper part were two sealed translucent domes, again no way we could get any air into the room. It was dire, the bath was dirty even had hair and fluff in the plughole.....disgusting. The bed sheet was full of holes and the bedspread was torn and grubby.
Altogether this room, room 514, was truly horrendous. We stayed one night, got train tickets and went home! Before we left we heard other guests had asked to change rooms and the evening meal was not good. Fortunately we ate out on the only evening in Brighton.....thank goodness.
The moral of the story is avoid this hotel!

Friday and Saturday night stay over B/Hol w/e. Was not informed of parking problem. No car park at hotel. Had to leave my 6yr old in car on double yellows whilst I took all our luggage, toys etc into lobby. Huge queue for check in so just left it by seats. Had to drive round looking for the NCP with available parking. Ended up a long way a way. (Plus, you can only pay for 24hrs so you have to go back during your stay to pay a further £9 for a further 24hrs. Hadn’t budgeted for that, and had to come off beach to buy another ticket). Didn’t need it after long drive in traffic and a hot day.
On check in, I said it would have been nice to have been informed about the parking prior to arrival. Said a note should be on web site or brochure. Receptionist said "it doesn’t say that we do have a car park!" I'd never been to Brighton before and every hotel I have ever stayed at in every country, has a car park. Would have been awful if had toddler or baby too. Check in was wrong. Wrong address, insisted I had not paid (paid weeks in advance through Concepts For Travel Agency). Room wrong. Delay. My daughter was getting restless as long drive, long walk to hotel, now waiting for paperwork (already done prior to avoid this). Had to wait for Manager. Had to go through same conversations. They expected me to pay again and sort out later!
Eventually got room booked and confirmation that I had paid. Although, I had more of a side sea view than full on. Hotel is old, basic and tatty. Smell of damp everywhere. Room was falling to bits. Window wouldn’t shut properly, so noisy at night. Jacuzzi didn’t work (booked especially). Air con didn’t work (not due to window not closing properly). Mould and grime. Whilst waiting for check in to be sorted, a lady complained of foul damp smell in her bathroom, and a man complained the window would not open and there was no air con in his room. Hotel was full so people were not happy.
There were a lot of stag and hen groups staying. Noisy place, until 4am and 7am. No entertainment as indicated on web. Plus, the terrace bar/seating area on web is not there. It’s just a tatty old roof with rubbish, cans, pizza boxes, pigeons pooh etc on it. Had a tiny balcony that was not safe for any child under 6. Was open so you could walk past the other two rooms windows (my daughter, being 6 and curious, had to peek). Stress for me to keep her in check.
Complained re air con and Jacuzzi. Had to chase them up as nothing done. Air con was then tampered with and ended up working a little but dripped all the time. Plus, a wire was left hanging from grill. Had bowl in front of door to catch dripping and had to keep eye on it to empty it. Plus, couldn’t have it on at night as noisy. You could hear when other guests were going to the toilet and showering. Our shower was static so couldn’t wash hair over bath, and it was just a tepid trickle. Shower gels etc were cheap and nasty (glad brought own). Furniture was grubby and marked. Bin in bathroom had nasty things stuck to bottom of it!
Breakfast was basic and tasteless slop. Nowhere to really sit and relax. Bar does not allow children. Later asked for discount or something for agro, was told they would change our room if they weren’t busy but other than that they could do nothing. Said what is the point in changing our room when I’ve heard lots of other guests complain about their room. Asked for a good rate for an extra night, they wouldn’t do it even though not busy on the Sunday. Place is crumbling. Looks fab on web. Don’t be deceived. Concept For Travel also said I was getting excellent rate inc' discount voucher. Would have been cheaper to book direct. The rest of the stay was fab’ as we went out all the time. Oregano restaurant is great. Décor, food, service, price.

I really liked this hotel. We got a really cheap room rate over the internet including breakfast.
The decor was dated and the hotel wasn't luxurious but the room was comfortable and the staff were helpful and polite.
Best of all the hotel is located just across the road from the pier & beach and the lanes and other shops are easily accessible.
I have now stayed here twice and would definitely do again.