The Palace Hotel

Really welcoming.

Unclean rooms, stains all over

We booked two standard rooms without a sea view. The price was very reasonable - about £80 - £90 a night for bed and breakfast and the rooms were a good size. Nice king-sized beds too. There were a few problems however with both rooms. The windows wouldn't open and in one of them the safe was broken. But the staff were brilliant - immediately someone from maintenance was sent to open the windows for us - it was quite hot during our stay - and my friend was moved to another room - supposedly with a working safe - actually that room didn't have a safe at all. She was offered another room change but was happier with the new room - wider entrance area, better running water in the basin and two chairs, including a comfy one. First room just had a desk chair. Other niggles were the water came out in a sort of spray in the basin in my room and the basin took a long time to drain. Showers very good but I had to ask for shower gel and shampoo to be filled up. Also the switch on one of the bedside lamps was just a hole which I thought could possibly be dangerous. Breakfast was good and we liked being asked how we wanted our eggs done each morning. Special thanks to Morgan and Jason(?) - the guy who'd only just started a few weeks back - sorry if I've got your name wrong - for their brilliant service, making me an Americano each morning, finding us some honey and being so cheerful, helpful and friendly. They deserve a bonus! But chef, please get some non-dairy yogurts. Oat milk👍. Thanx

Overall, we loved the place. No complaints.

They did not clean my bathroom and the cleaners equipment as left n the bathroom. They moved me to another room and the a/c did not work in this room. They gave me a free drink token as a Courtesy, I ordered a mojito at the bar with one guy who took the token, made the drink and then another colleague told me I could not use the voucher for that drink, service was a joke. To say the hotel is tired is an understatement, I will not be staying again.

The air-conditioning wasn't in working order. The window didn't open, when I tried to.open it, it fell down like a guillotine. There was a fan in the room, so the hotel obviously was aware of the issues. The toilet hardly flushed, had to use the kettle.

Another night away here, check in quick and efficient , lovely room with balcony giving us stunning sea views, big comfortable bed, hairdryer, kettle with tea and coffee, good size bathroom with toiletries, with bath and shower options. All staff friendly and efficient. One street away from all Southend has to offer.

Great location right on the sea front close to Adventure Island, the Pier and the high street. Check in was swift and the reception was open with helpful staff even at 4.30am when I came back from my night out. Room was clean and comfortable albeit basic with no frills and a small supply of tea & coffee. Bathroom was fine with a good shower. Ironing facilities in the room also and TV. Off site parking was straight over the road but quite expensive at £25 for 10+ hours. View of sea and Pier etc was nice

This hotel is in a fantastic location and reception staff were polite and helpful on arrival, our room was upgraded to sea view on initial booking through Booking.com (thank goodness I dread to think what the state of the other rooms look like) That is where the good ends From the outside the hotel looks good but once you get passed reception that is where the good ends. We checked in late and went straight to bed so didn't really pay to much attention to the room, initially what I did notice was the huge fan sat on the side immediately suggesting to me the Air conditioning was not going to be good. Had we had checked in earlier in the day and I had spend some time in the room I would have asked to be moved. Let me give you a run down of the issues Filthy dirty carpet Only 2 very poor quality pillows on the bed Dirty towel left on the back of the bathroom door from previous guest Shower leaking from both ends of the hose( this was reported to reception second morning and they were sending maintenance to the room -they did not arrive) Only one chair on the balcony for a 2 person room Excessive amount of pigeon mess on the balcony with a pigeon perched directly above the door making it impossible to relax with the door open Shower gel ran out second morning - obviously not re filled between guests This is possibly my favourite issue--- on the second day we returned to our room to realise that house keeping had not been in to the room. My husband went to reception to ask for clean tea cups and more milk for the morning to be told YOU have to request housekeeping if you want it!!!! Never have I ever heard of this. I have stayed in 3* to 5* hotels in the UK and across the world and I have never had to ask for housekeeping. Reception said we should have been told that on check in, we weren't and whilst the lady that checked us in was clearly new as that was explained to us she was being shadowed by an experienced member of staff who should have ensured such an important piece of information was passed to us. On the second night we sat in the bar for for a drink before returning to out room, there was a private function on at the hotel and the designated smoking area for those guests is the balcony from the guests bar on the first floor so for the entire time we were in the bar we were engulfed in a strong wind accompanied by the strong smell of smoke every few minutes as there was a continuous flow of guests from the function room to the balcony, they also then completely blocked the view of the beach and the funfair that we had been enjoying. We were offered a free breakfast or drink from the bar when these issues were brought to the attention of a member of staff which were declined whilst I appreciate the gesture the hotel need to get on top of the issues

Advertising very misleading, for £198.00 for one night without breakfast it was a very big disappointment. I have stayed in budget hotels that were cleaner and more comfortable. I don’t think I will be a returning customer.