Abergavenny Hotel (Abergavenny, United Kingdom)

They've obviously invested heavily in the rooms which are beautifully furnished and decorated. Beds are super comfy. There are lots of nice touches and even the ‘freebie' toiletries are top-end.

The welcome you get here is first class and really puts you in the right mood to enjoy your stay.

It's only a few minutes' walk into the centre of town and the usual collection of shops, bars and restaurants. The hotel is on quite a busy main road, but traffic noise isn't a problem. Don't be put off by the ‘continental' style breakfast; it's excellent. You can though, get a full cooked breakfast at the sister hotel. Don't feel obligated to go for the hotel's recommendations for later meals. Spread your wings a little and try Pizzorante, Boonta Too Thai, Gurkha Corner and La Brasseria. Nothing is very far away in this small town of Abergavenny.

As with many UK hotels, they've overlooked the need for air conditioning. In the heat of the summer months, rooms get unbearably hot.

The bathroom extractor fan just goes on and on. It seems as if it's stuck and then, just before you consider trying to dismantle the damned thing … it stops!

You do wonder if there is any owner/staff presence overnight, or is this basically an annexe for The Angel? The seeds of doubt are sown when you phone in the evening, maybe to say that you'll be arriving late … and there's no answer.