Ashford International Hotel

Last weekend I headed off on a little escape from London, to Ashford in Kent.

The Ashford International Hotel was my home for the weekend, and what a beautiful home it was. Part of the Q Hotels group, it's situated just off the motorway and a perfect hub for business or for relaxation.

Everything looks brand new and clean, and the reception area is huge and nicely furnished, complete with a warm welcome from the staff.


The room was hidden down a maze of corridors, but although the hotel is pretty huge you certainly don't feel like it's busy. It's not often you bump into anyone in the corridors, and the shared areas such as all the seating in the lobby were always comfortable and quiet.


The room was far more spacious than I had expected, and the red and pink decor felt plush and luxurious. Everything was spotlessly clean and the bed was unbelievably comfortable. The bedding was also really soft, and didn't have that starchy feel you get at some hotels.


I was slightly obsessed with the bathroom, which was beautiful, warm and bright. The shower gets top marks for its power, too.



I didn't have any evening meals at the hotel itself, but late night hunger led to the order of a delicious chocolate fondant. Breakfast both mornings was fantastic, with a huge range of foods, hot and cold, to choose from.



The one slight disappointment at the hotel wasn't the fault of the hotel, but to a conference group staying at the same time. There was a conference of student teachers who stayed on the Saturday night and were loud in the corridors. Breakfast on the Sunday morning felt crowded and a bit like being in a school or university dinner hall, as they were dragging extra chars over to tables and calling across the room to one another, which slightly ruined the calm atmosphere of the previous morning. However, when mentioning this on checkout the hotel kindly took care of some of the bill as an apology. It certainly wouldn't stop me returning.

I had expected to enjoy the weekend, but wasn't prepared for just what a lovely stay it would be. The hotel was just beautiful, and somewhere I would definitely return to if I had a reason to be back in the area.


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