Hotel Dolphin (Oceanside, USA)

The hotel is perfectly placed for shops, restaurants and nightlife. The beach, too, is only a few steps away. The location is ideal.

Genuinely friendly and caring; they obviously see their combined role as being to ensure that you are well cared for and that you are armed with all the information and tips to get maximum enjoyment from your stay.

The beach, shops, restaurants and nightlife; including the movie theater; are all within very easy reach. Forget about the car!

It comes with the (*very convenient) territory, but night time noise can be an unwelcome feature.

There are no blankets supplied, just flimsy sheets. So, it can get very cold at night. If you don't know the person you are sharing with very well; it's a pretty safe bet that you will do by the time the sun rises.

Towels are absent, presumed missing and rooms are only superficially cleaned following the departure of the previous guests. Consequent complaints go unanswered and you wonder if you would be better off sleeping - free - by a bonfire on the beach and imagining the things you would say to the hotel hierarchy, if only they'd pick up the **** phone! If you do get through, remember to express dismay at the fact that, to them, 'free parking' means ... find your own space on the streets nearby! Get the picture?.