Hotel Hampton Inn Los Angeles/Arcadia (Arcadia, USA)

All the public areas, including check-in, are really clean and attractive. So, you obviously feel that this is all 'front' for iffy rooms. No! Rooms too are attractive with spotless bed linen and comfy beds. This hotel is comfortable and clean throughout.

That bagged breakfast is a great idea for those on the run. If you stay for the in-house breakfast, it isn't amazing but it is impressive and much better than those endured elsewhere by seasoned travelers.

Restaurants and shops are nearby, WiFi is actually very good and the pool is welcoming and obviously well maintained. For location and value, this place is difficult to beat.

Customer service goes out of the window at weekends. It seems that the pool is open house for hotel employees to impose their noisy kids on paying guests trying to relax. Needs sorting.

There are still rooms here that have escaped the passage of time and remain somewhat dirty with lumpy beds and accessories that are about to expire. The refrigerator, for instance, fails to live up to its name and the generally low standards can lead to the introduction of fleas and bugs.

If you miss that initial breakfast rush, you'll find that all the hot items.. hot coffee and hot water, have disappeared completely. More important; they haven't been replaced and neither does there appear to be a change in this situation any time soon. On the plus side, noisy cleaners start corridor cleaning at an extremely early hour ... so you'll probably be up and about and first in the breakfast queue anyway!