krisek's travel recommendations

The Coachman (£37.50/single - May 2009) located near the very attractive train station, yards away from the station's clock tower, is... adequate, for a lack of a better word. The staff are friendly and helpful. One of them even offered me £10 vouchers for a Thai restaurant. The hotel looks grander than it is, particularly in the common areas and the stairway - very retro and tastefully furnished. The single rooms (i.e. #17) are very small and the shower/loo room is a size of a cupboard. Literally! And there is no closet for clothes at all. Yet, the room is clean. Although the tiny bed were so short that my feet hang outside. I felt like sleeping in a kid's cot. The hotel supplies towels, a tiny bar of soap, and a small sachet of shampoo. Breakfast is served between 07:00 and 09:00. No exceptions, apparently. There is a choice of cereal, and preserves but no toasts, but cooked English breakfast is available at request.

Address: 135 Victoria Road Darlington United Kingdom Phone: + 44 (0) 1325 286 116 E-mail: enquiries@coachmanhotel.co.uk Price: mid range