I stayed at Parklands Hotel recently and unfortunately had a rather uncomfortable experience. On the morning of checkout, the fire alarm was triggered not once, but three times, each about 20–30 minutes apart starting shortly after 8am. Understandably, this caused significant disruption to sleep, leaving me tired and stressed before departure.
Due to the disturbance, I requested a late checkout to recover slightly—moving it from 11am to 12pm, at a cost of £15. When checking out, I spoke with the polite front desk agent and raised the issue, explaining that the only reason for the extension was the repeated fire alarms. She assured me it would be raised with a supervisor and I’d be contacted.
Unfortunately, the email response I received from the supervisor (Gil McHugh) stated that because the alarm occurred after 8am and was not deliberately triggered, the hotel declined to refund the £15 late checkout fee. While I understand that safety protocols must be followed, it’s disappointing that a goodwill gesture wasn’t offered, especially as the multiple alarms clearly impacted guests’ rest.
It’s the lack of empathy and flexibility that left a sour note on an otherwise decent stay. I hope the management reconsiders how they handle such situations going forward.
Under no circumstances would I recommend this establishment for a peaceful night’s sleep.
