Last Updated on November 5, 2022 by Suzy McCullough
We were recently invited to the preview event of ‘Christmas at Blenheim’. We live quite a long way from Blenheim Palace so I looked into staying nearby overnight. The Travelodge on Abingdon Road in Oxford were kind enough to provide us with a room in exchange for this review.
There are three Travelodges in Oxford and the one we stayed at is located just a short drive/bus away from the centre of the City. It was a 20-minute drive from our hotel to Blenheim Palace.
Abingdon Road Travelodge – Oxford
I used Google Maps to locate the hotel and it delivered us straight to the entrance to the hotel, so to speak. There is free parking on site. I was warned that the hotel was full that night and that the car park may have been full after our return from Blenheim.
Luckily there were still at least 5 spaces left. Had there been nowhere to park we could have parked over the road for a small charge for 24 hours at the park and ride. The hotel has a variety of pricing options which I will mention later in the review.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by a friendly member of staff. We were told everything that we needed to know such as times for breakfast, the location of our room and extra information about visiting Blenheim. We were booked into a family room which can sleep up to 4 people. (1-2 adults with 1-3 children or 3 adults).
Family Room Travelodge Abingdon Road
Our room was set out with a king-size bed and a camp bed for Jamie. There was another mattress tucked under the bed which I assume would have been made up, had we needed it. My bed was incredibly comfy and I seemed to have a choice of pillows. Some were soft, some were firm, some were thin and some were fat. (I’m not entirely sure this was on purpose).
The pillows were perfect for a fussy pillow person like myself. Jamie’s bed was a little lumpier than my own and I would imagine that if an adult slept on it they would feel this more than a light child. He wasn’t bothered as his weight did not press down on it.
The room was a good size and smelt lovely. There was an area to hang a few of our clothes and a large flat-screen TV on the wall. Plus a table with tea and coffee making facilities.
The bathroom included a shower over a bath, a sink and a toilet. It was clean and there were towels, soap and shower gel included in the room.
Watch below for a tour of our family room
What did the Travelodge Oxford have to offer?
Next to reception, there was a very well-stocked bar. At selected times you can buy alcohol at a discounted price. They had soft drinks as well as alcohol. If you need a drink when the bar isn’t open there is a vending machine in the lobby.
There was a large and well-designed area for sitting and having dinner or breakfast.
If you want to eat dinner here it may be an idea to reserve a table.
Breakfast at Travelodge
We had a complimentary breakfast included with our stay. You can purchase a breakfast for yourselves in advance with your booking or you can decide and pay on the day. Kids eat free with a paying adult. I have stayed in a lot of hotels and experienced a lot of buffet breakfasts. I can honestly say that this was one of the better ones.
There was hot food available – baked beans, sausages, bacon, scrambled eggs, hash browns, mushrooms and more. It was all tasty and hot. There was a coffee machine, juice, fresh fruit, yoghurts, toast-making facilities, cereals and pastries. I was especially impressed by the bowl of fresh fruit.
With our tummies full we headed back to Blenheim Palace to explore the palace and some of the grounds by day.
How much may a Family room cost?
I entered in a few dates for the next few months and the price to stay seems pretty much fixed. On a Friday night, you will be looking at around £80.00 for a family room with unlimited breakfast, 24-hour Wi-Fi access and the option to cancel up until noon on the arrival date.
Other pricing options are available such as a rate without breakfast and wifi at around £60 and early saver rates of around £50. These are great prices for a night’s stay. Obviously, they are subject to change and I can’t guarantee the price that I’ve mentioned. If you can it pays to try a few different dates to find the best offer available.
Disclaimer: We were provided with a one-night stay in a family room at Travelodge Oxford for the purpose of my review.
