I was in the area for a week on a corporate visit. Since it was Royal Race Week, the rate on my usual places near Ascot went from somewhat expensive to outrageous, so I thought I'd try here.

This is a very good place to stay for many reasons. The room and bathroom are smallish but clean and comfortable, with excellent housekeeping. Most of the usual stuff expected in a business-class hotel (but sometimes absent in Europe) is there: internet access, ironing board and pants press, coffee/tea-maker, AC, etc. While the hotel is on a main road, the room on the 7th floor was quiet. The windows can open, but you have to get room service to unlock them. The service people throughout were very professional, good at what they do, and tried hard to make your stay enjoyable.

Some shortcomings: no in-room safe; drawer space is good but the front-facing closet space can be cramped for two people on an extended trip (spouse was along this trip;) minimal toiletries, although they'll supply the basics you might have forgotten (e.g. toothbrush.) The bedding included synthetic duvets -- we should have asked to change to regular sheets and blankets earlier as these are MUCH too warm unless you really crank up the air-conditioning, which seems like such a waste.

There is for-fee internet access terminal in the lobby. It was often unused for a reason: the fee is the most exhorbitant I've seen, especially when many 3-star hotels in the U.S. now offer it complimentary with the room rate. Fee: .25 pounds A MINUTE, i.e. 50 cents U.S. a minute. I know the exchange rate isn't favorable, but other hotels I stayed in later in the Europe trip were much more reasonable.

Public rooms: The hotel is a few years old, but still feels new. There is a small cocktail lounge and TV in the lobby; on-site gym (which I didn't try); there were some additional renovations to the public area going on that did not interfere with guest rooms or the other public rooms.

There is a very good and extensive breakfast buffet, which was included in our room rate (NOT always the case, and was a little pricey on its own, but much of this area is:) scrambed eggs, multiple options for sausages and bacon, tomatoes/mushrooms, cereals, many fresh fruit and juice options, very good bakery items.

Dinner in the same dining area was more uneven. One evening after a large, late lunch, I opted for dinner in th restaurant of tomato soup (very good) and a duck/greens salad off the small-plates ment. The duck was a bit dried out, and the few greens were swimming in a balsamic dressing. There may be more reliable items if you choose carefully, or go out to the restaurants in town.

The HI is centrally located in Woking, i.e. a number of reasonable restaurants and a couple of pubs in walking distance. 'Strongly recommend Olivo Italian restaurant (excellent veal and risottos) and Thali Thali thai (VERY helpful and good food!), both about a 5 minute walk. The train station is also a short walk away, with frequent service to Waterloo station in London (15 pounds round trip, and very helpful people manning the ticket office.) There is also some shopping in town, everything from the necessities at Boots to odd things at the charity shops to a mall with a Debenham's department store - but shops often close by 6 p.m.

If you have a car, there are a number of very good casual to dressier places for meals in this upscale area of London suburbs.

To sum up: I'll definitely consider this place the next time I'm in the area. My rating indicates that for this type of hotel in this area at this time of year, it was a pleasant, efficent, good-value stay.