Renaissance Reading Hotel

, Reading, United Kingdom
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Renaissance Reading Hotel

4 star

Rooms: 196

Oxford Road - Reading - England - RG1 7RH - United Kingdom 44 01189586222
235 Traveller

Reviews - Renaissance Reading Hotel

10/10
AMAZING
Submitted by: barry in 14/09/07
  • Age Group: 26 - 30
  • From: United States
  • Traveller type: Luxury Traveller
I think this hotel had character and I enjoyed the maid service, very handy! The food was amazing and cooked to perfection i would stay again if i was ever came back to the counrty and will tell all my friends. About the amazing room i was so lucky to have. Thank you for the amazing 2 weeks.
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Historical Traveller Reviews of Renaissance Reading Hotel

Avoid unless you do not have another alternative

from Beltrav
Avoid unless you have no alternative or like aging carpet flooring and deco as well as depressing lobby area with robotic/professional staff.
Upon checking out ,the hotel failed to unblock my Visa card 'reserved ammount'. Three days later, the amount was still blocked and I had to call the hotel to have it released.

Just OK!

from EEYORETIGGERR
The hotel is the only large 3/4* star hotel in the area and as result I think it is very content with its position making very little effort to improve. In general the hotel is ok, the rooms are large and clean, it has a good gym with decent equipment (although pool is small and the Jacuzzi not working) and the staff are nice although sometimes their knowledge of the local area is limited. However the hotel is dated and in need of a refurb which it is unlikely to get until some real competition opens up in Reading. It summary its not a bad hotel but it isn’t four star luxury!

Old Hotel, Service top class

from TomBomb
Stayed here for 12 days with work. Cost 150 pound a night and i would never pay that myself.
The Hotel itself is old enough as past reviewers have mentioned. The room is pretty basic and i was staying in an executive room. I think the thing that sets it apart is the service. The breakfast is excellent and the restaurant is very nice. Although the bar food is quite average. From the receptionist to the bar staff i cannot compliment them enough as they goout of their way to help you.
The pool is horrible and the gym is tiny. If there are more than 5 in there it is like a sauna.
All in all I enjoyed my stay here and if i was in Reading I would go back.

A bit tatty, but the service is good

from sound_bytes_llc
A mixed review really. The quality of the service is on par with any Marriott property. The general level of material condition and wear is well below what I would expect for a hotel that costs $300 USD/night. Having said that, I have no real complaints.

Average hotel, reasonably priced but nothing special

from Travelminx
We stayed in a standard room which was fine, but there were a number of problems. The mattress was really pretty bad - it was really soft, which didn't make for a good night's sleep and we kept rolling in toward the middle! Not much fun. The air con was not working very well but all night there was a constant humming from the air con grid, although it was turned off. This was, as you can imagine very irritating. Our TV remote did not work and we had to ring reception twice to get someone sent up. They did have nice toiletries in the bathroom and the staff could not have been nicer.

At check out, they mistakenly applied a valet parking charge, which was removed when we pointed it out. The pool and whirlpool are definitely due a facelift. Breakfast was very good, however and again, the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. I would have expected more from a 4 star Marriot hotel, but I think it just needs some renovation. Overall, an average hotel with good service, which is reasonably priced.

Not that bad

from flyingirl80
My husband and I stayed here for a week in an Executive room. The service was fine, the room was a good size and clean. It is not a particularly exciting hotel, then again Reading is not a particularly exciting place!

It serves its purpose well as a business hotel but look out for a soon-to-be-opened Novotel on Friar Street or for a romantic break, try the lovely boutique Forbury Hotel.

The Renaissance also has a decent-sized albeit dated swimming pool and spa. I didn't use the sauna or gym so cannot comment on either. The high-speed internet access cost £15 a day - which I found a bit steep although that seems to be the going rate for hotels.

If you are needing to stay in Reading, this is not a bad choice as you are conveniently located in the town centre. The Oracle and its restaurants are a 5 minute walk. There are several places up and down West Street/ St. Mary's Butt.

The main complaint would be that the widely-marketed "free parking" is in fact a fiddlesome system of parking in the local Broad Street Mall (not the nicest parking place), getting your ticket validated by the reception, then when you want to get out of the carpark, getting the guard to give you an exit pass in exchange for your validated ticket. Alternatively you could use the valet parking for a few quid (twice a day or more if you are here on business and using your car to get around) that soon adds up.

Just Fine!

from MokupuniFan
My wife and I recently spent 4 nights at the Renaissance. For our needs, it was just fine. The room was clean and spacious with fantastic access to some nice restaurants, shopping, and the train station is just a 5 minute walk away.

If you want to stay in town, this really is the best option you have. The hotel is a little dated, but the staff is extremely accomodating and took wonderful care of us - our every need was promptly and thoroughly addressed. New mattresses would allow me to give a better rating (hint, hint).

The pool was nice and the hotel restaurant served up a very good breakfast. The selection was more than ample and the quality was excellent.

Valet parking was only 2GBP per night. Free parking is provided adjacent to the hotel in a parking structure - but yes, you do have to walk a whole block back to the hotel.

Most importantly, the hotel is clean and the bathrooms are good (plenty of hot water and no plumbing issues). If I return to Reading for business - I would stay here again without hesitation.

WHAT A DUMP!!!

from JABSanFrancisco
I can not believe that Marriott would have its name on a hotel that looks like this. The hotel is dumpy, dirty and in need of a massive renovation!! The decor must be from the early 70's and is old and filthy. Luckily I was there for work and didnt have to pay out of my own pocket but it is unreal that in a town with as many business travelers as reading that there is not more competition and nicer hotels. I will certainly ward my work colleagues about staying here! I cant believe the price the hotel charges for being such a dump (155 pounds (approximlaty $300)!!!

Marriott Fan but not of this hotel

from A TripAdvisor Member
I am a fan of the Marriott brand and like the fact that where ever in the world you go, a Marriott is a Marriott. I was not though happy with the renaissance in Reading. The hotel is old and in dire need of a lot of renovations, you know when you cant clean anything anymore but it still looks dirty and grubby?

As in all Marriotts the staff are great, always smilling and friendly, and the food is first class but I paid £166stg a night for 5 nights recently and I thought it not worth the money. In fact I did consider moving to another hotel, but the devil you know...

Parking is not great again in a next door multistorage with a dodgy back starirs if after 6pm and I did get a little nervous when coming down one night late on. The location is real close to the centre ( 5 mis walk) but the five star accomaadation flag just seems too much. I am sure with the facilities it is 5 star, but I will go on Marriotts own rating of category 3 (out of 7) from now on. I wont be hurrying back.

FK

Good hotel!

from xsauth
Well, being often on business in Reading, have stayed in this hotel many times within this year.. Having travelling abroad and stayning in other Marriott / Renaissance group hotels in Europe, I would say that this is good hotel. Not the best, for sure, but in many cases much better than some other Marriott's are.

The most effective from my mind about this hotel is service. They just trying to give you best from what they have, even then don't have a lot of, actually. The building is old and outdated, the rooms are classy, but needs more modern renovation/look, the bathrooms requires maintanance and close attention too. But these issues so far are well-balanced and compensated by attractive, personal and warm service. I saw different scenarios on hotel's everyday life - fully booked & overcrowded or with no electricity supply at all on morning - they did all cool and managed to get through nicely.
Executive rooms are fine, but ordinary rooms are ok too - the difference is just in complementary amenities you get in pack and also bed might differ. The food is nice - quite standard on breakfast, with good choice (although not that wide as top Marriott's gives). The lobby bar is my favorite place to have a beer on evening accompanied by some nice meal (seasonal selection changes + some all-time unbreakable values).

My few complains goes to some from the reception staff who don't know what is chip-card and how to use it, thus you might find your card rejected by reception, although the ATM nearby will easily brings you money. Also don't rely to much on wake-up call and be prepared to wait your taxi bit longer than expected, otherwise its Ok. :)

And after all, I'm missing their chocolate on pillow in every 'other' hotel stay.. Nice touch.

Top Local Tips for Reading

Nino's Italian Restaurant Superb Italian restaurant in the centre of Reading (anout 5 min walk from the Renaissance Hotel). £9.90 for as many main course as you can eat. Don't let the price put you off it reall was superb - try the Peri Peri Chicken.

Town Hall Who would have thought a museum about Reading would be interesting - more than enough to keep you busy for an hour or so (especially if its raining!).

Shopping!! Reading is great place to go shopping. There seemed to be every shop there!! From department stores to little boutiques and specialist shops. A favourite of mine.. TK max was just a few doors from Renaissance, always good.. Lots of resteraunts and the chinese resteraunt next to the hotel looked very very popular, particuarly by Asian people, so I reckon that would suggest its pretty authentic and well worth a visit.

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Other names for Renaissance Reading Hotel

  • renaissance reading
  • renaissance hotel reading
  • reading penta hotel
  • Address: Oxford Road - Reading - England - RG1 7RH - United Kingdom
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"AMAZING" - barry

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