Travelodge now charge for parking but don't inform you. We had booked to stay near Stansted airport at Great Dunmow - no mention on the booking confirmation - and when we arrived late at night there were no signs and reception didn't mention it. Next morning we found a parking ticket for £20 slapped on the windscreen. Complaints to customer services just received the brush-off reply that the parking area is nothing to do with Travelodge and run by a separate company. This makes for an expensive stay. Beware!!
Updates
Having checked on the Travelodge website (which I am guessing you used to book) there is a parking tab on there which does say parking at this property is run by a private company and the cost is £3 per 24hrs. Reasonable I think. I am however surprised that the reception didn't tell you or have signs posted. If I am driving to ANY hotel I will always check what parking arrangements they have. I can't see how you entered into a contract to pay for parking. Just because they charged you doesn't mean you have to pay.We're fortunate that here in Sydney if they tried it on then their company would be on talkback radio or even talkback TV, although I believe the parking thieves are more savage in Melbourne with their wheel-locks and everything.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
