'I drove 250 miles to a Travelodge only to make shocking discovery'

A man who drove 250 miles to a hotel made a shocking discovery when he arrived at his pre-booked hotel. Stuart Sommerville, a 62 year old Scottish visitor, was left in shock after driving from Scotland to Llandudno on the Welsh coast only to find his pre-booked hotel room unavailable.

The journalist had travelled from Biggar to the seaside resort to attend the town's 80th anniversary Victory over Japan (VJ) parade on Saturday, a significant event for him as relatives from Llandudno had served in the conflict.

Sommerville had previously visited the town in May for VE Day 80, during which he found a 1945 photo of his mother celebrating the end of the war in Europe on the promenade. However, his return trip turned into a nightmare when he was refused a room at the Travelodge in Llandudno and left stranded outside the hotel.

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After searching for alternative accommodation late into the night, he eventually admitted defeat and embarked on the long drive back to Scotland. Now, Stuart is seeking £80 compensation for the wasted fuel after the gruelling 12-hour round-trip that left him with a "bitter taste in my mouth".

He expressed his frustration, saying: "I was hacked off. I couldn't believe Travelodge had just dumped me on the street."

Travelodge has since apologised to Mr Sommerville for the inconvenience caused and offered him a full refund and alternative accommodation. During his VE Day trip in May, Stuart had stayed at the Gloddaeth Street hotel without any issues, reports North Wales Live.

For his return visit, he had booked a £91.99 room at the same hotel and set off from Biggar after taking a half-day off work, aiming to arrive by 6pm on Friday – just as he did for the VE parade. Following M6 delays, he found himself running 45 minutes behind schedule. His mobile began ringing during the journey, but he chose not to answer whilst behind the wheel. He pulled up at the hotel around 7pm.

"It was only when I'd parked up in Gloddaeth Street that I saw two missed calls from Travelodge," he explained.

Upon his arrival, he received devastating news – his room was no longer available. After demanding to speak with the manager, he was informed the accommodation had been double-booked.

Stuart revealed: "The manager told me the issue was caused by an independent booking system over which she had no control. I struggle to believe this is true. I suspect they thought I wasn't coming and just flogged the room to a walk-in."

Following company policy, he was offered an alternative room at a Travelodge in a different town but turned down the offer.

"Parking in the centre of Llandudno is difficult enough," he explained. "On VJ Day it was going to be even more difficult – it's why I travelled down the previous day to make sure I had a place to park. Having to drive in from Colwyn Bay, and find a parking space, would have been far from ideal."

He was then presented with a voucher as compensation. Having sworn off the hotel chain permanently, this too was rejected.

Eventually, he accepted a full refund in the hopes of securing alternative lodging. Stuart found himself in a predicament when he discovered that the only available room at Llandudno's Premier Inn could only be booked online.

Back in Biggar, his wife Caroline tried to assist but unfortunately, the room was taken by someone else before they could secure it.

"I knew it wouldn't be easy," Stuart admitted. "Llandudno has a lot of accommodation but in mid-August the place is bustling. I drove along the seafront looking for vacancies but every sign indicated the hotels were full. By this time it was getting late and I decided to cut my losses."

Caroline took to social media to express her "absolute disgust" at her husband's situation, which prompted several Llandudno hotel owners to offer their assistance. However, it was too late: Stuart arrived back home at 2am, having been forced to divert through Wigan due to an M6 closure.

Despite spending the first few years of his life in Llandudno and holding fond memories of the resort, including a photo of his grandad, a Home Guard sergeant, displayed in the town's Home Front museum, the incident has left a sour taste.

"It was one of the most bizarre days I've ever experienced," he said. "I just wanted to pay my respects at Llandudno's VJ commemorations but I never got to see them. In 12 hours I travelled 512 miles for nothing. It may be a while before I go back there and, when I do, I certainly won't be staying at the Travelodge."

Travelodge hotels operate 24-hour reception desks to ensure late arrivals can check in without hassle.

Booking conditions state that guests might occasionally find themselves relocated to alternative accommodation.

The firm insists this represents a "rare occurrence" and typically stems from unforeseen circumstances such as rooms being withdrawn from service due to unexpected maintenance requirements.

A Travelodge spokesperson commented: "We have apologised to Mr Sommerville for the inconvenience caused by the unexpected relocation of his booking and offered him a full refund, which he accepted.

"These situations are very rare, but when they do occur, we aim to contact the customer in advance and minimise any disruption by quickly arranging alternative accommodation at a nearby hotel."

The company confirmed it remains in contact with Mr Somerville regarding his request for fuel compensation.

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