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Summary of reviewsThe Star Hotel in Southampton stands out as an excellent option for travelers, thanks to its prime central location. Situated right on the high street, it offers remarkable convenience and accessibility to major shopping centers like West Quay, Marlands and various pubs, restaurants and cafes. Its strategic positioning is ideal for both leisure explorers and business visitors, providing easy access to local attractions, the historic St. Mary's Stadium and transportation hubs. This makes it particularly favorable for pre-cruise stays due to its proximity to cruise terminals such as the Mayflower Cruise Terminal.
One of the highlights frequently mentioned is the hotel's breakfast, praised for its wide array of delicious, freshly cooked options. Guests are satisfied with the quality, value for money and the friendly, helpful breakfast staff, making it a delightful start to the day.
However, the dining options fall short during lunch and dinner hours, as the hotel serves only breakfast. Despite this, the staff directs guests to excellent nearby eateries, mitigating this downside significantly. The hotel bar also earns points for its well-priced drinks and great cocktails, though it has limited operating hours and does not serve meals.
The rooms at The Star Hotel receive mixed reviews. Many guests appreciate the cleanliness, spaciousness and cozy ambiance. The friendly and efficient housekeeping staff ensure that rooms are tidy and comfortable, though some guests mention dated furnishings and occasional maintenance issues. Despite elegant boutique-style decor, the lack of air conditioning and noise isolation can be a drawback, especially during hot weather or in noisy surroundings.
The friendliness and professionalism of the hotel staff are consistently highlighted, contributing greatly to the positive overall experience. From the reception team to the housekeepers and bar staff, guests commend the warm and welcoming service, often noting how it enhances their stay.
Free WiFi at the hotel offers mixed experiences—with some guests finding it reliable and others encountering connectivity issues. While not a strong feature, the other positive aspects of the stay, including exceptional staff service and enjoyable meals, make up for it. Parking, although limited, is reasonably priced and secure with nearby public options available for larger vehicles.
Families find the hotel accommodating with spacious family rooms, kid-friendly amenities and attentive service ensuring a comfortable stay for all ages. However, its central location amidst a bustling nightlife area can result in significant noise, which may disturb light sleepers or those not accustomed to the lively surroundings.
In summary, The Star Hotel excels in its exceptional location, friendly staff and satisfying breakfast offerings, making it a desirable choice for travelers looking to explore Southampton. While some areas need improvement, the overall guest experience remains positive, thanks to the welcoming atmosphere and convenient amenities. Show more
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Categories
Family Friendly Hotel
Hotel near Nightlife Spots
Business Hotel
Hotel with Parking
3-Star Hotel
Room Types
Cosy Single RoomThis room offers a TV and an en suite bathroom. Also includes a telephone, and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Twin RoomThis room offers a TV and an en suite bathroom. Also includes a telephone, and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Double RoomThis room offers a TV and an en suite bathroom. Also includes a telephone, and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Family RoomThis room offers a TV and an en suite bathroom. Also includes a telephone, and tea and coffee-making facilities.
Cosy Double RoomOffering free toiletries, this double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The double room offers a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor, heating and a flat-screen TV. The unit has 1 bed.
Standard Double or Twin RoomProviding free toiletries, this twin/double room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The twin/double room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor, heating and a flat-screen TV.
Classic Triple RoomProviding free toiletries, this triple room includes a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. The triple room provides a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor, heating, as well as a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 3 beds.
Guest Reviews
6.9
Rated
Location
The Star Hotel in Southampton enjoys an enviable central location, making it a prime choice for travelers seeking convenience and accessibility. Guests repeatedly highlight its perfect position in the heart of the city, right on the high street, providing easy access to shopping centers like West Quay and Marlands, as well as a wide array of pubs, restaurants and cafes. The hotel is ideal for visitors aiming to explore local attractions with the historic St. Mary's Stadium, various cruise terminals and vibrant nightlife spots just a short walk away.
Notably, the hotel's proximity to the Mayflower Cruise Terminal and convenient public parking options make it particularly suitable for pre-cruise stays. Many guests have appreciated its location for being only about a 20-minute walk to key points of interest, including transportation hubs like the train station and ferry services. This strategic site is especially beneficial for those coming for shopping sprees, as it places them just minutes away from major retail areas.
The hotel's central placement in Southampton's old town also allows history enthusiasts to relish the historic charm of their surroundings. Despite its prime spot, the property offers a unique blend of the old-world ambiance and modern convenience with numerous facilities close at hand. Overall, The Star Hotel provides an excellent location for both leisure and business visitors, ensuring a pleasant stay right in the middle of Southampton's bustling city life.
Breakfast
The breakfast experience at The Star Hotel has garnered largely positive feedback from guests. Many appreciated the wide variety of choices, from freshly cooked traditional English breakfast to a well-stocked buffet featuring cereals, yogurts and fruits. Guests repeatedly described the breakfast as delicious, tasty and freshly cooked, indicating a high level of satisfaction with the quality and preparation of the food served.
Several reviewers highlighted the excellent value for money and ample portion sizes, suggesting that the breakfast options leave guests well-satisfied for the day's activities. The breakfast staff received praise for their friendliness and helpfulness, contributing to a pleasant dining experience.
However, a few guests noted some areas for improvement, such as the dated decor of the breakfast room and occasional lack of certain items like fruit. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment remains positive with many guests recommending booking with breakfast included due to the enjoyable and satisfying meal that sets a great start to the day.
Dinner
The Star Hotel offers a mixed experience when it comes to dining options. While breakfast at the hotel consistently receives high praise for its tastiness and quality with words like "excellent" and "great" often used to describe it, dinner options at the hotel itself are notably lacking. Many guests expressed disappointment that the hotel does not serve dinner or lunch and the on-site restaurant appears to only operate during breakfast hours. However, the hotel staff is helpful in directing guests to nearby dining options.
Luckily, the hotel's location is ideal with many restaurants, bars, pubs and a Wetherspoons pub serving good meals at reasonable prices just a short walk away. Guests recommend these surrounding eateries for a variety of dining experiences in the evenings.
The hotel bar, while praised for its good-priced drinks and great cocktails made by the bartender, has limited opening hours, closing early and not offering meals. Some guests felt the dining area was not particularly welcoming, but the plethora of nearby dining establishments helps mitigate this shortcoming.
In summary, while The Star Hotel excels in providing a fantastic breakfast, it lacks in-house dining options for other meals. Fortunately, the abundance of nearby restaurants and bars makes it easy for guests to find good food in the surrounding area.
Rooms
"The Star Hotel" offers rooms that tend to impress with their cleanliness and spaciousness as highlighted in numerous reviews. Many guests appreciated the refreshing decor, modern touches and comfortable beds paired with good-sized bathrooms. However, the hotel also has its share of drawbacks, notably outdated furniture and signs of wear and tear, such as chipped paint and cracked windows.
Rooms are often described as cozy and functional with basic amenities like kettles and complimentary coffee. Despite the charming boutique-style decor and historical character of the building, some guests note issues related to facilities that need updating and noise due to poor noise isolation and single-glazed windows.
Guests who were upgraded to larger rooms were generally pleased with the additional space, modern refurbs and pleasant aesthetics. The rooms are described as suitable for short stays and the hotel's location adds convenience for tourists.
In terms of negatives, room temperatures were often mentioned with a lack of air conditioning and inadequate fans leading to discomfort during hot weather. Some rooms also suffered from poor ventilation and required better cleaning or refreshing.
Overall, while the rooms at "The Star Hotel" offer comfort and historical charm, they would benefit from modern updates and better noise control to enhance the guest experience.
Beds
The beds at The Star Hotel receive mixed feedback from guests, though overall, many emphasize comfort. A large number of reviewers found the beds to be comfortable, clean and conducive to a good night’s sleep with several mentioning the beds were "very comfortable," "comfy," "cosy," and even "the comfiest beds l've ever slept in." The beds' sizes, including "large" and "super king-sized," were well-received, making the sleeping experience pleasant for numerous visitors.
However, some guests pointed out issues such as "squeaky" or "creaky" beds, indicating that movement could sometimes disrupt sleep. Concerns were also raised about the firmness of the mattresses with reviews noting the beds being "too soft," "very hard," or even "lumpy.” Bed frames occasionally came under scrutiny for being "badly repaired," "broken," or "sagging," and some beds were reported to be "very uncomfortable" or had "missing components,” impacting the overall comfort.
Despite these occasional drawbacks, many guests were pleased with the cleanliness and comfort of the bedding and mattresses, contributing positively to the experience at The Star Hotel. Overall, while some improvements could be made to enhance consistency, the majority of reviews reflect a generally positive sleeping environment.
Cleanliness
The cleanliness of The Star Hotel evokes mixed reactions from its guests. On the positive side, many reviewers frequently highlight how clean the rooms and common areas are, using phrases like "very clean", "spotlessly clean" and "clean and comfortable". The hotel often receives credit for rooms that are both tidy and aesthetically pleasing with spotless white sheets and clean towels. Some guests specifically appreciate the friendliness and efficiency of the staff, contributing to a welcoming and tidy environment.
However, the hotel does not escape criticism. A significant number of reviewers mention areas needing improvement, such as stained carpets, dated furnishings and rooms that feel "musty" or smell unpleasant. Issues like unclean bathrooms, dirty walls and poor vacuuming are repeatedly noted, along with the need for major refurbishments to update and maintain the property. Structural issues, such as creaky floors, unsteady bed frames and peeling paint, also detract from the overall cleanliness experience for some guests.
While The Star Hotel is acknowledged for its central location and generally clean rooms, there is a noticeable demand for better maintenance and refurbishment to meet broader expectations for cleanliness.
Staff
The Star Hotel boasts a standout feature that guests consistently rave about: its exceptional staff. Welcoming guests with warmth and cheer, the staff at this hotel create an inviting atmosphere from the moment of arrival. The reception team, in particular, is noted for being friendly, professional and eager to assist with any inquiries, providing swift check-ins and attentiveness to guest needs.
Guests repeatedly mention the helpfulness and courteous nature of the entire staff, including housekeepers and the bar team. Specific individuals, like Anna at reception and Nathan in the bar, receive special praise for their personalized service, ensuring guests feel cared for and entertained. The positive energy extends throughout staff interactions with many guests appreciating the cheerful demeanor and good humor of the personnel.
Furthermore, staff members demonstrate a high level of professionalism and efficiency, often going above and beyond to accommodate guest requests and resolve issues promptly. From facilitating parking arrangements to offering helpful advice about the local area, their proactive approach leaves a lasting impression.
In summary, the friendly and helpful nature of the staff at The Star Hotel stands out prominently in guest reviews, making them a key asset to the overall guest experience. Their consistent professionalism, welcoming attitudes and willingness to assist add significant value to staying at this hotel.
Wi-Fi
At The Star Hotel, guests have mixed experiences with the WiFi service. A significant number of visitors describe the WiFi as reliable with some highlighting it as good, strong and without issues. However, others have faced challenges, citing slow speeds, inconsistent connectivity and instances where the WiFi did not work at all. For some, connecting to the internet was a hurdle with difficulties ranging from the WiFi being borderline non-existent to it not reaching their rooms. Despite these inconsistencies, aspects like low-cost coffee and friendly staff add a positive touch to the overall stay, balancing out some of the frustrations with the internet. Although the WiFi may not be the hotel's strongest feature, other offerings such as tasty breakfasts and courteous service make it a place worth considering for one's travel plans.
Parking
The reviews for parking at The Star Hotel reveal a mixed but overall positive experience for guests. Many appreciated the convenience of on-site parking, available for a reasonable fee of around £5 to £6 per day, which allowed easy access to the hotel's amenities and nearby attractions. The presence of safe, secure parking was frequently mentioned and guests were pleased with the ability to leave their cars while they embarked on short cruises.
However, parking space at the hotel is quite limited and tends to be tight, making it a bit challenging, especially for larger vehicles. Despite this, the guests found alternative public parking nearby and appreciated its proximity. Many highlighted the availability of parking as a key factor in their decision to stay at the hotel.
Overall, while parking can be somewhat tricky due to limited spaces, the reasonable pricing and secure location within the city centre make it a convenient option for travelers. Guests recommend contacting the hotel in advance to ensure a spot and to understand the parking arrangements better.
Family
The Star Hotel has garnered positive feedback from families who have stayed there, particularly praising its family-friendly atmosphere and amenities. Guests have highlighted the good size of the family rooms with some even featuring balconies and picturesque views. The hotel offers practical layouts that cater to family needs with amenities like a pool and designated kids' areas proving popular among younger visitors.
Children seem to love the hotel with a notable mention of a staff member, Nathan, who kept a young guest entertained with a game of Jenga. The hotel's consideration for families extends to having highchairs available for breakfast and offering rooms with baths, which are a hit with toddlers who aren't fond of showers.
The staff are frequently described as friendly, accommodating and attentive to family needs, providing helpful advice and ensuring guests are well-updated during their stay. The family-run nature of the hotel contributes to its warm and welcoming atmosphere, making it a place where families feel comfortable and cared for.
Overall, The Star Hotel is recommended for those traveling with children, offering spacious rooms and a welcoming environment that makes for a pleasant family stay. However, it's worth noting that the hotel may not be ideal for elderly guests or those with specific mobility needs.
Nightlife
The nightlife around The Star Hotel is vibrant and bustling, making it an excellent choice for visitors eager to immerse themselves in the local scene. Its central location places guests right in the heart of the action, close to a variety of bars, pubs, restaurants and nightlife venues, all within a short walk. The hotel is conveniently situated near high street shops, historic sites, theaters and entertainment areas, providing endless options for dining, shopping and socializing.
The nearby pubs and clubs offer lively activities and entertainment and there is no shortage of places to enjoy a pint or a meal. Helpful bar staff and reasonably priced drinks add to the appeal, making it easy to enjoy an evening out without straying far from the hotel. Public transportation options, including taxis and buses, are easily accessible, facilitating easy reach to other parts of the city as well.
However, the vibrant nightlife comes with its downsides, primarily the noise. Street noise, noise from nearby bars and general hotel noise, especially late at night, can be persistent, sometimes lasting until the early hours of the morning. This can disrupt sleep, especially for light sleepers or those unaccustomed to the hustle and bustle of a busy nightlife hub. The hotel’s proximity to lively spots like the historic Bargate makes for an exciting stay, but also a noisy one, particularly on weekends.
In terms of amenities, the hotel itself is described as having an old-fashioned charm with dated decor and some maintenance issues. The single-pane windows allow much of the outside noise to filter through and some guests reported issues with cleanliness and general upkeep. Despite these drawbacks, the hotel's unique character and superb location make it a favored spot for those looking to experience the vibrant nightlife and historic charm of the area.
No, The Star Hotel doesn't have any pool.
No, a spa isn't available at The Star Hotel.
No, The Star Hotel doesn't allow dogs.
Yes, parking facilities are available at The Star Hotel.