Dolphin Hotel Cambridge

This hotel is part building site part Fawlty Towers. We booked it for the riverside experience...on arrival it was closed, along with the restaurant. The bar was empty with the atmosphere of a midnight bus station. I went in for a nightcap but took the drink back to my room - no way was I staying in there.

We thought that the hotel was excellent. We read a couple of reviews which were not so good, however thought that it was great for us. We regularly travel to St Ives to visit our son and would definitely go back next time. Lovely room cleaned each day, fantastic location and handy bar. Thoroughly recommended.

Brought the wowcher deal for a night away with my partner, was really disappointed the place is run down, even though its been refurbished it hasn't been done to a good standard, luckily we didn't care to much what the hotel was like as it was more about enjoying the area, breakfast was dreadful everything dry and over cooked, coffee was the worst coffee I've ever tasted god knows what it was!

My wife and I stayed here in for a night away whilst visiting St Ives. I was slightly concerned when reading the reviews as not much was being posted positively recently As it turned out we were quite happily surprised on arrival. Although renovations were still ongoing the area that was being done was closed and had no impact on where we stayed The rooms were a decent size and were decorated to an OK standard. The bar area and Breakfast were both fantastic too, as was the actual breakfast in the morning. The Gentleman on reception was friendly and very helpful I feel a little bad leaving a 3-star review as the place and staff were great.... However, the mattress on the bed was unbelievable! I've slept on many mattresses over the years but this was THE most uncomfortable. Neither my wife nor I had much sleep as the mattress was cheap, hard and if you stayed in on position for more than half an hour you'd get pins and needles. I understand that different people like different mattresses. I prefer harder mattresses than my other half, but neither of us could sleep on this one! This led to neither of us sleeping much and both waking up with a sore back The hotel has huge potential what with being on the river and so close to a lovely town like St Ives. I just hope that the renovations will ultimately include changing and upgrading the mattresses

No heating all night so room was very cold. Radiators and towel rails off. No extra blankets either. Not enough pillows and no spares. Bed was terribly uncomfortable and batteries in TV remote were dead. We booked hotel for the waterfront bar and found it was all closed up with builders advertisements on windows. When we eventually found the bar on other side of hotel it resembled a 1970s social club that looked like the morning after a wedding had been hosted there. Everyone that walked in walked straight back out! Not a good experience. We were also given a disability room so sinks were lower and drive in shower. The wet room had rotted the bottom of the wooden door and toilet did not flush properly. I'd avoid booking here.

After reading some reviews, granted I can agree the place does look a little dated and refurbishments are happening. But I had not issues. I stayed on the ground floor (Room 60) with the lake outside. The room was clean and bathroom was tidy. Short walk into town for something to eat and drink is not an issue as quite a few places to choose from. No issues with checking in as it was swift and easy. Was offered breakfast but this was not required. Easy to find and great views and nice walks at the rear. It’s not glam or 4* - at a push maybe 3* but either way it was clean and quiet. Better than a corporate premier inn/travelodge. I’d be back for sure if needed in the future for work stay over,

This hotel was massively oversold. The photographs were very misleading and the offer of a 47% discount was very exaggerated. This hotel is very run down and in the midst of a complete refit after being used to house immigrants for the last two years. We paid £155. For a two night stay. We were seduced by the photographs of the hotel which were very misleading. On arrival it felt like we we were entering a building site, the main entrance was closed and most of the hotel looked like a storage site. The restaurant was closed, which was not mentioned in the offer details. The decoration in the hotel and rooms was shabby and monocoloured grey everywhere. The only saving grace from this experience was that the staff were all perfectly charming, so I have no issue with them. However, the company has no right to suggest that these rooms are normally £300 for a two night stay and should be reported to the trading standards authority. I very rarely write a negative report on my experiences but this was particularly disappointing.

Basic but pleasant hotel ! It is under renovation but room was comfortable and new ! Breakfast was very good for the price ! Some of the hotel is old and tired ! Ideally situated with a 5 min walk into St Ives ! Staff very friendly plenty of parking lovely walks near by , excellent views of the River Ouse .

This hotel was massively oversold on Wowcher. The photographs were very misleading and the offer of a 47% discount was very exaggerated. This hotel is very run down and in the midst of a complete refit after being used to house immigrants for the last two years. We paid £155. For a two night stay. We were seduced by the photographs of the hotel which were very misleading. On arrival it felt like we we were entering a building site the main entrance was closed and most of the hotel looked like a storage site for Jewsons. The restaurant was closed, which was not mentioned in the offer details. The decoration in the hotel and rooms was shabby and monocoloured grey everywhere. This place makes Travellodge look distinctly upmarket. The only saving grace from this experience was that the staff were all perfectly charming, so I have no issue with them. However, the company has no right to suggest that these rooms are normally £300 for a two night stay and should be reported to the trading standards authority. I very rarely write a negative report on my experiences but I would suggest you will be much happier staying in a Travellodge ( I have no issue with Travellodge you get exactly what you expect there ) than here.