Estoril is a new type of bed and breakfast modelled on the anonymity of Easyjet or HMRC – in other words, the absence of human contact. It works like this. You book online and they leave a key outside in a key box that needs a code. Then you get the key for your room. But you have to chase them to get this information. Breakfast is ordered via a form and appears outside your room at 0800, not earlier, not later. You don’t actually see anyone. With this arrangement you think, won’t the bacon and eggs (or whatever ) go cold? Don’t worry, you ain’t getting any. Just a cheese sandwich and a croissant., some fruit or cereal. But five items only! Gotta watch those margins. You want coffee? Well, you’ve got sachets of Nescafe instant in your room, what else do you want? I can’t speak for all of the rooms, but the one I had was taller than it was wider, the bedside light had all the power of glow worm in a tea cup,. There was one light in the centre of the room. It had all the atmosphere of a bus station. Though clean, it cried out for a make over and the toilet seat was amusingly mobile when you sat on it. It calls itself a private hotel and charges accordingly. If you are running a B & B in Penzance, this is a reassuringly low bar to easily clear. Next night, in Falmouth, I was at another B& B – half the price and amazing in every respect. But that’s another story!
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