Base2stay, Liverpool

My rule of thumb with hotels is to write reviews only after staying at least two nights so that I have had time to experience (or at least discover) all that the hotel has to offer. The larger the hotel, the longer this takes; the inverse is also true.

Base2stay in Liverpool is an unusual exception to the rule. It isn't in the same league as monsters like the Marina Bay Sands but with 106 rooms it also isn't so tiny that you might expect a one night stay to tell you all you need to know. This is the clever bit; apart from the rooms and the 24hr reception desk, Base2stay doesn't have any facilities. None. Not even a small bar. It's brilliant.

So now you're probably wondering how a hotel without facilities could ever be called brilliant. What if you want to exercise? The hotel has neither gym nor swimming pool. Food? There are vending machines, a breakfast delivery service (which I didn't use and so can't comment upon) and microwave ovens in the rooms but no restaurant. Drink? Nope, you're on your own, although there are tea and coffee making facilities. Club, casino, conference room, business centre, concierge, room service? Again, no, not at this hotel.

What the proprietors have done, and done with great skill, is boil down the hotel experience to its absolute essentials; room, bed, bathroom, peace and comfort. They've done this by removing all the extras, the things you might use occasionally but that you can also obtain, often at far lower price, from third parties in the surrounding area.

What you do get is a modest room at a reasonable price in an elegant, comfortable building. Wifi is included in the price, as it should be in all hotels (see earlier rant on this subject), and there are plenty of power sockets in the rooms (including, I noted with interest, a Euro socket). Hidden or missing power points has, like expensive wifi, long been a bugbear of mine; it is my considered opinion that hotel rooms should have multiple, unused power sockets in each room to facilitate the convenient charging of phones, tablets and laptops. Base2stay delivers, with two sockets on each side of the bed and more at the desk.

The bathrooms are basic but comfortable. You don't get the full range of accessories (sewing kit, razor etc.) that you might get in some five star hotels but does anyone ever use those things? I don't, and I don't miss them when they're not in the bathroom. What I want is a good shower, fluffy towels, plenty of hot water, well-maintained surfaces and a decent light to shave by. Again, Base2stay delivers.

My conclusion is that if you want the absolute pinnacle of luxury and the added convenience of on-site facilities, just in case you need them, you'll want to look elsewhere. If you just want a comfortable place to sleep, Base2stay is definitely worth confiding. I will return.