I led a student group here at the end of May 2006, so we had no choice but to stay at this hotel, since it was the tour organization that booked us there. We have to assume the A.T. gave this tour company great rates, as I know that they have booked groups there before, and since. Several of the parents had read previous reviews of this hotel,so we were already apprehensive about staying here. It wasn't as bad as we invisioned, but it wasn't good, either. Room was dark, dingy. There was apparently a hole under our carpet (the floor gave way a bit in one place). The bathroom had apparently been renovated, so it wasn't too bad. The wallpaper around the tiny light sconce by the bed looked to be put up quickly. A hole larger than the sconce's base had been cut in the paper so you could see the wall underneath. The carpet was very dingy. I was afraid to walk on it without shoes on. The door did not lock easily, and it was not tight fitting. The view out our window was of a construction site next door, where we watched a rat the size of our cats running around. There had apparently been a building right up against this hotel, that had just been torn down. I'd hate to think what the view was before! The elevator was a joke: so small only two people with luggage could get on it. We just took the stairs (thank heavens for wheeled luggage!). We had to ask for towels, as we were only given one bath towel for the two of us (me and my husband). The staff that we met never smiled. At least they didn't appear to be local countrymen (turbans on their heads, some of them), so we didn't assume that this, our first encounter with Scots, to be typical. I overheard our tour guide (from England) having great difficulty talking to the desk clerk about our reservations. The breakfast WAS plentiful and tasty, but that is about the only good thing I can say about this hotel. I would never stay there voluntarily. I can also only hope that the typical tourist (not a student tour group like we were) would be given nicer rooms, as I have seen a couple of reviewers say their rooms WERE nice. Our room (and the tacky decor in the tiny lobby) gave us a sense of being in a hotel that charges by the hour.......

My Girlfriend and I booked one night in the Alexander Thomson hotel because we had an noon flight the following day. We thought it would be a great way to finish off our week long tour of the highlands. On previous visits to Glasgow we have always booked a hotel on the outskirts of the city but this time we decided to book a hotel in the city centre. The hotel is in a great location in the city, 5 minute walk to Glasgow Central Rail station, and a great as a base to explore the city by foot. When you arrive, as there is no car park, you will be told to use the Cadogan Street NCP car park. leaving it overnight is reasonably cheap but if it were to be there longer this would be an extra expense you would have to pay. The receptionist was reasonably helpful and booked us in with no hassle. We found the room and were a bit disappointed based on first impressions. The bedroom and bathroom were large enough but the final decoration/finish of the room was a bit poor. When having a shower the waste pipe was blocked so that the water was not running away. The curtains were dirty and as it was in June we decided to open the window for some fresh air we found out that our room was above the kitchen extract fans and all the smells of the kitchen were coming into our room. We decided to keep the windows closed and put up with the heat. We would of complained and asked to be moved to another room if we were staying longer than 1 night. Overall the loaction is great but the quality of the room was a let down. Next time we will try a different hotel.

The reception area is deceiving as it does look as though a refurbishment was undertaken, but the room does not reflect that. The servive, however, was good and all the staff were polite and helpful, so that has to be said. The room was painted and was fairly clean, although the carpet looked dirty and had a large red wine stain on and was a little threadbare in places. Not very encouraging. Bathroom suite had been fitted, but the fittings rattled around in their holes and there wasn't any way to have a bath or a wash because no plugs. Shower worked though. The mirror over the sink was so high I could barely use it without standing on tip toes...I am 5'3", so a fairly average height for a girl.

Although the bedding was clean and white the lighting in the room was very poor with just one very dim overhead light, which was cracked. The double bed headboard was filthy and covered in stains...yeuk. The single bed looked as though it had been added later as it butted up to to full-length mirror, which was a bit strange. The tv didn't have a good picture and the remote control didn't work, which is very annoying. The tv was also at a height of about 10ft, so not easy to watch as had to crane neck up if sitting.

The walls were painted in neutral, but they should have been stripped and replastered and repainted it just looked as though the refurbishment meant slapping a coat of paint over everything, rather than doing a nice job with it. There were bits of skirting board missing and, where fixes had been done, these were done very badly with ill-fitting bits of random wood.

The street was very noisy at night time, no air conditioning, so in July there was little choice but to have window open for air. The door to the room did not fit properly and the door jambs looked and felt as though they could come away in your hand. It did not leave us feeling as though our room was secure with out possession in. Finally, the room was beside a swinging heavy and very ungreased and noisy fire door. Because the door to the room did not fit well (quite big gap at bottom) and because the fire door was noisy we did not sleep at all well.

I would not say that this hotel would suit a budget traveller as it is quite expensive for a low budget. I have stayed in the Radisson in Ingram Street and paid the same for a far superior room, albeit without breakfast.

Three staff gave us different times for breakfast and as a consequence we missed it on our first morning, so the value of the room plummetted even further, but when we did finally get a breakfast, on the second day, it was very satisfying.

I would not stay here again. I felt the hotel was a folly.

i booked this hotel in jan for a shopping trip with a friend who is now studying full time and on a budget. i then read the reviews only a week before we left and was horrified to see the comments on the hotel. we arrived in glasgow and got a taxi to the hotel the taxi driver didn't think much of the hotel either saying to watch our money etc. which got us even more concerned. on arrival we were pleasently supprised, yes the outside area around the hotel is going through redevelopment so looks a bit drab but the reception area and staff are pleasent enough. we arrived quite early so room understandibly wasn't yet ready so instead, to accommidate us we were given a suite (a bigger room with a double and a single) the room was suitable for our needs, spacious with tea facilities table chairs and a large bathroom the decor was ok but the room and white bedding was clean. the towels changed every day and beds made. what's more we were very central to the shops and bus and train services. i would have no problem recommending this hotel it is a two star hotel and very cheep great for a shopping trip.