Good Hotel Preston/blackpool Area

[naomi24]

The Hilton, Blackpool, has no availability for the date we want – just one night. Can anyone recommend a good 4/5 star hotel? We found one called the Village Urban Resort that has a swimming pool and looks quite nice in the internet pictures – but it’s only a three star so I'm wary. Does anyone know it? I don't know the area well and I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks.

[mazie]

This looks nice naomi

http://www.stanleyhouse.co.uk/

[Buenchico]

TripAdvisor's 'map view' function can be useful, as it allows you quickly see the location and user rating of hotels (by placing your cursor over the map pins) and then lets you click directly through to the details. This is centred on Preston:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g187062-Preston_Lancashire_England-Hotels.html#MAPVIEW
with this hotel looking as if it might meet your requirements:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187062-d605703-Reviews-Bartle_Hall_Country_Hotel_and_Restaurant-Preston_Lancashire_England.html
Website:
http://www.bartlehall.co.uk/

This is centred on Blackpool:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g186332-Blackpool_Lancashire_England-Hotels.html#MAPVIEW
Personally I'd forget about star ratings and go for somewhere like this (which is nominally only '2 star')
http://www.new-guilderoy-hotel-blackpool.co.uk/
simply because of the amazing reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186332-d549476-Reviews-New_Guilderoy_Hotel_Blackpool-Blackpool_Lancashire_England.html

However if you're seeking 4-star accommodation in Blackpool (since the town's website says that there are no 5-star hotels) you're limited to either the Big Blue Hotel:
http://www.bigbluehotel.com/
or The Imperial:
http://www.pumahotels.co.uk/hotels/imperial-hotel-blackpool/

Reviews:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186332-d271930-Reviews-Big_Blue_Hotel-Blackpool_Lancashire_England.html
and
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186332-d214930-Reviews-The_Imperial_Hotel-Blackpool_Lancashire_England.html
(Those reviews really tell you just how meaningless star ratings actually are!).

[bednobs]

i haven't looked at the reviews chirs, but i would be wary - you say star ratings are meaningless compared to reviews, but people who are in a 1-2 star establishment may have low expectations to begin with, making their reviews see fulsome (whilst the reverse may be true for a 5 star clientelle.
Naomi doesn't say why she particularly wants 5 star, but in my (i suppose, limited) experience, 5 star hotels have more facilities and add on's than a 2 star (swimming pool, better beds, bigger rooms, trouser press, toiletries, nice bathroom, choice of restaurants/room service and so on.

[naomi24]

Thanks Mazie - that looks quite nice.

Chris, thank you very much for your suggestions.

Bednobs, I agree with you. Star rating is very important. I want good rooms, good restaurants, and good service - and I think, in general, you get what you pay for.

[DJHawkes]

I personally can recommend two,
1) http://www.croftershotel.co.uk/
2)http://www.glendowerhotel.co.uk/

[naomi24]

Thanks Dot.

[JoelJones]

Starting your search online would be your best choice and I would recommend online booking sites like trip advisor. I think Doric Hotel is a good choice among others.
http://www.hotelbtlv.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/4626940.stm