I just stayed for two nights at The Dorchester in London which proved to be an underwhelming experience.

The room was nice -- large enough by London standards. The design scheme was floral, although not in an overpowering way. The TV was equipped with a keyboard and an on demand entertainment system similar to one I am familiar with at the Lanesborough, except that the Dorchester wanted £18.50 a day to use the Internet facility.

This was the beginning of the nickel-and-diming. On check-out I discovered I had been charged for a toothbrush and razor that I had requested along with some "supplementary" items in the "inclusive" breakfast. The charges were removed, but it left me seething (see my rant here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=509269) not least because the duty manager was rude and condescending when I questioned the charges.

Back to breakfast. We had decided to stay at the Dorchester, for a number of reasons. We had stayed at its sister hotel, Le Meurice, in Paris which we enjoyed, there was a special offer on the LHW site (although I received no Leaders' Club perks) and I had read that the Dorchester is the last bastion of the great English breakfast.

Believe me, it's not. They can't even poach an egg properly (unless you like them hard and rubbery) and they didn't even use proper leaf tea (when I sent back the pot full of stewed tea bags, the leaf tea I received in return was so strong that only a navvy could drink it). They also did not clearly indicated what was included in the room rate, only pointing out at checkout that the inclusive breakfast had a £25 ceiling.

Other irritants included chambermaids entering the room without knocking, a FILTHY spa, no mineral water provided at turn down, inflexibility over late check-out (available to you, sir, for just a mere £150). OK, OK, I know I'm getting a bit picky here, but as I was paying for this stay myself I have a right to be fastidious.

Next time I'm back in London, I'll stay at the Lanesborough even though it seems to have hiked its prices lately. It may be expensive, but on the three times I've stayed there the service has been impeccable and I certainly have never been asked to pay for a toothbrush.