Can anyone who has had a bad hotel help when claiming refund or compensation?

went for Christmas, website looked good, got there it was terrible not as described. We left after 3hrs we were so cold and the place was dismal, dirty ,grim and COLD. We were the only people staying there and we believe they wanted to get rid of us . We returned home ...round trip 400 miles

You should have made your feelings known at the time, but you could complain to the company saying how unwelcoming your reception was and how you felt the website was not a true representation of the hotel.

Read review sites before booking again, to get a better idea from guests who have used the facilities and can give a "warts and all" impression of the hotel rooms facilities and general location.

Your explanation about it being grim would need more details but the lack of heating and how dirty it was would help your case.

Should've gone to Turkey dude, at least you'd have had 'Xmas dinner' alright hey?....

Didnt you complain. did you sign out and everything?

Unless the hotel was part of a chain you have very little hope of getting any money back, find out who grades them AA, RAC, tourist board welsh tourist board etc and make a complaint to them, you could also try and get them for trades description ask in your local CAB office, in future look on www.laterooms.com for any accommodation as it has great hotels and reviews and you can only review if you have stayed there which makes a massive difference Good luck