trainophile
Established Member
Okay, thanks for the tip. I tend to avoid subscribing to things that bombard you with junk mail but I'll see if I can set it to just the hotels etc.
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Accommodation suggestions and reviews
- Thread starter Blindtraveler
- Start date
Okay, thanks for the tip. I tend to avoid subscribing to things that bombard you with junk mail but I'll see if I can set it to just the hotels etc.
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R
RailUK Forums
You can set up alerts from HotUKDeals for specific keywords, so you could have ones for just deals that mention Premier Inn Edinburgh and filter them by the price and the temperature of the deal.
trainophile
Established Member
Wow! Some experiments coming up.
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
I generally look at Holiday Inn Express these days instead of Premier Inn. 5% cashback on my credit card, 5-10 Avios per pound (and they seem to allow double dipping) and IHG points.
As if to prove the point, it’s often not very much more to stay at the Hilton at Wembley Stadium. Unless there’s an event on, I often see rooms at the £100 mark.
My last three trips to London have been Premier Inn Canning Town x2 (good view of the tube on both occasions!) and HIX Stratford. Probably prefer the HIX but it can be a bit more expensive because of ABBA just down the road.
Intercity Hotel - Berlin Hbf
First time staying at Intercity Hotel Chain.
Room on second floor looked right onto the end of the top level platforms at Hbf. Everything was great including a fridge which is rare in the cheaper hotels, lifesaver for chilled drinks and beers.
Paid around 80 euros and they give you a free 24 hour ABC travel pass.
First time staying at Intercity Hotel Chain.
Room on second floor looked right onto the end of the top level platforms at Hbf. Everything was great including a fridge which is rare in the cheaper hotels, lifesaver for chilled drinks and beers.
Paid around 80 euros and they give you a free 24 hour ABC travel pass.
Willie Bee
Member
Kite159
Veteran Member
They are trying to win back custom after hiking their prices. Of both rooms and the sorry excuse of breakfast.
Ie a Sunday in a couple weeks time in Birmingham, the various Travelodges within the city centre area were £29-£32 (for fixed rate). Cheapest Premier Inn was £49 for the fixed rate, plus an extra £5 if you wanted a 'room with a view'. Add on an extra £15 if you wanted cancellation in case the weather is a bit rubbish
(I know, an extra fiver to look at Birmingham, maybe in the summer time if staying somewhere like Whitley Bay where the hotel overlooks the sea, but winter time in Birmingham)
Ie a Sunday in a couple weeks time in Birmingham, the various Travelodges within the city centre area were £29-£32 (for fixed rate). Cheapest Premier Inn was £49 for the fixed rate, plus an extra £5 if you wanted a 'room with a view'. Add on an extra £15 if you wanted cancellation in case the weather is a bit rubbish
(I know, an extra fiver to look at Birmingham, maybe in the summer time if staying somewhere like Whitley Bay where the hotel overlooks the sea, but winter time in Birmingham)
trainophile
Established Member
Thank you! Three nights in Bournemouth Central in the bag for beginning of May. 
We usually only go there in December so it’s nice that we’ll have more daylight.
I found the free breakfasts extremely good, not sure what was lacking (except maybe hot chocolate!).
We usually only go there in December so it’s nice that we’ll have more daylight.I found the free breakfasts extremely good, not sure what was lacking (except maybe hot chocolate!).
trainophile
Established Member
Travelodge by Manchester Victoria was excellent this last Tuesday, only £24.99 for the night. Shame about the noisy building work going on on the adjacent land, but that won’t be forever and they knock off at 5:30.
trainophile
Established Member
Been puzzling over the Premier Inn offer, having taken advantage of it for a fourth night, staying at New Street prior to our Bournemouth trip. Was wondering why it's got to be booked for two people, given that the room rate is the same regardless of whether for one or two. I'm guessing it's to encourage leisure travellers rather than business people?
However I then got to wondering what happens if you book for two in good faith, and then one of you can't go, for whatever reason. Presumably you'll still have your room but won't be entitled to the free breakfast? It's a struggle to persuade my OH to come with me much of the time as he has (sibling) family responsibilities, and doesn't like to be away too much, so anything could happen.
Edit: Hang on, I've just done a dummy booking for one person and the free breakfast deal still comes up! Am I misunderstanding the terms of the deal? Looks like it.
However I then got to wondering what happens if you book for two in good faith, and then one of you can't go, for whatever reason. Presumably you'll still have your room but won't be entitled to the free breakfast? It's a struggle to persuade my OH to come with me much of the time as he has (sibling) family responsibilities, and doesn't like to be away too much, so anything could happen.
Edit: Hang on, I've just done a dummy booking for one person and the free breakfast deal still comes up! Am I misunderstanding the terms of the deal? Looks like it.
Last edited:
Willie Bee
Member
My wife and I are thinking about a short trip to Manchester in June. Up until now, we have always been Premier Inn fans and have stayed at the Manchester Central PI (near St Peter's Square) a few times. This is a good hotel, with prices not too bad, at least for two of the nights (Sunday / Monday) but the Tuesday is a silly price. I see the Travelodge has the Sunday and Monday at only £24.99.
Maybe it's time we give Travelodge a go
What dates are you looking at? Sometimes the price can go down around 4 months before.
Travelodge isn't as good as Premier Inn (I say that having just stayed at a Travelodge recently because one of us had a dog)
Angmering1974
On Moderation
Novotel was my favourite in Manchester - quiet (if you get a room at the back), great central location, windows that open ! It's now taken over by a brand I've never heard of - a&o - and I read they're very much making it more like Travelodge. Might still be worth a punt at around £50 a night direct last time I checked. Just Google "a&o Manchester"
Willie Bee
Member
Premier Inn Manchester Central (Lower Mosley Street)
My wife and I have stayed here a few times and found it to be fantastic. I thought I had done a review previously, but hadn’t
There is easy access by tram, with the nearest stop St Peters Square just a 3-4 minute walk away.
Staff were happy to store our bags when we arrived early. Likewise, on our final day we left our bags there, until it was time to take the train home.
Manchester has two free bus routes, one of which we took on our first arrival day, which took us near to the hotel.
PlusBus tickets are good too, as they let you use the trams as well as the buses. £3.25 each (with a railcard) or £4.90 (with no railcard)
My wife and I have stayed here a few times and found it to be fantastic. I thought I had done a review previously, but hadn’t
There is easy access by tram, with the nearest stop St Peters Square just a 3-4 minute walk away.
Staff were happy to store our bags when we arrived early. Likewise, on our final day we left our bags there, until it was time to take the train home.
Manchester has two free bus routes, one of which we took on our first arrival day, which took us near to the hotel.
PlusBus tickets are good too, as they let you use the trams as well as the buses. £3.25 each (with a railcard) or £4.90 (with no railcard)
Willie Bee
Member
June 7th 8th and 9th
If you are booking an Ibis you could help a charity by booking through this link - you still get your Accor points according to the easyfunding website T&Cs https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/dunfermline-childrens-gala-committee
Admin's if this isn't allowed, apologies, please delete.
https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/dunfermline-childrens-gala-committee
Admin's if this isn't allowed, apologies, please delete.
danielhogg2005
Member
Cardiff Bay Premier Inn (Bute Place)
Woman on reception was very helpful when the self check in machine didn't print my room number or set up my keys correctly. I booked the Premier Plus room (which I managed to get for £85 for my 2 night stay). It was my first time also having a bath in a premier plus room as usually there is a walk in shower, there was also an amazon box connected to the Tv which I was able to use my ultimate wifi codes to watch YouTube on the big screen which was a nice touch. The hotel is a short walk away from both Cardiff Bay railway station & local bus services. There is also a Sainsbury's local opposite the Millennium Centre which is also a few minutes walk.
Manchester City Premier Inn (Portland Street)
Swift & Flawless check in, I had room 336 which was right round the back of the hotel, the closest tram stop was St Peter's Square and there where bus stops close to the hotel (I never used the buses there so I'm not very helpful on that), The hotel was also close to shops & food places (I only used the McDonald's & Papa John's, both 5 minutes away around the corner on Oxford Street). For £118 on a Saturday night I'd say it done the job, nothing special but still decent.
Woman on reception was very helpful when the self check in machine didn't print my room number or set up my keys correctly. I booked the Premier Plus room (which I managed to get for £85 for my 2 night stay). It was my first time also having a bath in a premier plus room as usually there is a walk in shower, there was also an amazon box connected to the Tv which I was able to use my ultimate wifi codes to watch YouTube on the big screen which was a nice touch. The hotel is a short walk away from both Cardiff Bay railway station & local bus services. There is also a Sainsbury's local opposite the Millennium Centre which is also a few minutes walk.
Manchester City Premier Inn (Portland Street)
Swift & Flawless check in, I had room 336 which was right round the back of the hotel, the closest tram stop was St Peter's Square and there where bus stops close to the hotel (I never used the buses there so I'm not very helpful on that), The hotel was also close to shops & food places (I only used the McDonald's & Papa John's, both 5 minutes away around the corner on Oxford Street). For £118 on a Saturday night I'd say it done the job, nothing special but still decent.
trainophile
Established Member
Word of advice for those looking at Travel0dge rooms. This morning I queried a night in one, then dithered around deciding whether I wanted to do it or not. Eventually booked the train tickets, by which time I'd had an email from TL "Are you still interested in...?". Clicked on the link to my previous search, and found the price was now showing £3 dearer. So I did another search on my phone instead of my laptop, and lo and behold the lower price was still there.
I'm thinking they artificially inflate the price when you've previously looked, to make you think you need to be quick as the price will keep going up. Don't be caught out!
I'm thinking they artificially inflate the price when you've previously looked, to make you think you need to be quick as the price will keep going up. Don't be caught out!
Interesting, common trick across hotel websites, rail and air.
Kite159
Veteran Member
One thing I noticed last week when I was booking a Travelodge in Cardiff city centre for a Sunday in March, that the percentage difference between the fixed & flexible rates can vary, for the 3 branches within the city centre area (the one outside Central, the one near Cardiff Bay & the one located off Queen Street), the prices were:
Fixed £29, Flex £37
Fixed £31, Flex £34
Fixed £31, Flex £36
When I book accommodation for overnight stays, it's mainly on flexible rates owing to the weather forecast. Not much point heading to South Wales on a day when it's heavy downpours and a storm is brewing.
Fixed £29, Flex £37
Fixed £31, Flex £34
Fixed £31, Flex £36
When I book accommodation for overnight stays, it's mainly on flexible rates owing to the weather forecast. Not much point heading to South Wales on a day when it's heavy downpours and a storm is brewing.
Whisky Papa
Member
- Joined
- 8 Aug 2019
- Messages
- 726
We stayed at Kendal Town Centre Travelodge for a couple of nights last week. We'd been looking for a relatively cheap stay for a while, and while it was still over £100 total + £15 early check in, it was rather cheaper than the admittedly better-located Premier Inn.
Usual Travelodge set-up, including a restaurant where we had dinner one night but not breakfast. One odd (possibly unique?) feature is that all rooms are on the ground floor, but this did result in some extremely long corridors! The staff were very pleasant, although we did have to wait a couple of minutes while somebody was found to do our early check-in.
It is set at the very southern tip of the town centre, and apart from a nice coffee shop overlooking the river, there isn't much else nearby. It does have a chargeable underground car park, but we arrived by bus and were departing by train. The Kendal - Oxenholme bus (41/41A) passes outside, so we used this to join the train at Oxenholme rather than going into Kendal and walking out to the station, the adult fare was £2. Sadly there isn't an evening service, nor does the limited Sunday service (40) actually pass the hotel. Longer distance buses stop just across the river.
Usual Travelodge set-up, including a restaurant where we had dinner one night but not breakfast. One odd (possibly unique?) feature is that all rooms are on the ground floor, but this did result in some extremely long corridors! The staff were very pleasant, although we did have to wait a couple of minutes while somebody was found to do our early check-in.
It is set at the very southern tip of the town centre, and apart from a nice coffee shop overlooking the river, there isn't much else nearby. It does have a chargeable underground car park, but we arrived by bus and were departing by train. The Kendal - Oxenholme bus (41/41A) passes outside, so we used this to join the train at Oxenholme rather than going into Kendal and walking out to the station, the adult fare was £2. Sadly there isn't an evening service, nor does the limited Sunday service (40) actually pass the hotel. Longer distance buses stop just across the river.
D6130
Established Member
It's more conveniently-located for the excellent Ring o' Bells pub though!
trainophile
Established Member
I just made a booking for the Paignton Seafront Travelodge, and was shocked to find the room selector now wants what worked out to be £14.99 a NIGHT. It had gone from £3 for your whole stay for any room, to £6.50 for a "sought after" room, which I was prepared to pay for a sea view, but this has now got ridiculous. An extra £45, which would have covered an extra night. They're having a laugh now.
Kite159
Veteran Member
Cashing in the 'fear of ending up next to the noisy lift'
185143
Established Member
- Joined
- 3 Mar 2013
- Messages
- 5,347
I'm currently staying in The Duke of Normandie in Guernsey.
It's a decent little place. No lift and there's plenty of steps/a hill to get to it. But it's apparently one of very few hotels in St. Peter Port to have it's own (admittedly small) car park. Not that I'm driving, but still.
£55 a night for a budget single room was the cheapest option in the town, it's easily walkable to the ferry port and the bus terminus which is exactly why I booked it. There's a fridge in the room which isn't too common and there's a rather nice pub/restaurant on site too. The couple of staff I've spoken to have been lovely and I wouldn't think twice about staying here again if I ever come back to Guernsey.
The room isn't huge, but it's a budget single room, it doesn't need to be. It's more than adequate for a solo traveller. Plenty of plugs, a desk, TV, kettle, bathroom and a comfy bed. No real need for much more than that.
It's a decent little place. No lift and there's plenty of steps/a hill to get to it. But it's apparently one of very few hotels in St. Peter Port to have it's own (admittedly small) car park. Not that I'm driving, but still.
£55 a night for a budget single room was the cheapest option in the town, it's easily walkable to the ferry port and the bus terminus which is exactly why I booked it. There's a fridge in the room which isn't too common and there's a rather nice pub/restaurant on site too. The couple of staff I've spoken to have been lovely and I wouldn't think twice about staying here again if I ever come back to Guernsey.
The room isn't huge, but it's a budget single room, it doesn't need to be. It's more than adequate for a solo traveller. Plenty of plugs, a desk, TV, kettle, bathroom and a comfy bed. No real need for much more than that.
Trainfan61
Member
Premier Inn Hub Farringdon (Old Bailey) near City Thameslink
I stayed at this brand new Hub, a conversion of a police station, on Thursday 5th March paying £97 for a bigger/accessible room. The hotel has only been open since the end of January but all staff seemed well versed in their jobs and without exception were genuinely helpful and pleasant, especially assisting in an emergency when my husband fell in the wet room and having gashed his arm badly required an ambulance.
The breakfast was good (cold buffet plus bacon/sausage/scrambled eggs/beans) and of reasonable quality.The only downside was that having paid for a bigger room I had hoped for a window but this was not to be and I found the room rather claustrophobic.
Highly recommended as well located but not on a main road.
I stayed at this brand new Hub, a conversion of a police station, on Thursday 5th March paying £97 for a bigger/accessible room. The hotel has only been open since the end of January but all staff seemed well versed in their jobs and without exception were genuinely helpful and pleasant, especially assisting in an emergency when my husband fell in the wet room and having gashed his arm badly required an ambulance.
The breakfast was good (cold buffet plus bacon/sausage/scrambled eggs/beans) and of reasonable quality.The only downside was that having paid for a bigger room I had hoped for a window but this was not to be and I found the room rather claustrophobic.
Highly recommended as well located but not on a main road.
pitdiver
Established Member
That was the hotel that Oliver Reed got drunk in a number of years ago and wrecked the bar. I was staying there for a week with an ex wife at the time.
Willie Bee
Member
Are hub hotels offering hot breakfasts now ?
I've stayed at the Goodge Street Hub and the Haymarket one in Edinburgh and they only offer a cold buffet.
BTW I hope your husband is OK
Trainfan61
Member
Thank you for your good wishes Willie Bee, my husband was stitched up at the Royal London Hospital and is recovering, thank you.
I think the Hub breakfasts vary by location, I have stayed at KGX where I seem to recall the only hot item was porridge but at West Brompton there was some hot food.
I think the Hub breakfasts vary by location, I have stayed at KGX where I seem to recall the only hot item was porridge but at West Brompton there was some hot food.
Trainfan61
Member
Premier Inn Wimbledon Broadway
Stayed at this hotel on Friday 13th March on an advance rate of £42 booked early November.
The hotel is a short walk from Wimbledon station and just along from the beautiful theatre.
Arriving at about 4.30pm the reception was staffed by two assistants who were very pleasant and helpful and it made a pleasant change not to have to try the useless self service machines or ring for a staff member.
The room was large with a floor to ceiling window overlooking the rear of the hotel. It was well maintained and clean and very quiet so the hotel is recommended especially at such a keen price.
Stayed at this hotel on Friday 13th March on an advance rate of £42 booked early November.
The hotel is a short walk from Wimbledon station and just along from the beautiful theatre.
Arriving at about 4.30pm the reception was staffed by two assistants who were very pleasant and helpful and it made a pleasant change not to have to try the useless self service machines or ring for a staff member.
The room was large with a floor to ceiling window overlooking the rear of the hotel. It was well maintained and clean and very quiet so the hotel is recommended especially at such a keen price.