Budget hotels discussion

[Kite159]

I think I know which hotel you mean, I once booked that but on the flexible basis. When I saw on Street View what was underneath it I quickly cancelled it and booked the Premier Inn. Cardiff is a city where hotel noise can be an issue as the city centre is so compact so a check on Steet View is worth doing to make sure there is are no clubs/bars that may open to 4:00am underneath it.

Or if you get a room overlooking the bus station if staying at the Travelodge next to the Spoons nearest Central station.

 

[WestCoast]

I used to be very pro Premier Inn over Travelodge but I do think some of their properties are not so great.

Stayed in the Wandsworth one last month and it was objectively terrible for the price I paid (£135). Visibly dirty bathroom, worn and grubby carpets in the room and the soundproofing was awful, you could hear music from the Sainsbury‘s below that the workers play at night (not their fault directly but you’d think they would do something about that). When I spoke to them the next morning they didn‘t really seem bothered.

Compared to the Travelodge Bermondsey I stayed in last week which was cheaper and spotlessly clean with great soundproofing.

 

[Belperpete]

I recall that a couple of the Ibis that I stay in fairly frequent trialled self check-in with your phone acting as the room key card, but seem to have abandoned it. Presumably it didn't really work. It certainly never worked for me. Likewise Ibis now want members to use their app to access the free welcome drink, but it seems decidedly flakey, and they seem to have a supply of vouchers to hand for when it doesn't work.

 

[cactustwirly]

You would still need an app to put on the wallet though, I assume this can be done via website too but I haven't seen that yet. You would of course still need to offer an in person alternative as not everybody have smartphones and even those that do would struggle. My parents both have smartphones but struggle with anything new that isn't day to day stuff.

Perhaps hotels could use NFC as new ones opened and then only replace older locks to NFC when they actually need to. I would have thought replacing every lock in a 400 bedroom hotel would take many years to pay off if it is just to reduce the labour of what is probably less than a single member of staff.

I work for a company that works with hotels, they are notoriously stingy.
I can't see them forking out for something like NFC door locks unless it's a brand new brand/concept

 

[Tetchytyke]

Hilton have also trialed NFC door locks, using the app. I haven’t ever got it to work and they seem to have mostly abandoned it too.

 

[STINT47]

Or if you get a room overlooking the bus station if staying at the Travelodge next to the Spoons nearest Central station.

I know some bus enthusiasts who would pay extra for this.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I know some bus enthusiasts who would pay extra for this.

Of course Travelodge now offer that by allowing you to select a specific room for a fee!

 

[The exile]

The German speaking countries tend to be very traditionalist so I'm unsurprised you've experienced that in Germany. I've stayed in similar places in Switzerland.

Also of course there would have been a vast amount of modernisation / building of hotels in the former DDR in the 1990s, which is now all reaching the “tired and old” at the same time

 

[nlogax]

Hilton have also trialed NFC door locks, using the app. I haven’t ever got it to work and they seem to have mostly abandoned it too.

Not abandoned, and it's worked in the pretty much all of my Hilton-group stays this year. Some hotels' implementations are a bit flakey but overall it seems to work well enough.

Of course I also question the point of NFC access when still requiring a physical key (or something that resembles one) to stick in the slot to enable the room power..

 

[styles]

Of course I also question the point of NFC access when still requiring a physical key (or something that resembles one) to stick in the slot to enable the room power..

One of the most important reasons we should still issue CCSTs on the railway - they do the job perfectly

 

[signed]

I work for a company that works with hotels, they are notoriously stingy.
I can't see them forking out for something like NFC door locks unless it's a brand new brand/concept

That's my experience as well, I found that most hostels of the sizable groups (Like La Troupe, or Ostello Grande over in Italy) all use Goki for the keys which is a mobile app over bluetooth, with the backup being a PIN. Something you really don't find often in hotels.

Though I suspect that comes as a bundle with the Mews booking system, as all the Goki hostels I have used all use Mews for direct bookings.

 

[takno]

Not abandoned, and it's worked in the pretty much all of my Hilton-group stays this year. Some hotels' implementations are a bit flakey but overall it seems to work well enough.

Of course I also question the point of NFC access when still requiring a physical key (or something that resembles one) to stick in the slot to enable the room power..

Last one I stayed in had provided a card on a chain to stick in the electric slot. The whole idea of having those slots does seem to be dying out though, which is nice. Having to dig out a random old card to leave in there is pretty annoying.

 

[Tezza1978]

Premier Inns used to be my hotel of choice for work and leisure reasons for years. That changed over the last 2 years after their standards went down (food wise and service wise going downhill, no daily room cleaning, charging for early check in etc). I still use them occasionally if no other option available.

But the other main reason I don't use them in the last 2 years is their utterly extortionate prices in London - £250/£300 a night midweek sometimes which is laughable. When you can stay at Marriotts, Hiltons (and their various sub brands - Moxy, Courtyard, Doubletree etc) for FAR cheaper (£110-£140 a night) - and accumulate loyalty points, status, late checkouts, free breakfast, access to exec lounge with free drinks, access to onsite gyms ......why on earth would you book a Prem Inn as a regular traveller???

For those on a tight budget and /or who travel infrequently Travelodge are better these days, particularly in their refurbed hotels. Have stayed at several over the past two years with the one at Docklands Central being a highlight.

 

[cactustwirly]

Premier Inns used to be my hotel of choice for work and leisure reasons for years. That changed over the last 2 years after their standards went down (food wise and service wise going downhill, no daily room cleaning, charging for early check in etc). I still use them occasionally if no other option available.

But the other main reason I don't use them in the last 2 years is their utterly extortionate prices in London - £250/£300 a night midweek sometimes which is laughable. When you can stay at Marriotts, Hiltons (and their various sub brands - Moxy, Courtyard, Doubletree etc) for FAR cheaper (£110-£140 a night) - and accumulate loyalty points, status, late checkouts, free breakfast, access to exec lounge with free drinks, access to onsite gyms ......why on earth would you book a Prem Inn as a regular traveller???

For those on a tight budget and /or who travel infrequently Travelodge are better these days, particularly in their refurbed hotels. Have stayed at several over the past two years with the one at Docklands Central being a highlight.

Let's be real a Marriott, even if it is just a Moxy is a far better hotel than a Premier Inn.
I would book one in preference if it was slightly more expensive, it's worth it.

 

[nlogax]

Spent last night in the PI Hub on Rose St in Edinburgh and it was absolutely spot on for £120. Great location, working a/c and a comfy bed. I imagine the prices will shoot up from this coming weekend.

 

[TheSmiths82]

Spent last night in the PI Hub on Rose St in Edinburgh and it was absolutely spot on for £120. Great location, working a/c and a comfy bed. I imagine the prices will shoot up from this coming weekend.

I've stayed in the one in Haymarket twice and was impressed with it.

 

[ChrisC]

Let's be real a Marriott, even if it is just a Moxy is a far better hotel than a Premier Inn.
I would book one in preference if it was slightly more expensive, it's worth it.

I completely agree with this. Why stay in a PI if you can get something much better for only slightly more. Next week I am staying at the Novotel for 6 nights near Leeds Station. With being a member of the Accor loyalty scheme and taking advantage of a 25% off deal I‘m paying a similar price, including breakfast, that I would have paid for the PI next door.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Or if you get a room overlooking the bus station if staying at the Travelodge next to the Spoons nearest Central station.

I haven't stayed there in a while but as long as you weren't on the St Mary's street side it was fine. I guess that's now changed given the bus station is the other side!

 

[route101]

Spent last night in the PI Hub on Rose St in Edinburgh and it was absolutely spot on for £120. Great location, working a/c and a comfy bed. I imagine the prices will shoot up from this coming weekend.

Prices may hit 4 figures for many hotels.

 

[johnnychips]

My Ibis hotel in Den Haag now suggests I put the ‘Do not disturb’ sign up, not because I don’t want the chambermaid to see me in a naked hungover state (or worse if there are two of you in the room); but because by not cleaning the room that day, they will save twenty litres of water.

Actually, I’m rather in favour of this.

 

[route101]

My Ibis hotel in Den Haag now suggests I put the ‘Do not disturb’ sign up, not because I don’t want the chambermaid to see me in a naked hungover state (or worse if there are two of you in the room); but because by not cleaning the room that day, they will save twenty litres of water.

Actually, I’m rather in favour of this.

I usually put them 'Do not disturb signs' if I'm checking out late. I find quite often after 9am the cleaners will come in regardless.

 

[317 forever]

Earlier in the year I was unable to book a Premier Inn in north London for September as my debit card was due to expire in August.

More recently I was able to book a Travelodge for the same date with the same card. My only shock is that breakfast that Saturday morning is not served until 8.00! So I can catch the Underground or my first bus of the day to an interchange which includes a Premier Inn and have breakfast there.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Over in France, B&B Hotels (budget chain, possibly akin to a lower standard Travelodge) have recently switched over to electronic keypad locks, issuing a 7 digit passcode to unlock your door - issued on either a business card or simply printed on A4 paper, alongside your room number.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Over in France, B&B Hotels (budget chain, possibly akin to a lower standard Travelodge) have recently switched over to electronic keypad locks, issuing a 7 digit passcode to unlock your door - issued on either a business card or simply printed on A4 paper, alongside your room number.

Yes, a bit over a year ago - and their system seems to be very reliable. The rooms are basic, I agree, but always very clean and the staff are very competent. You are also able to e-mail the individual hotel directly, which is a big advantage.

Tip: Don't pay for the breakfast; you'll be able to get a decent baguette or croissant for breakfast from any boulangerie pattiserie ( no shortage of those in Paris! ) for half the price and double the quantity!!

 

[signed]

Tip: Don't pay for the breakfast; you'll be able to get a decent baguette or croissant for breakfast from any boulangerie pattiserie ( no shortage of those in Paris! ) for half the price and double the quantity!!

Tip: that advice applies to every cities in France, most bakeries will do coffee-pastry deals as well.

If you can't find any place to get coffee (that happens, yes, looking at you Le Havre centre), you will for sure find a open bar tabac that will sell you a coffee and a croissant.

 

[route101]

Holiday Inn Express Bradford.

Usually cheaper to stay in Bradford than Leeds. Was cheaper than the Premier Inn and Travelodge at £70 booked only a few days before for a Saturday night stay.

Reception on 2nd floor and managed to beat a coach load of Chinese tourists to check inn.

Room was a bit tired but did the job, good view East over Bradford.

Breakfast is offered and it was busy around 9pm, not a huge fan of the sausages at HIs, very herby.

Rarely stay in Holiday Inns, I think this is the second time.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Yes, a bit over a year ago - and their system seems to be very reliable. The rooms are basic, I agree, but always very clean and the staff are very competent. You are also able to e-mail the individual hotel directly, which is a big advantage.

Tip: Don't pay for the breakfast; you'll be able to get a decent baguette or croissant for breakfast from any boulangerie pattiserie ( no shortage of those in Paris! ) for half the price and double the quantity!!

The one I'm currently staying in was still using key cards earlier this year, but has moved to the keypad system since my last visit. Agreed that the rooms are basic and clean - albeit maintenance could perhaps be improved - but when I'm on a city break or similar, I'm basically looking for somewhere to sleep, shower and store my things whilst I'm out and about; so luxurious surroundings are very low on the list of priorities and price is high on the priority list, so it ticks the right boxes for me.

Also agreed on the breakfast, as @signed says, even in smaller French cities it's not hard to find a nearby boulangerie patisserie offering a much better value breakfast.

 

[D6130]

My wife and I have just spent four nights at the Glasgow St Enoch Premier Inn. Pretty satisfactory on the whole....but the usual problems with the appallingly badly-designed wash hand basin, where the mixer tap unit is positioned so far back from the rim of the basin that it's almost impossible to wash one's hands under the running water!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I'm basically looking for somewhere to sleep, shower and store my things whilst I'm out and about; so luxurious surroundings are very low on the list of priorities and price is high on the priority list, so it ticks the right boxes for me.

...and when you can get a view like this from a Hotel BB, all the pieces have fallen into place haven't they?!

 

[RuddA]

We stayed at the PremierInn Exchange Square Birmingham earlier this week. The room wasn't ready as a family room so we were asked to wait for 15 minutes whilst they prepared the sofa bed and smaller bed. Without us asking they offered us free breakfasts for the following morning.
There were only 2 mugs and 2 sachets of coffee in the room. I went to reception and asked for a glass for our daughter which was quickly provided but there were no further coffees available, the hotel had none left in stock! They had rationed their remaining stock when preparing the rooms and were waiting for a delivery.