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With the suggestion upthread (I think) that a small fridge should form part of the standard kit for a hotel room (with which I very much agree - not a minibar, but one for the guest's own stuff - and a small fridge is part of the standard kit in a PI premium room) perhaps it'd be more environmentally friendly for them to pack in providing the little plastic cartons and instead just put a small jug of milk in it, with a refill machine at reception?
I think that would be very useful. Although the hotels probably wouldn't agree - given the need to acquire, maintain and replace the fridges as well as extra electricity use, I am not sure they'd generate a cost saving vs. providing little pots of milk. I guess they'd also have some responsibility for making sure the fridge was operating correctly otherwise they might be held liable for food poisoning and get complaints about ruined food.
My guess would be that they'll switch to offering powdered milk/creamer supplied in paper or cellulose based sachets (or they'll gloss over the fact that a lot of sachets contain plastic linings to avoid damp getting in). I bought a load recently for camping purposes, it's the sort that you put in vending machines and it's surprisingly good, actually tastes better in tea than UHT muck, and it's probably more "milk" than that "fake" Millac Maid rubbish. Probably save them money as those UHT pots only last a few months to a year, whereas powdered milk (alongside tea bags, coffee granules etc) pretty much last forever.
Though admittedly that powdered milk was supplied in a couple of single use plastic bags to protect it from damp. It depends I guess how strict they are being - is it "you won't find any single-use plastics in your room" or "as a business we won't use any single use plastics at all" - as the latter is very difficult indeed - no disposable biros, for instance? (Also depends what you term "single use" - obviously you use a disposable biro a lot more than once, but it's not refillable, and even if it was all pen refills are....er....plastic).
An interesting idea. If there was a free, unlimited use Costa Express machine (or similar) on each floor plus a tea equivalent I'd happily give up the kettle. Probably more hygienic too. It'd need to be a proper bean to cup one, though, not one of those rubbishy machines you get in workplaces.
Thinking on another option may be to roll the premium-room pod coffee/tea machines out to all rooms, they use recyclable aluminium pods sealed with recyclable aluminium foil, and pod machines can include powdered milk (though I forget if the ones they currently use do or not they could always switch to ones that do).
Coffee pods very rarely are recycled which is why they pose an issue still, but it'd tick the box, and they could put something in place to ensure the recycling does happen, as distinct from at home where people just chuck Nespresso pods in the bin.
My most recent room had a sign requesting recyclables are left on the desk and not placed in the bin. Ok for one night but wouldn’t want days worth of pods on the desk
An interesting idea. If there was a free, unlimited use Costa Express machine (or similar) on each floor plus a tea equivalent I'd happily give up the kettle. Probably more hygienic too. It'd need to be a proper bean to cup one, though, not one of those rubbishy machines you get in workplaces.
My most recent room had a sign requesting recyclables are left on the desk and not placed in the bin. Ok for one night but wouldn’t want days worth of pods on the desk
It's possible, but not certain, because if they're taking out an in-room facility people won't accept being charged for the replacement. It'd be a bit like charging for ironing board hire.
If you want a PI comparison, the Hub hotels (a more compact format for expensive cities, basically) doesn't have in-room kettles (there's not really anywhere to put one) but does offer free tea and coffee in reception. The ultrabudget "Zip" brand charges for it, but that's really "Travelodge minus minus" so I don't think it's comparable, and it's a failed concept because there's only one of them (Cardiff) which has now been there a good while and they've never expanded it.
On the other hand if the price was reasonable, I probably would choose to pay £1 for a Costa Express coffee rather than have instant for free in the room, but I'd baulk at £2+. I reckon when free was previously the norm, and I'd also baulk at having to go to reception for it rather than it being on the same floor on the landing, say.
If it was "you can buy one at reception" I'd probably take my own travel kettle, though they could if they wanted to be really awkward hard-wire the hairdryers and put a 2A breaker on everything else so you couldn't.
I have two girls with long hair. A hair dryer is a must and PI always have one in the room whilst TL keep them at reception and you have to ask to borrow one. On one visit a wedding party was staying and had already taken them all. If we ever stay at a TL and are driving, we always take our own now.
My main issue with Premier Inn is the same as it was before COVID - they don't allow the option to pay more for an early check in like most other hotel chains let you do. And the rubbish they did during COVID of pushing their check in time to 4pm lost them a lot of custom and good will from me ontop of that.
If I know I will need early checkin then a loyalty card for one of the chains tends to help. I have the card for Accor (ibis, Novotel etc) and I turned up at the Leeds Novotel around 11am asking to store my luggage before coming back later and as I had points on my card they just checked me in immediately for no extra charge so I was able to use the room. I tend to use them in Leeds now as it is usually a better and cheaper option than using left luggage at the station.
Similarly I was able to book early checkin from 10:30am in Vienna so when I arrived directly from the overnight sleeper I was able to use the room and shower etc.
One other issue is luggage storage. It has been better recently but at one point Travelodge rarely allowed you to leave luggage before checking in, though I did have the option of paying for a 2 hour early check in once instead. Another one wanted to charge for the luggage storage. premier inn usually do store luggage. Though sometimes there is a wait to leave it and retrieve it if there is only 1 person on reception with a queue of other customers.
If they went from in room facilities to a drinks station with a bean-to-cup coffee machine on landings and corridors then it could potentially cut the cost of the room for those who don't want these facilities, I know several people including a couple on this forum who don't drink tea or coffee for example. I've seen myself more than once in hotels shlepping downstairs for a large takeaway cup of proper coffee rather than wanting the usually disgusting sachets of instant in the room. So again I wouldn't have too much of an issue of a 50 pence or £1 charge for the service, easyHotel have installed decent coffee machines in their fires and whilst we have had a few out of service incidents on my more recent stays the service has generally been reliable. To whoever it was up thread hoot found decent powdered milk I'd be keen to know about it as I've never yet found one that's worth having for a vaguely affordable price
I've been putting recyclable materials in a separate bag beside the bin in hotels for a while now although admit I forgot to do it on my last couple of days and I'm probably my own worst hypocrite as the bag I use is almost always plastic
The kettle is probably of more use to tea drinkers as Nescafe is rubbish whereas a tea bag is, er, a tea bag (though PG Tips isn't my preference, it's no different to PG Tips bought from a cafe).
It does surprise me they've not seen an opportunity in having a contactless Costa Express machine next to the inevitable choccy bar and crisps one that is usually there somewhere, particularly in the days when both were owned by Whitbread and the breakfast coffee was also branded Costa. It would certainly sell. While I think you can get it from the bar, I think you can validly go to the vending machine in dressing gown and slippers when coffee is most needed, particularly if there was one on each floor, and if you've been on the ale and come back late a pre bed coffee is often a good thing but the bar would be closed by then.
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To whoever it was up thread hoot found decent powdered milk I'd be keen to know about it as I've never yet found one that's worth having for a vaguely affordable price
It is "Milfresh". Amazon sell it. About £6 for 500g which sounds expensive, but you only need a couple of teaspoons per cup so that's hundreds of cups of tea without it going off, so far cheaper than buying a pint of milk each day and chucking most of it away due to the lack of fridge. It is really light so 500g is loads, it's not like coffee granules.
I wouldn't agree with their "as good as fresh milk" line, but it's certainly no worse than that Millac Maid stuff that makes the same claim, and provided it stays dry it can't go off.
Unlike most of it it is granules rather than powder (like the old Marvel stuff my Nan used to use) so doesn't clump badly when added to hot tea. You can also add it to cold water and make something approximating to red top, but there's not a lot of point doing it that way, if you want a lot for e.g. cereal you might as well just buy a fresh pint.
I find having to ask for more tea bags like a schoolkid unpleasant and a bit demeaning - it is a bit Oliver Twist. I know some people would take loads, but they should just put them out on reception to take yourself. They are so cheap that even if a few people do nick a bagful it's fine.
The bins could be larger and better designed including separate recycling compartments, yes.
Sometimes where you ask for what you want and they give you exactly what you want I.e one tea bag, one sugar etc, another where you’ll say you want tea and coffee and they’ll give you a handful of everything and a third option where they are just in reception as self service
Also the tea bags have been downgraded they are PG Tips now, pre Covid they were Twinnings. I used to take any spares home, back when you’d get 2 per day automatically as part of room service, they used to be useful to take to work when I worked somewhere that didn’t provide tea and coffee
Years ago I always wanted them to provide biscuits, a pack of 2 custard creams that sort of thing.
I can’t see this coffee machine one per floor idea working, can you imagine them all being kept in working order including topping up the supplies/emptying the waste grounds tray etc
That one went on my "never again" list. I've a feeling it was because I visited on a really hot day, it had large south facing windows with no aircon so choice of roasting or being deafened. Ones I'd stay at again include Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and the newish one between Aldgate and Aldgate East.
I think that one might be a Travelodge Plus. I stayed there the night leading to the August Bank Holiday 1989. I thought it was great and didn't even come across as a Travelodge!
I can’t see this coffee machine one per floor idea working, can you imagine them all being kept in working order including topping up the supplies/emptying the waste grounds tray etc
The last office I worked in had two really excellent coffee machines which ground the beans on-demand and used fresh milk, but our maintenance guy did spend a significant time each day keeping them clean and stocked up.
Re milk, if I'm staying in a hotel that has some form of cafe or bar, I usually ask for a small jug of milk for my tea, and I've only rarely been refused. It'll usually keep overnight for a cup in the morning too.
The last office I worked in had two really excellent coffee machines which ground the beans on-demand and used fresh milk, but our maintenance guy did spend a significant time each day keeping them clean and stocked up.
I'd not trust Travelodge to maintain them, but PI should manage it.
I think the actual Costa machines are quite robust, they seem generally to work OK and produce decent coffee at even the utterly scabbiest of petrol stations who no doubt don't maintain them well.
I would be unwilling to pay for "Maxpax style" vending as distinct from proper bean to cup, though if they installed those on free vend it'd be no worse than an in room kettle.
I think the actual Costa machines are quite robust, they seem generally to work OK and produce decent coffee at even the utterly scabbiest of petrol stations who no doubt don't maintain them well.
I would be unwilling to pay for "Maxpax style" vending as distinct from proper bean to cup, though if they installed those on free vend it'd be no worse than an in room kettle.
Costa Coffee machines, great when they work - although I think they don't have a sensor to detect when the milk level is low, so will keep dispensing even though there is no milk. Years since I've use one so this might have been rectified.
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'Maxpax style' avoid like the plague.
I couldn’t see a member of staff running up and down stairs all evening filling up the machines though. I imagine at many Premier Inn’s the hotel side of the business (as opposed to anyone working in the restaurant/bar) is probably single manned on an evening when there are no house keeping staff on
The fridge in the Marriott in Bournemouth was providing the second part of your statement! Everything was warmer than before it went in!
It’s a pleasant hotel that one slightly overpriced for a renovated room but bathroom is luxurious. Have to walk up a cliff every time tou go back so forgetting something is our do the question! Luckily there is a cliff train. Renovated rooms are nice 422 gets a full almost 360 view of of town pier and beach
I couldn’t see a member of staff running up and down stairs all evening filling up the machines though. I imagine at many Premier Inn’s the hotel side of the business (as opposed to anyone working in the restaurant/bar) is probably single manned on an evening when there are no house keeping staff on
If the machines were done by someone from housekeeping before they left in the afternoons which is is probably I would guess as late as 3 or 3:30 p.m. my then they would under most circumstances last until the overwhelming majority of guests have gone to bed and and a night-time clean and restock could be added to the duties of the overnight staff who have far left to do in the way of customer-facing duties and who are I think obliged to make regular patrols anyway
I've noticed that the price gap between the budget hotels- especially Premier Inn- and the midrange full service hotels has decreased. I've stayed in Leeds and Liverpool recently and the Crowne Plaza hasn't been much more than the Premier Inn.
I have IHG platinum (I got it for a 5-night stay in Newcastle in October last year, due to a special offer) and so, for now, the perks from the membership justify the small extra cost.
Yes I completely agree about the price gap. Be interesting to see what happens as we go into the mid-autumn time, there's no doubt that a lot of people have still holiday at home this year either because they prefer it or because the the media have blown the situation airports out of all proportion compared to what it actually is which I admit is far from perfect. Anyway like I say one's demand drops off again it will be interesting to see what particularly the budget operators try and do. I remember a period somewhere in the the mid-2022 10s when Premier Inn all of a sudden got very expensive for what it was and and me and no doubt quite a few others to their business elsewhere forcing them to rethink. Could this be history repeating itself?
Yes, Premier Inn seems to have higher prices on Fridays and Saturdays compared to some other chains.
Back in March I was looking at booking a Saturday night in Leeds in October. Premier inn was showing £150 for 1 night once breakfast had been added. This was 6 months before the travel date!
I got a Dinner bed and breakfast rate about £20 cheaper elsewhere.
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