To bloody love budget hotels

[Onesieisthequeensselfie]

Like premier inn, travelodge, ibis etc.

I have to travel lots for work and have a choice of accommodation booked for me or be given the equivalent in cash and book it myself.

Budget hotels are absolutely brilliant!!! Clean room, often conveniently located and, bonus, some extra left over to put towards a nice holiday.

BUT, I do admit to being a bit embarrassed if colleagues ask me where I'm staying and just mumble something about a little boutique hotel locally and quickly change the subject.

AIBU to be embarrassed and should I be out and proud to wave the premier inn flag?!

[Onesieisthequeensselfie]

Gosh, that sounds like pretty rough night. From what pp have said about TL, they seem to be more hit and miss than PI. PI is pretty consistent all throughout the country IME. Def give it a go!

[daisychain01]

Archedbrowse yes you'll love Premier Inn, if truth be known they are quite a 'rung up' from TravelDodgy. Sort of the difference between Waitrose and Lidl.

But in fairness I commend the TL staff yesterday, at my fave one (with free parking!), yesterday was swelteringly hot and there was no fan in my room. The lovely chap on the desk insisted I took the fan from reception. I said no no it's much hotter here but he insisted. Thankfully he found a spare one tho.

Lovely folk, they do try to make it home from home as much as poss.

[morningtoncrescent62]

Another PI lover here. I stay 3-4 nights away for work most months, and always choose a PI if there's one available. The rooms are always comfy and their breakfasts have been getting better and better over the last few years. I recently stayed at the city centre PI in Leicester - lovely views over the city and you can't hear a thing despite it being as central as it's possible to be. But the best thing was the lovely breakfast staff. They sing as they wipe the tables down!! I love it when people appear to enjoy their work, and these certainly did.

A more recent discovery in the same price bracket has been the Hampton by Hilton brand. They're not as good for families as the rooms are smaller - they do have family rooms but you have to pay extra. However, if travelling on your own for work they are excellent as there's more on-site stuff than PI, and the breakfasts are similar. The rooms also feel a bit more modern than PI - not that there's anything at all wrong with PI rooms, but a change of style is nice sometimes.

[FeelingSmurfy]

lilets just a warning, I have had premier Inn disabled rooms with a bath I couldn't use so always check when booking

[Katedotness1963]

Premier Inns are great. The beds are so comfy, I love them. Rooms have always been nice and clean, very relaxing so I don't mind a couple of hours in the room reading or watching TV. Good breakfast, friendly staff.

Travelodge is okay. It's a place to sleep but I hate to spend time in the room. Up in the morning and out! The breakfast box things are pretty poor too. The only staff around is usually one person on reception.

[IDismyname]

Another vote for PI from us.
We used them when DS visited university open days.
Loved the one North of Leicester. The closest to Loughborough. Went there twice it was so good.

TL just seem a bit ...mean.
The blackout curtains only just meet.
There are only 2 teabags, 2 sachets of coffee and 2 milks
And someone upthread I think was right - the beds have rubber sheets as I sweated all night

[FinallyHere]

Another Premier Inn fan here.

Anyone else tried The Hub Premier Inn in St. Martin's Lane? I loved it. Bed against the wall so not really suitable for two. For a single busy person, it was fab.

[BeyondBeyondBeyondBeyondBeyond]

I wanna book somewhere now too!

[BeyondBeyondBeyondBeyondBeyond]

We love travelodge. Getting a wheelchair accessible family room is nigh on impossible at most hotels.

[OOAOML]

We like Premier Inns, but the only thing that grates is the refurbished rooms - it used to be you booked a family room for 4 and there was room for a single along the wall next to the desk, another next to the window and a space between it and the double bed. We've been in a few now which have been refurbished and the beds are all in a line, with the kids having to climb over each other.

But I'd still book them by preference, because as others say you know what you're going to get, the showers are good, and the breakfast is great (and fills the kids up before you start driving again).

[WankersHacksandThieves]

When I've used Holiday Inn, their family room is two doubles. That does not work well for many families, especially ours!

That's why we stopped using HIE. However, the last PI we used also had 2 doubles. It did warn us beforehand though. We chucked sleeping bags in the car as its the duvet that they fight over. Lying on a double bed together is no closer than they would be camping. :)

[Onesieisthequeensselfie]

I'm booked to stay in a PI next week and after reading these responses am ridiculously excited! Like a virgin, whoop....

[ParanoidGynodroid]

I love PI because when you book a family room for 2 adults and 2 children, you get a double and two separate single beds.

When I've used Holiday Inn, their family room is two doubles. That does not work well for many families, especially ours!

Oh and PI breakfast is better, too!

[SistersOfPercy]

Just spent 4 nights in the ibis budget by the excel London. Cheap, clean and within a 5 minute walk of the dlr. Yes the bed was a bit hard, yes the room was small but ultimately I'm using it as a base and not expecting luxury.
Ibis budget is really budget though, no kettle, no hairdryer and only one PowerPoint in the room but as long as you plan for it then it's workable.

[ProfYaffle]

Agree with MrsHathaway, the difference between PI and 'posher' hotels is the public areas. The rooms are of a muchness. Dh and I went through a phase of getting 5* Hotels through discount sites but found the rooms weren't great and extras like drinks at the bar were shockingly expensive. We much prefer PI these days.

[AnnieOnnieMouse]

I needed an affordable hotel last week, ended up at a De Vere's Venue - brilliant breakfast. Not as cheap as PI or TL, but the food was worth it - £67.50 for a double. Finding affordable rooms for one person isn't easy, tho.

[MrsArchchancellorRidcully]

Oh good lord, I LOVE PI. I am currently in one for work. They are always good, consistent, free and decent wi fi and you can upgrade to super fast broadband for £5 if you want to stream films.
The staff are always great and they always feel safe for a solo business traveller. You get what you need for as low as £29 a night. My boss always asks me to get a quote from the official TAs we use with work, then get a PI quote and it's often £150 cheaper!
Meal deal is £23.99 - 2 course dinner with a glass of wine plus free breakfast. The ones with Thyme restaurants are the newest and imo the nicest.

[TattiePants]

I love PI and Holiday Inn Express are pretty good too but refuse to stay in TI on principal after a bad experience 6 years ago. Staying in the PI in Frome en route to Cornwall and can't wait.

[Archedbrowse]

daisy from what's been said on this thread I think I'd give PI a try should the need arise again :)

[MrsHathaway]

We use PI sometimes and Hilton when DH has enough loyalty points (travels with work).

There's very little difference in the room itself except the toiletries. Most of the difference is in the rest of the hotel - we've had some nice swims in Hilton pools and the breakfast is naicer.

A Hilton has never been worth £100 more per night than a PI.

I think what sets PI apart from the other budget hotels is their consistency. We've never ever been disappointed at a PI: the room is a predictable shape with practical layout, the bed is always comfortable and well made, the shower works, you can operate the A/C easily, etc.

[ProfYaffle]

We love Premier Inn. They must be doing something right in their recruitment/training as the staff are always lovely and very, very helpful.

We were once sent a customer satisfaction survey after a stay. I mentioned that the extra beds for the kids hadn't been made up on arrival. Staff at the time had quickly remedied it and I only mentioned it in passing to make the point that they'd been helpful.

Next thing I know we've been refunded the cost of the room (and this was over a week later) for the inconvenience!

[Grumpyoldblonde]

I have my first stay in a Premier Inn soon, I hoped it would be ok but after reading this thread I am positively excited!

[2nds]

Jurys in in Bingham is the only hotel in Brum that we stay at.

[2nds]

We are jury's inn fans here :-)

[Bathsheba]

Love Premier Inn...

we camp a lot so a PI is LUXURY