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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To bloody love budget hotels

134 replies

Onesieisthequeensselfie · 17/07/2016 20:44

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. Blush

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

OP posts:
beeny · 17/07/2016 21:47

I love Premier Inns and am am not ashamed to admit it !

springwaters · 17/07/2016 21:50

Love Premier Inn, we stayed in the one in old County Hall, London. Really clean comfortable room, amazingly comfy bed.

The peeling laminate/mdf on the bath panel cut my arm at that hotel. 6 years later I still have a 6 cm scar. They were unable even to find a plaster. With hindsight I should have gone to a and e as it was quite deep.

MaQueen · 17/07/2016 21:51

The breakfasts at PI are excellent, you rarely need lunch afterward.

I have paid upwards of £200 for a room, only to find soft furnishings which look tired and faded, and a crappy shower which barely wets your hair.

Archedbrowse · 17/07/2016 21:51

YABU I had the worst, most frightening night of my life at a travel lodge in Norfolk, never again.

megletthesecond · 17/07/2016 21:53

Premier Inn breakfast.

Original poster
Onesieisthequeensselfie · 17/07/2016 21:54

Sorry to hear that Arched. What happened?

OP posts:
mummytime · 17/07/2016 21:55

Premier Inn actually sell their new beds. They sent me emails about them. Either search their website or drop them an email and the should be able to help.

WhoTheFuckIsSimon · 17/07/2016 21:58

I'm quite happy with the rooms in a travelodge. Sadly it's the other guests which spoil the experience, ive had so many sleepless/disturbed nights due to drunk guests returning late, doors banging, shouting, etc.

NowWhat1983 · 17/07/2016 21:59

Love premier inn. especially the breakfast

BikeRunSki · 17/07/2016 21:59

Love Premier Inns - although we stayed in one that was being refurbished last year (Aylesbury) and we were in an unrefurbished room which was a but horrid, and the breakfast pack up (no kitchens due to refurb( had us running to to McDonald's and I hate McDonalds.

Recently stayed in a brand new Premier Inn in Beverly, which was flipping marvellous. DS (7) created the bacon and Nutella croissant.

sorenofthejnaii · 17/07/2016 22:02

We went to some in France that were amazing.
They must have been built pre fabricated somewhere and put together. You could use your credit card to pay at a machine and you got a key card. No corridors. Just from the outside.

The reception closed about 9pm. The breakfast was self service croissants, coffee and cereal.

Very cheap and a great place to crash for the night.

chemenger · 17/07/2016 22:03

I am in a Premier Inn right now, in Glasgow. It's a perfectly comfortable, clean and cheap room, and DD who is with me gets a free breakfast ( they have never seen her devouring pastries, clearly). I can confirm that you can buy their beds at premierinn.com/ourbed, there is a leaflet about it on the bed.

JapanNextYear · 17/07/2016 22:04

Stay in loads of premier inns, Westminster bridge one in London and Holborn are fab. Really quiet. I like them. Travel lodge I'll check out now I ve read this thread.

Worst night in a hotel in a long time was jury's inn in Newcastle. Stag and hen parties running riot all night. And no good night guarantee.

toomuchtooold · 17/07/2016 22:05

I'm from Glasgow, used to live in London. That Premier Inn at Wigan is one of my favourite places in the world. Used to drive up north on a Friday night after work and it's a bit after halfway, you get in about 11 or so, the checkin is about 3 minutes long, and it's dead quiet b/c it's full of people doing that same commute. Love it.

ohtheholidays · 17/07/2016 22:08

I love Premier Inn,we've stayed in a few now in the family rooms.

So far everyone we've stayed in the rooms have been lovely and clean,nice comfortable beds,the breakfasts have all been lovely and you have so much choice which is something our 5DC all loved and the staff have been really friendly and really helpful.

I wouldn't lie about staying in one,were going to be staying in one again next month to visit some of DH's family.

MilnersGold · 17/07/2016 22:08

Travelodge are brilliant :) Turned up at one at 2am after a delayed cross channel ferry. Booking still fine. The lovely lass on reception was worried the kids might need some more food (they didn't!) & offered me her packet of biscuits. Didcot Services. Worth a visit.

trafalgargal · 17/07/2016 22:11

I used to work in corporate travel and never stayed at anything below 4 star nowadays different industry and actually having to pay I'm more than happy with PI if the location is right .TL my experiences weren't so good but the current refurbishment has taken care of that. I don't miss my four and five star days at all most of the facilities that give them their grading aren't things I need. Room service, mini bars, gyms aren't on my must have list. Clean and comfortable bed, powerful shower, wifi and a tv are.

If I'm abroad and in a four star hotel you can bet I've booked with Hotwire or Priceline and not paid anything like full price although my latest (rather late discovery) is Airbnb another great way to save some serious money.

CurbsideProphet · 17/07/2016 22:12

YANBU. Love Premier Inn. The one in Harrow is great and so much cheaper than central London.

FailureCallingYooohooo · 17/07/2016 22:15

Love, love, love Premier Inn. They are reliable and I've always found them to be clean and in decent condition. We've stayed in lots of them across the UK and I've never been disappointed, especially when we book in advance and pay £29 for a family room!

I won't book Travelodge anymore, they are unreliable. I've had dirty rooms and furniture that is broken and very tatty.

Destinysdaughter · 17/07/2016 22:19

That link for the beds didn't work! 😥

IJustAteTheKidsFoodAgain · 17/07/2016 22:20

YY to premier inns, DH and I will often stay in one over boutique hotels, especially with DCs, we have often said we would consider a full holiday in one, the pillows, the blackout blinds, the calming purple hues, I could go on. As for travel lodge though - you heathen!

trafalgargal · 17/07/2016 22:21

One of my favourite TLs for a bargain is the one at Feltham. Perfect for an early flight from Heathrow . It's a minute from the railway station for getting there, has a 'spoons and a 24 hour Tesco right opposite for food and instead of the expensive Hoppa bus to the airport the next morning you walk back to the station and pick up a normal bus that drops at all the terminals (used by lots of airport staff so starts about 4am) pay by Oyster or Contactless. If you can get a £29 room it's a bargain compared with all the other Heathrow hotels.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 17/07/2016 22:22

We've stayed several times at Premier Inns when we've just wanted a bed for the night - king size plus good shower and kettle etc. - I'd never be remotely embarrassed to tell anyone. They are clean, comfortable and very good value, and you know what you're going to get.

IJustAteTheKidsFoodAgain · 17/07/2016 22:22

arched what happened to you?

smellylittleorange · 17/07/2016 22:24

OOh yeah love them - I previously worked in the hotel industry too! I'm visiting relatives on bank holiday august weekend and because I booked in advance I have paid £30 pn family room - so I booked two nights instead of one - more time to spend with the family. Travelodge inBath had lovely breakfast was on a canal and convenient for a pre - Christmas break. Staying at the Premier Inn before we fly away on hols too.