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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To live in a Travelodge

286 replies

oakkiln · 08/02/2025 11:14

Inspired by the other poster who started a threads about liquidating their assets and living in luxury hotels in their old age (but, for us, sadly without the assets!)

My husband and I are in a desperate situation. We are both late middle age and still rent. We are doing everything we can to save for a deposit for a house and live very frugally.

Rent, rates and all house costs etc come to £21k a year. But we could live in a Travelodge for £11k. Storage for furniture etc would be £2k

Are we crazy to consider it for just a year or two?

OP posts:
Raindropskeepfallinonmyhead · 08/02/2025 11:14

Personally l prefer a Premier lnn. Why notn- if it works for you?!

sometimesmovingforwards · 08/02/2025 11:16

I’m just not sure I could live next door to Lenny Henry long term.

Sinkingfeeling952 · 08/02/2025 11:17

But what will you eat? You’d end up spending a lot on eating out / takeaways? Or eating sandwiches. Do Travelodge’s have a fridge in the room?

PickledElectricity · 08/02/2025 11:18

Have you accounted for fluctuations in price around peak tourism/holidays?

JC03745 · 08/02/2025 11:19

I'd find an aparthotel or at least one with a kitchenette so you could cook. Otherwise, you'd spend a fortune on eating out/take aways- DAILY!

MagentaRavioli · 08/02/2025 11:19

You can’t, actually. Look at the small print. There is a limit on how long you can stay. You would have to move around.

Have you factored in the costs of doing laundry and not being able to cook food other than with a kettle?

Netcam · 08/02/2025 11:22

I think it would be awful, having nowhere to cook or have separate space. But I think Travelodges are horrible.

I would consider moving to a very cheap area, narrowboat, mobile home, buying a camper and living in it full time anytime over a Travelodge.

SpringBunnyHopHop · 08/02/2025 11:22

I imagine you’d have an awful lifestyle and quickly become to hate it.

You’d have to spend many evenings in one cramped room or going out spending money to occupy yourselves.

You couldn’t cook a meal in a hotel room.

Landlubber2019 · 08/02/2025 11:27

Difficult to advise without a full breakdown of the £21 v £11k are they really like for like?

Bananalanacake · 08/02/2025 11:29

I'd also wonder about the food costs if you don't have access to a hob.

Zanatdy · 08/02/2025 11:29

No as you’d end up living off fast food and spend a fortune on that.

paranoiaofpufflings · 08/02/2025 11:33

If you're prepared to move around - because there is a limit on length of stay - and are prepared to eat without cooking, it's a valid way of saving in the short term.
Longer term, given that the goal is to buy a home, you need to consider how your mortgage application will work when you will have had no fixed address for a while.

heyhopotato · 08/02/2025 11:35

Will they give you a mortgage by the time you've saved up for a deposit?

How does the price compare to a studio flat where you are?

JoannaGroats · 08/02/2025 11:41

I get that this might be slightly tongue in cheek, but if not, there are practicalities you would have to consider. Would you be able to use a hotel as a permanent address? You need one for credit purposes (not to mention accessing a GP, council tax purposes etc.) - so if you’re saving for a mortgage, a credit history that shows you effectively homeless for a year would be less than ideal.

claudiaswinklemen · 08/02/2025 11:46

I think you might be better in a “holiday home” lodge/caravan.

scorpiogirly · 08/02/2025 11:48

Sinkingfeeling952 · 08/02/2025 11:17

But what will you eat? You’d end up spending a lot on eating out / takeaways? Or eating sandwiches. Do Travelodge’s have a fridge in the room?

They could get a mini electric hob. One of those camping ones with two plates.

Panickingnowhelp · 08/02/2025 11:49

I have just left my job in a travelodge after 7 years, pp saying you can't live there are wrong. In our one when I left a man was still there after 3 years.
The rules are you can't stay in a room more than 28 days so on day 28 people would have to move room - usually to the room next door if available.

I dont see how it's comfortable long term, you aren't allowed to plug in any food making facilities etc and you'd have to go to a launderette. It's doable but I wouldn't do it unless absolutely necessary.

Elsvieta · 08/02/2025 11:50

SpringBunnyHopHop · 08/02/2025 11:22

I imagine you’d have an awful lifestyle and quickly become to hate it.

You’d have to spend many evenings in one cramped room or going out spending money to occupy yourselves.

You couldn’t cook a meal in a hotel room.

I did it for several months, in between homes, moving around Travelodges and Premier Inns. I bought a plug-in two-ring hotplate and cooked on it (and hid it when they were going to come in to clean). Totally against their rules I would think. Pans washed in the bathroom and left in the shower to dry. It was quite depressing.

Miley1967 · 08/02/2025 11:50

I think it would be awful living in one room. The only good thing would be if breakfast was included.

Dampfnudeln · 08/02/2025 11:52

It worked well for Alan Partridge

whosaidtha · 08/02/2025 11:52

What about a van? I've seen loads of people on TikTok who set a van up. They have gym memberships for showers and use friends kitchens to batch cook and things. I'd definitely do it if I didn't have kids.

Bjorkdidit · 08/02/2025 11:53

I'd look for a serviced apartment or similar, or even a caravan in a non touristy location and try and negotiate a long term rate. Then you have basic cooking facilities and no bills.

But I agree that the lack of a permanent address might be detrimental when it comes to applying for a mortgage.

Do you have furniture and other possessions that you would need to store? Do you have a realistic chance of buying, given that you are 'late middle age'? Might you be better looking to move to an over 55s council property as these are often easier to find than mainstream social housing.

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 08/02/2025 11:53

@oakkiln 30 pounds per night per room??? what about food???

Oioisavaloy27 · 08/02/2025 11:54

It would be just as cheap for you to buy a holiday home with free ground rent thrown in for a couple of years but you would still have the holiday home at the end of it. You would be able to cook and use if a washer.

Oioisavaloy27 · 08/02/2025 11:55

Or buy a campervan.