Travelodge equivalent in France?

[niceberg]

I'm wondering how easy it would be to find one night's accommodation without booking ahead, while driving through France 1/2 September. We'll be doing a lot of miles and it would be good to be flexible and not commit in advance to arriving at a certain place.

Is there much accommodation along the motorways similar to Travelodge? If so do they get booked up at weekends, and what are they like?

Thanks for any advice.

I don't recall that they have hotels at service stations as we do in the UK but there are several budget chains. Ibis are usually quite reasonably priced. The most budget of budget hotels is the Formule 1. Very cheap but basic and you don't get an en-suite.

Regarding booking, it depends how touristy an area. We stay at one of the port towns on a Saturday night in August so would always book but if you are in a less popular area you would probably be ok.

Look at www.accorhotels.com. They offer a whole range from basic to more luxurious and have many near motorway exits. September should be quieter.

Hotel B&B, Campanile, Ibis Budget and Kyriad are my main go-to motels in France. All have at least some industrial park just off motorways.

Brilliant, thanks for all those suggestions.

Premiere classe

P'tit dej hotel.

I think this would be very feasible, especially on those dates which are out of the French holiday season. Most decent size towns have an industrial estate just off the motorway/main road with several of the chains Random mentions. There's usually a chain restaurant there too, if you need to eat (and don't mind about chains) - often Buffalo Grill. If you stay in a Hotel B&B you get some kind of deal with Buffalo Grill - can't remember what but something like 10% off the meal. If you're arriving at night, beware that sometimes you can't get your car into the carpark until you've checked in - you have to walk through the pedestrian entrance and do the check-in on foot - all automatic and very easy, the screens have an English option.

Formule 1 are good if there are a few of you as they often have mezzanine floors for the kids/other adults. Basic but clean.

B and b hotel is a budget chain I would highly recommend. Some of the chains will allow you to cancel up until the arrival day allowing you to book ahead but keep your options open.

accorhotels so things like Formula1 and Ibis.

There are also many drive up motels across France on the outskirts of cities. If you have a credit card you can arrive any time of the day or night and just pay at a machine which spits out your room key then put it back at the end. Some of them are much nicer than others so id suggest checking them out in the day. We had to stay in a really dodgy one once because wed left it so late. But you can just turn up on the day and find a nice one if you have time to drive round and check out a few of them.

Ibis but not sure if they are on motorways . google and see