Premier inn - in France ?

[darkmide]

I’m looking for budget summer trip to France going to La Rochelle or Royan. Do they have similar hotels to premier inn - you know reliable comfortable and somewhere to grab a meal..? I only know decent but pricey hotels in Paris or ropey or overly basic hotels on the coast…?

I have stayed in an Ibis in France and Belgium - both quite basic but always clean and got everything l need and not too expensive

We’ve stayed in “b&b hotels” it’s a chain with a feeling and price range very much like premier inn.

HotelF1

Just goigke french motorway chain hotel someone has done a list https://www.franceforfamilies.com/travel-options/overnight-stops/

Premiere Classe is probably the cheapest – and most basic. Ibis is OK.
Campanile
Accord
Mercure
Premiere Classe
Mr Bed
Etap (now Ibis)
Balladins
Ibis
Fast Hotels
Quick Palace
Best Hotel
Akena

I've stayed in a couple of Ibises and preferred them to Premier Inn because the family rooms were 2 interlinked rooms instead of the unholy crush you get in a Premier Inn - for equivalent price. I don't know if this is standard though, or just good luck.

I find there isn't quite an equivalent. The chains mentioned above, and also Campanile, aren't quite as comfortable as a Premier Inn, but they are ok for a short stay. And although the rooms are more basic they sometimes have pools! Two chains basically own most of the brands, Accor Hotels is one, can't remember the other, but if you look on the Accor Hotels website you'll see all the different options.

We usually stay in Ibis hotels - clean, comfortable and usually very good value. Not all of them have restaurants, though, and some of the city-centre ones don't have car parks, so check before you book.

A PP mentioned Hotel F1 (also known as Formula 1). These are extremely cheap, but on the whole the rooms aren't en-suite. If you prefer private facilities, it's probably worth paying a bit more.

Sorry - that should have read "Formule 1". Bloody autocorrect!

Ibis, formule 1 and campanile are all very basic and clean but fine. I've stayed in them all
Take a travel kettle as most don't have tea and coffee in France

We stay in ibis hotels in France if we're breaking up a long drive. Perfectly fine. Usually include a continental breakfast.

I've stayed in Ibis hotels in France and I think the Netherlands, they're fine.

We swear by Novotel in France.

Premiere classe is very cheap and cheerful. BUT you pay for what you get.

We've stayed in a few but use it JUST as a base for sleeping, there are no mod cons and the rooms are... basic...

Ibis
Formule 1
Campanile
Mercure

All good. Formule 1 is very basic.

Usually include a continental breakfast.

Not necessarily. The basic rate is usually room-only. Breakfast is extra.

Take a travel kettle as most don't have tea and coffee in France

True. Plus coffee bags and teabags. Earl Grey is a good standby if you don't have easy access to fresh milk.

And also take a universal sink plug. We've stayed in some French hotels which don't have plugs in the washbasins!

Thanks all

Ibis is actually quite nice. Ibis budget are the basic ones.

B&b are reliable, formule 1 are very basic.

Campanile are ok but often not well situated for the towns, they tend to be out near industrial estates.

Don't discount independent 2 and 3 places. The ones that have survived have done so because they are very good.

Are Appart city hotels any good? We’ve used them a few times and they’ve had a kitchenette in them and separate rooms.

Ibis Styles include a free breakfast.

The closest thing is a hotel B & B. Formule 1 is far too basic for comfort. All of those mentioned are really out of town travelling stop offs rather than places you would stay, except Novotel and Appart'hotel though and some B & B but not all. I totally agree that you should look at small family run hotels that are 2 or 3 but inexpensive, they are often the best.

Thank you for this thread ! It’ll save me a lot of research

https://www.hotel-saint-nicolas.com/ I've stayed here twice in La Rochelle
Gorgeous little hotel, it was very reasonable.

We like Premiere Classe because on arrival you check yourself in at the door, avoids faffing. No frills, cheap and cheerful.

I've stayed in all of these chains over the years. We went to France a lot as kids and these hotels were great for overnight stops along the way.

French budget hotels are all pretty good really. The on-site restaurants are usually ok and very clean.

We used to like campanile best, I think back in the 90s my bother and I just liked the key code entry system. Disliked F1 the most, but that was down to the toilets and the automatic light switch off.

Thanks for all the recommendations