European Chain Hotels
“Chains” seem to be more synonymous with the US – think restaurants, shops and of course, hotels. Motel 6, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Hilton – no matter your budget or where you plan to go, you’ll probably quite easily find one of these. In Europe however, and especially if you are a budget traveler, you are more likely to find and stay in a locally owned pension or bed and breakfast. The positive aspects of chains is that you know exactly what you are going to get. And in the constantly surprising world of travel, a little bit of comfort can go a long way. Here are a couple chain hotel brands operating in Europe. Be sure to note exactly where they are located – sometimes they are on the outskirts of cities. This is great if you are driving, but if you are staying in a city, and without a car, you may want to find a property closer to the center. They aren’t the cheapest places to stay, but they are on the budget end and may offer you a little something extra you’ve been looking for.
Ibis has nearly 700 properties in about 20 European countries. They have a loyalty card program and a permanent “special offers” page on their website. A quick check of room prices found for a 2-night October weekend stay in Berlin, prices ranged from 49 EUR – 99 EUR a night; they have 10 hotels in Berlin. That same weekend in Vienna would cost between 64 EUR and 72 EUR in one of their 3 hotels.
easyJet, easyCruise and easyHotel; the easy empire is spreading. For a great price, you’ll get a teeny tiny room, private bathroom, no housekeeping and one towel per person. However, prices are great – especially considering most of the hotels are in excellent city center locations. Book ahead though, I’ve tried on a couple of occasions to get a room at one of these, and haven’t been able to. And even though their website seems to offer lots of cities; they are partnered with Octopus Travel and you’ll get booted to their website if there isn’t an easyHotel in your select city; or one available for your chosen dates.
The UK unfortunately is one of the priciest countries to visit, but you may be able to cut your sleeping costs by checking in to Premiere Inn. They have more than 500 properties in Britain, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland. Our October weekend in Blackpool would be 154 GBP, while staying in London Kensington would cost 214 GBP.
Have you tried any of these, or a different, European chain hotel? Please share your experience!
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