The Premier Inns in the Highlands must get booked up early. Supply and Demand.I agreed 100%
For early January this year, My wife and I got a Saturday & Sunday night at the Inverness (River Ness) P.I. for the bargain price of £72
The same room for mid-August would cost us £457 .. that's why went in January
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Budget hotels discussion
- Thread starter dorsetdesiro
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Start by looking at booking.com or Expedia. There are hotels in other countries which aren't on there, but not to the same extent as Travelodge or PI.
For chains it's usually worth booking them direct from their own websites once you've found one you like. Bear in mind that the points can mount up fast on loyalty schemes, with some working out at 1 free night in every 5-10 - if you're looking at repeat trips to a particular part of Europe that can mount up quickly.
For non-chains you want to go carefully through recent reviews looking for complaints about things that would annoy you. 5 nights booked through booking.com will also get you access to some alright discounts, rising to decent discounts if you book 15 nights or more
Silver Cobra
Member
Travelodge seem to have introduced a new feature this year: the ability to choose a specific room when staying at one of their hotels.
I received an email from Travelodge yesterday regarding my upcoming stay at Blackpool South Shore on 9th June. For £3.50, I could pick a specific room for my four-night stay. I duly took up the offer to pick a room on the north side of the hotel (I prefer this side as you don't get the sun penning in to the room all day; I know how hot the rooms on the south side can get on very sunny days). The email also said that pre-selecting a room would speed up check-in.
Strangely enough I don't see anything regarding this new service on the Travelodge website. So it makes me wonder how long this service has been offered for, and if only specific hotels have it.
I received an email from Travelodge yesterday regarding my upcoming stay at Blackpool South Shore on 9th June. For £3.50, I could pick a specific room for my four-night stay. I duly took up the offer to pick a room on the north side of the hotel (I prefer this side as you don't get the sun penning in to the room all day; I know how hot the rooms on the south side can get on very sunny days). The email also said that pre-selecting a room would speed up check-in.
Strangely enough I don't see anything regarding this new service on the Travelodge website. So it makes me wonder how long this service has been offered for, and if only specific hotels have it.
cactustwirly
Established Member
Depends on your budget but would start looking on Accor's website, they give member offers which are cheaper than the public rate. They have very good coverage, especially in Belgium where the other chains are limited to Brussels etc
If you stay at a particular Premier Inn / Travelodge often enough and get to know the reception staff and they get to know you over time I find they'll usually ask if you have a preference room wise and sometimes even 'accidentally' upgrade you to a SuperRoom even if you've only booked a Standard one 
All free of charge although they do appreciate chocolates as a little bit of a bribe of course!
All free of charge although they do appreciate chocolates as a little bit of a bribe of course!Interesting that booking for Birmingham this week both Holiday Inn express and Hilton were as cheap as the cheapest Travelodge or PI, but with free breakfast and points included. Feels like we're a long way past the point where either is the acceptable budget option
Iskra
Established Member
It’s all done by algorithm, like booking a flight so goes up with demand. Good deals can be had, especially on Sunday evenings. From my internal observations; after a busy couple of weeks, it’s quiet these next couple of weeks then jumps up again for the last week of June. Probably to do with pay cycles.
It’s school holidays.
Iskra
Established Member
That did occur to me after I’d posted
Thanks for the explanation (I don’t have kids).Sounds like they're following airlines in finding new ways to upsell and get people paying above the advertised rates. I wonder if they'll install lockable wardrobes and USB ports/power sockets that can be sold as premium add-ons?
FWIW, being able to pick a room is a nice feature but not the feeling, however low it is perceived to be - partly because in due course the fee will rise and then it will become variable, so all the nice rooms you currently pick for the reason given above, will cost more. Suddenly you're made to pay to ensure you're not given the crappy room. I appreciate that hotels have charged extra for rooms with a view forever, but I think you know what I mean.
Kite159
Veteran Member
It's a good idea in theory, especially at certain locations where one side of the building overlooks a busy road or street with various nightclubs and the opposite side overlooks an office block (i.e. less outdoor noise).
I.e. the Travelodge near Cardiff Central.
I.e. the Travelodge near Cardiff Central.
Stayed at a Premier Inn for the first time in a while, one I'd previously stayed at a few years ago. Paid about £50 per night for a Premier Plus room that was clean and obviously recently refurbished, however the coffee machine didn't work and the HDMI socket provided for the TV also didn't seem to be connected.
The "Ultimate" WiFi was included in the rate, but capped at 8mbps. They did offer free WiFi, but capped at 1mbps (so essentially useless).
Breakfast - quality was fine but nothing was out because they were quiet, so everything other than drinks had to be ordered from the waiter who was also manning reception at the same time.
I presume because it was a quiet period and didn't need all the rooms, they seemed to be using the overnight staff to clean the unoccupied rooms. This was a little annoying when they were moving around with their trolley and hoovering next door at 1am.
The main annoyance though was parking. Last time I stayed there parking was free for guests. This time - guests were entitled to a discounted parking rate of £9 per 24 hours (the full price being £10). I just parked in the council car park opposite which was only £7 per 24 hours...
A shame really, because it left a bit of a poor impression (wheres if I paid £59 per night and got free parking I'd probably have gone home perfectly happy!)
The "Ultimate" WiFi was included in the rate, but capped at 8mbps. They did offer free WiFi, but capped at 1mbps (so essentially useless).
Breakfast - quality was fine but nothing was out because they were quiet, so everything other than drinks had to be ordered from the waiter who was also manning reception at the same time.
I presume because it was a quiet period and didn't need all the rooms, they seemed to be using the overnight staff to clean the unoccupied rooms. This was a little annoying when they were moving around with their trolley and hoovering next door at 1am.
The main annoyance though was parking. Last time I stayed there parking was free for guests. This time - guests were entitled to a discounted parking rate of £9 per 24 hours (the full price being £10). I just parked in the council car park opposite which was only £7 per 24 hours...
A shame really, because it left a bit of a poor impression (wheres if I paid £59 per night and got free parking I'd probably have gone home perfectly happy!)
D6130
Established Member
Where was that?
STINT47
Member
Your post confirms my own experiences of Premier Inn recently.
They strike me as a company that's is cutting costs (especially staff numbers) leading to a poorer service. They also seem to be charging for things that were previously free and have increased the price of others.
If you get a room for £50 like you did then fair enough but given some of the prices charged (often no cheaper than a higher quality chain) it's not good.
I am certainly more reluctant to stay at Premier Inn than I was a few years ago.
TheSmiths82
Member
I have booked a 4 star hotel in Bournemouth but my plans have changed slightly, I now intend to stay just two nights in Bournemouth and maybe a night in Plymouth to mix things up a bit. However the 4 star hotel has mixed reviews and I worry that down south a lot of none chain hotels seem to have this thing where you have to ring the doorbell to get after a certain at night. The Travelodge is similar money, but obviously more boring but I know exactly what I will get. Would I be mad to cancel the Bournemouth hotel (I can still cancel for free and I haven't paid yet) and stay in the Travelodge where I know what I will get? I can get a slight discount on Travelodge too which helps.
STINT47
Member
I'd call the hotel in Bournemouth and ask if they lock the doors after a certain time at night. The answer may then help you make your decision.
TheSmiths82
Member
I thought about that, I may send them an email. I've just had anxiety before when you ring the bell and they answer ten minutes later because the night porter was on the toilet or in one case didn't hear the bell because he was hoovering. I much prefer hotels where you just swipe your card to gain entry after a certain time, and even then there is often security double checking.
The hotel does have a 24 hour reception, but in my experience that could mean anything.
Iskra
Established Member
I’d be quite careful how you phrase such an enquiry, as it may set ‘alarm bells’ ringing at the hotel.
TheSmiths82
Member
I think that is what put me off in the first place. In reality I won't be out much beyond midnight but sometimes the doors close at 10pm.
I haven't stayed in any hotel for years that doesn't have card entry on the front door, and usually a night receptionist who doesn't leave reception as well. I struggle to believe a hotel could reach 4 star status without it tbh, and I'd definitely be chasing a full refund if I had to fish around phoning somebody to get into one after midnight.
Iskra
Established Member
Certainly not a very robust system and something intoxicated people would struggle with, probably creating more work than simple key card entry.
styles
Member
So I've just booked a country house hotel in Wales for Christmas - 7 nights for £317.55, solo occupancy, including Christmas eve/day/boxing day. £7 of that is for breakfast (full cooked, not buffet, and buffet continental). Amazed it was £1pppn for a cooked breakfast.
I have stayed in this hotel before. It was a bit.. unloved. It's a grand property, listed, and the downstairs and communal areas are fantastic. The rooms were nicely decorated, if you wanted a 20 year-old posh-feeling room. In particular I remember the carpets for each room were bespoke, so there was actually a special pattern in the carpet around the bed and the desk. It was clearly well decorated when it was first decorated, then neglected for too long. The hotel was then bought out by a couple who run a couple of other hotels. They promised to renovate, and to give them credit, they started doing so. They made an effort to engage the local community in-person and on Facebook to get feedback. Things were looking up. Until.. they put in a bid to run a migrant hotel, and the entire village turned against them. They didn't take bookings for a few years, so I'm not sure how much progress they've made with renovation, but I guess I'll find out. I remember the breakfast being fantastic when I stayed there - good quality ingredients, cooked-to-order, flexible with requests.
On their pricing, their pricing in 2018 when I stayed was £35/night, this time it is £45/night, so not a huge increase, and in fact pretty much bang on CPI increase. If they've actually finished renovating, this will be fantastic value.
For context, the Travelodge 5 minutes walk away wanted £307, included no breakfast, charges for WiFi, and there's no proper foot or bicycle access and is next to a very loud road.
I rated them 3 out of 5 stars in 2018. If they've renovated that could easily be a 4. If my room card works every night instead of having to get it reset all the time, maybe even a 5!
I have stayed in this hotel before. It was a bit.. unloved. It's a grand property, listed, and the downstairs and communal areas are fantastic. The rooms were nicely decorated, if you wanted a 20 year-old posh-feeling room. In particular I remember the carpets for each room were bespoke, so there was actually a special pattern in the carpet around the bed and the desk. It was clearly well decorated when it was first decorated, then neglected for too long. The hotel was then bought out by a couple who run a couple of other hotels. They promised to renovate, and to give them credit, they started doing so. They made an effort to engage the local community in-person and on Facebook to get feedback. Things were looking up. Until.. they put in a bid to run a migrant hotel, and the entire village turned against them. They didn't take bookings for a few years, so I'm not sure how much progress they've made with renovation, but I guess I'll find out. I remember the breakfast being fantastic when I stayed there - good quality ingredients, cooked-to-order, flexible with requests.
On their pricing, their pricing in 2018 when I stayed was £35/night, this time it is £45/night, so not a huge increase, and in fact pretty much bang on CPI increase. If they've actually finished renovating, this will be fantastic value.
For context, the Travelodge 5 minutes walk away wanted £307, included no breakfast, charges for WiFi, and there's no proper foot or bicycle access and is next to a very loud road.
I rated them 3 out of 5 stars in 2018. If they've renovated that could easily be a 4. If my room card works every night instead of having to get it reset all the time, maybe even a 5!
TheSmiths82
Member
Has anybody had an issues with a refund on Premier Inn? I have simplified my travel plans which meant I had to cancel a booking for London. The booking is for a months time I booked a semi flex hotel so I could cancel it up to 3 days before check in. I have cancelled the hotel but there is no mention of the refund in the email, does this normally arrive as a separate email?
Update: This is sorted now, the refund email has arrived 45 minutes later. It is poor UI design though, I have just cancelled another booking with Hotels.com and that made it very clear I would be getting a refund before I confirmed.
Update: This is sorted now, the refund email has arrived 45 minutes later
. It is poor UI design though, I have just cancelled another booking with Hotels.com and that made it very clear I would be getting a refund before I confirmed.
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Baxenden Bank
Established Member
- Joined
- 23 Oct 2013
- Messages
- 4,314
The website does make clear that refunds can be made on semi-flex bookings. Does the online process confirm this as you go through it? The Travelodge website certainly makes clear, before you press 'cancel booking' that you have a flexible booking and the amount of the refund. Again a separate email arrives after the first cancellation confirmation. I haven't got any old emails hanging around to see what the time difference was between the email and the credit invoice with Premier Inn.Has anybody had an issues with a refund on Premier Inn? I have simplified my travel plans which meant I had to cancel a booking for London. The booking is for a months time I booked a semi flex hotel so I could cancel it up to 3 days before check in. I have cancelled the hotel but there is no mention of the refund in the email, does this normally arrive as a separate email?
Update: This is sorted now, the refund email has arrived 45 minutes later
317 forever
Established Member
I had a problem with wi-fi on my mobile at Premier Inn Heathrow T4 in May, even though it was fine at a PI in Brentford last September.
It can't be a matter of it interfering with technology for the flights, because it was fine at T4 itself.
I am soon staying at PI in Tooting. Hopefully it will be fine there.
It can't be a matter of it interfering with technology for the flights, because it was fine at T4 itself.
I am soon staying at PI in Tooting. Hopefully it will be fine there.