another tip, if you book in advance, thats great, if your a smoker, in premier inn, you can request your room close to reception, 3 days before your arrival, saves walking miles through corridors to go for a smoke, room allocated 3 days before and can be requested, also get your car parked next to the door, so if you do smoke, its cold night, you can sit in car, me and my wife done this often lol
Hey Great reviews I have just done a vlog on the same subject. I found premier Inn wins hands down. I took a look at the best rooms they have to offer. They are always great options for a budget conscious trip. Great channel by the way. Subscribed
I default to Premier Inn always a decent medium quality room reasonably priced and a restaurant next door. The others vary so much from location to location. Essentially you get a consistent standard with Premier Inn.
Your insights on Travelodge vs. Premier Inn are spot-on! 🏨💼 Avoiding hotel breakfasts is a smart move, and your tip about requesting a room close to reception in Premier Inn for smokers is gold. 😂 Loved the hilarious shower gel dispenser moment! 😆 Thanks for sharing these valuable tips and making the decision between these hotels a bit easier. Safe travels, Magenta Otter Travels! 🌍✈
Was the shower gel part hilarious because I accidentally said something obscene? That's what someone else said, and I'm still wondering if I should go edit the video! I feel bad...
Specifically within Hotel Breakfasts…my top tip for your trip is , if you’re not that into sausages …think very hard about what you’re about to put on your plate..
Premier inn over travel lodge every day of the week! They are expensive though, especially in central London. We tend to stay on the outskirts now as the centre is just out of budget now! The beds are so much more comfy in the Premier Inns. Good comparison! Cheers 🍻
One thing I didn't mention in the video is that if you are driving, like we were, it definitely pays to stay on the outskirts of town where the parking is so much more affordable than central London!
That's totally true. I came to the same conclusion on my vlog as well. I did find there is not much difference in price if early enough but haven't stayed at one in London.
i would put Premier Inn in the same league as Holiday Inn low/mid range and Travelodge the acceptable low end. Ive often found prices for £30-40 per night if booking in advance. No frills but when in London your hotel is just a place to shower and sleep. Can save a fortune finding a hotel just outside Central London but near a undergroud station.
Yes, I agree! Using public transport to get into the city is worth it. We have stayed in Canary wharf a couple times for that same reason. Fabulous hotel, but much lower cost than central London.
Travelodge London Stratford is an excellent option. Tube is 5 mins walk from hotel and into central takes 5-15 mins depends on which part of centre. So much cheaper. Also westfield centre there too. For cheap parking if driving in.
I will save this video for when we do manage a London escape. Great comparisons. Your 'tips' videos are so details and to the point. I find them very useful Dara. Another one to be mindful of when booking. 👌🇳🇱🙋♀🇳🇿🌺
Totally agree that Premier Inn is a better hotel that Travelodge, and really for much the same price. At Premier in, on can change the dates of a stay, even on a non-refundable booking, unless they choose the very lowest tariff. I often to this, Would say to do a search somewhere South of London (eg, Croydon), and somewhere north of London (eg. Borehamwood), to see where is less expensive near either of these. Premier Inn also famously do a meal deal. One can pay £25, and have an evening meal, with a drink, and breakfast. I think this is very good value.
This is Dara's husband, Ian. What you're saying is a good point. I was researching hotels for summer 2024 and found that the Wembley Premier Inns were substantially cheaper with rates as low as £60/night in July, when Central London hotels typically start at £200. You just have to be willing to take a 30 minute train ride into the centre of London, no big deal.
@@ians3586 have stayed at the Wembley Stadium Premier Inn in August. Nothing on at the stadium, just a reasonably priced hotel in zone 4 of the city, I believe.
@@andyrobertshaw9120 even less expensive is the Hammersmith Talgarth Road. In July it's as low as £51per night. On Google Street View it is just a construction site so it must've just opened. It's a five minute walk to the underground.
The tip about avoiding the hotel breakfasts applies across most European cities. When my wife and I book our city breaks it's always room only, then we find somewhere local and used by the locals for a breakfast, at often a fraction of the cost of the hotel breakfast.
Hotels do rooms its their strong point..Chip shops do food,it’s their raison d’etre..dont confuse the two….i would never go to a chip shop to stay the night….
@@griswald7156 I should think not! But seriously, it is a sensible approach to things. I remember once eating at a 1950s style diner in Los Angeles that was known for burgers and milkshakes and french fries... they had a large varied menu, and I was thinking about ordering spaghetti. My friend said "I don't ever get pasta except at an Italian restaurant". That had actually never occurred to me in my young life, but I have embraced that motto for the last 35 years! For the best food, eat it at a place that focuses on doing that thing well.
@@griswald7156 ha ha, no but you get extra points for knowing obscure American things! It was Ed Debevic's. My first job out of grad school I actually worked in Beverly Hills, if you can imagine! A place that was way beyond my budget or salary!
Interesting video, have you seen the Premier Inn-Hub hotels? room a bit snug for two, solo visitors may like these and the rates, there are larger Hub rooms as well, rooms are techie, usb/hdmi ports, ambient lighting, Wi-Fi, rain shower, clever storage ideas,
The nice thing about Premier Inn - Hub is that it's a relatively new concept, so you can probably count on the hotels to be fresh, clean, and modern while that's not always the case with original Premier Inn properties.
I like Premier Inns. Although I would recommend going for a 'refundable' in some circumstances - having got caught by this where I was going to stay over for a concert, the concert was cancelled, and I was left with a hotel room in a city I didn't really want to go to - would have liked to transfer to another hotel in another town, but you can't do that. If you don't mind changing your dates in that particular town or city then fine.
Yes, I agree. Often we know that our plans are "definite" barring any health emergencies. So we often get refundable. But for something like a concert, or a business trip, refundable is a better idea
Thanks for your insight tips by comparing the two different hotels. Next time when Philippe and I travel to London (hopefully sometimes soon) and we don't find an affordable Airbnb or Youth hostel we will check your recommendations.
Some great advice for those travelling to London, Dara and Ian. If we were to travel there we would want to be in the heart of the city even if it's a little more expensive. The convenience of not trying to figure out transportation would be worth it to me. But, I'm not opposed to some less expensive hotels as long as the location was central. I believe the Travelodges are in the Wyndham Hotel Group of which we're members of. (members of several others too) But, that seems to be somewhat unclear in the UK. I see their not listed in the UK a being part of the Rewards program. (just checked) Anyway we enjoyed seeing some less expensive options and enjoyed seeing the room comparison.
Travelodge UK is a very different beast to the North American brand, and as far as I'm aware, the UK doesn't offer the same benefits and rewards you'd expect in America. Best stick Premier Inn, they are everywhere in the UK and are pretty consistent across the board. As for staying on the outskirts of central London, that's the best idea 💡 to save you money. Hotel rooms can be a little bigger, quieter, and cheaper. Sure, if you stayed in the heart of the city, you'd have a 20-minute walk to an attraction vs 20 minute tube or bus ride, plus riding the transport is part of the experience of the trip. However, the benefits far outweigh the conveniences.
I did find out that the Travelodge programs or rewards are not the same over there. The Premier Inn did look nicer here and from what I read are nicer overall. Our case is a little different than most. My wife Kathy suffers from Alzheimer's and the convenience of a short walk would be much easier. She's still physically capable and the walk would do us good. Would love to visit the UK, but I don't know if it's in the cards for us anymore. Thanks for your response! @@CRHead-id7gh
Hiya Dara, Me and my friend Michael are going to London next November, where sort of doing a historical holiday, Where going to Tower Of London, Jack The Ripper Tour, British Museum, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and London Zoo, where staying at the President hotel, I know its expensive but we've gave ourselves 12 months to save for it, it should be a giggle, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England
You're absolutely correct about the difference between Premier Inn and Travelodge, and which one would prefer! Very surprised to see Premier Inn cheaper in some places in London: in the provinces it's normally Travelodge that knocks spots off Premier Inn on price. For example, a Travelodge room for £30 in Cambridge compares with a £47-£62 tariff for Premier Inn. I expect it's a decision about whether the quality is worth the extra! Thanks for your critique - always helpful!
Thank you so much, Richard! The price is very wildly by location and Buy exact date. It is always fun to be able to find a room for 30 quid! One thing I didn't mention in the video that's very important is trying to find hotels that are new. Those are always a safer bet 😉
A tip to myself & others is choose a new build TL or PI, I stayed in a TL that had previously been an office block, the floors were not solid, the original suspended floor joists were shared with adjacent rooms, so I heard & felt the neighbours whenever they moved around the rooms, also that former office block had no external sound insulation, at 7am the hand car wash people over the road woke me, so too the Laundry Van at 11:30 pm. a disturbed sleep & a poor experience and no quiet night guarantee with TL.
Oh my goodness! That sounds like a bad stay! Yes, after I finished editing the video Ian reminded me that I should've talked about staying in newly built or newly refurbished hotels. Especially with Travelodge, if you stay at a brand new place it's is a safer bet but it will be nice. Although apparently one must make sure it's not a badly converted building! 😳
Interesting comparison video. It's odd they didn't have a hairdryer in the Travel Lodge. I was surprised that the Premiere Inn was cheaper than the Travel Lodge in London. I believe it's usually the other way around. Lots of great advice and tips. Nice job, Dara! 👍❤
I've stayed in at least two different Travelodges that didn't have hair dryers in the room... you had to ask at reception! And sometimes they would run out! For someone with an unruly head of hair like me, that is not OK. haha!
Hi, I have stayed in both Travelodge and Premier Inns, though not these ones, I don't think I have been in either without having a hair dryer, although, often hidden in Drawers, Cupboards, sometimes near the extra pillows. Did you ask at reception? Agree with you most of the time, if you are in a city, breakfast is better outside, but it is slightly more predictable if prebooked at the hotel. The area near Aldgate is on the boundary with 'The City' so has a business verses tourist clientele. The general indicator is the Sunday rate, Weekend rate and the weekday rate. The Travel Lodge low rate for Sunday suggests a business focus, Friday/Saturday a normally high. I think this Premier Inn is Tourist with the Travel Lodge being Business, there are 2 other of each within easy walking distance which may have different target clients. Sorry I mention this because it is a strange boundary area.
I totally agree! We once stayed at a Marriott in the Threadneedles area and that is totally a business area! We got a great weekend rate there! As for the hairdryer, more than once I have been at a Travelodge where they didn't have enough hairdryers to go around! You had to ask at reception and sometimes they would say "sorry, we've given out all the hairdryers" !!
When I'm at work and outside of London, Travel Lodge tends to be the cheaper option, but when staying for leasure, the wife and I prefer Premier Inn, even if it's more expensive as generally a bit nicer. Never had to stay in London as it is mostly travellable for me
We have stayed in many budget hotels in London. One served a plate of warm beans and two undercooked eggs for breakfast. I do enjoy Holiday Inn breakfast is included on some deals. The price differences are because Monday to Thursday are priced for business users Friday normally when the tourists visit for theatre trips. We have visited some 4* hotels that have been dreadful and one that put me and my boss in the honeymoon suite ,it didn't last😅.
Your boss might have told them you’ve done nuptials..it does sound like trouble he might suss that you’re not suitable for your position ..and put redundancy on the table..
@@griswald7156 we were working together for 25yrs ,he stood down and l was his boss. At the time l said to him who do l have to sleep with to get your job, his wife said ,not him. The problem arose because our secretary was called honey . She asked for the invoice to be sent to her, the ref Honey ......94. Because we were going to Paris the next day and it all got confused. It would never have worked he didn't want kids I already had 1.
I agree being flexible helps, but PI removed a very useful feature, they used to have an at a glance calendar view (weekly/monthly) with room rates, so you could choose a stay based solely on your budget, then fit yourself around the dates & location as long as transport worked out, I know there is still a search by price option, but I liked the calendar view option, more consumer friendly.
There's another problem with the PI website when it comes to figuring out pricing. If you select a number of days for your stay and then you click on "see breakdown", it is off by one day. It's been that way for at least 3 years and it's very confusing. Don't know why they haven't fixed it yet.
Dara, the 2 best places to stay, travel lodge, i have stayed many times, as i delivered London on a weekly basis, is the gatwick, 6 floors 24 hour bar and 24 hour fast food, i was getting that for 70 per night, it was great as i parked in car park and they have parking attendant all night, , heathrow a great one also, that was a cheap one 60 to 70 a night, not as good as gatwick, but great if you are flying from either home to US, and you have early flights.
Thank you so much for these recommendations! We often have American friends visit who need to stay near the airport before they fly out in the morning, so this is very useful!
@@MagentaOtterTravels if they come into gatwick, gatwick travel lodge has a 24 hour shuttle to the airport, that why its basicly open 24 hours, i liked it because i was delivering bifold doors, i have 10k doors on show, but safe at gatwick heathrow because it is cheap, dont stay london last night, make your way to heathrow, 7 or 8pm, does not have to be early, takes the stress out of getting to airport in time
@@MagentaOtterTravels not just delivering in london, i lived there for 10 years also, north west london, i was in harrow, next to the posh school. worked in greenford, near ealing, great time, expensive, the credit crunch 2008 killed our business, needed to move north for cheaper rents
@@seanmc1351 I totally agree! That's an instance when you don't need your hotel to have a lot of amenities and added services. You just need a convenient and comfortable place to get some sleep!
@@stephennewton2777 depends where and when you book. I just recommended The Resident after checking rates for a friend and for the 16th of May The Resident Kensington was £174 and The Resident Liverpool was £49. These were Black Friday specials but they run specials all the time. You just have to become a "member" which doesn't cost anything. I think you were looking at the rates for the one in Covent Garden which is always expensive.
When i went to London i stayed in Stevenage…i loved it,villagey atmosphere…with out the big city faff…24/7.. (Every body needs a break from the mayhem)..you’re so right about the breakfasts Dara…Hotel Breakfasts..euww…but always ask for a receipt as i was charged for 2 days breakfast in Bristol……..and i specifically ordered “non petit dejeuner”..they repaid reluctantly £50, when i checked their receipt.. Novotel has the best hotel breakfast ive seen…theyre worth going for..
I agree with staying on the outskirts of London. When we visited London 4 years ago, we rented an Airbnb and had to take the tube to go to the city. But considering the price difference it was worth the daily trips. 👍
Hotel prices tend to dramatically increase from about may- september (summer season) and can be double what they are in off season, and hotel prices are always expensive in london, unless on the outskirts. If you intend to stay somewhere not too far from the centre, i'd recommend looking at air b and b's, if you're on a smaller budget. They're really the only viable choice.
Shockingly, we found some good prices at Premier Inn Paddington Basin this summer... even in July! Ian booked ahead. Actually stayed there on FOUR separate visits this year! But with our family and in places like where we are now, we always use AirBnB.
Hiya. I used to stay at a Premier Inn all the time but then their prices went through the roof and I had to change to Travelodge. Now they're both more or less the same, so I generally go for whichever is the lowest price option that matches my itinerary. Let's face it, all you need is a bed and a shower. Well, you do if you're single (sob). I DETEST shower curtains, however. And I still LOVE what is now called the Premier Inn all-you-can-eat Unlimited Cooked Breakfast. Let's face it (again), you and Ian just nibble on a crust most of the time, but I will, virtually, go through the Menu! I don't believe I've EVER had breakfast at a Travelodge. Happy Thanksgiving! Stay safe. All the best to you.
I think you're right, Andy. I used to think that I was capable of eating a lot but then when we started traveling with friends I realized that I could not keep up with my male friends in terms of what they were able to put away during a meal. I think part of it is that I am just getting old. It is crazy how expensive things have gotten compared to how they were just five years ago. Fish and chips used to be a bargain, for example, but that's no longer the case and until recently, when Dara and I would travel around Britain, we'd only stay at £100/night places once or twice on a trip. They were extra special places but now that is pretty much standard.
Andy, your comment was very entertaining! Ian and I sat down to enjoy a big meal of Thanksgiving leftovers and Ian was laughing whilst reading your comment about us "nibbling a crust"!! I do think that prices for Travelodge and Premier Inn can be similar, and that's what prompted me to make this video. After staying at both types of hotels literally across the street from each other I found that one was so much better. Having free Wi-Fi that actually worked is a huge deal for someone like me! There's no shame in enjoying all you can eat breakfast! I know a lot of people do. I really made this video for Americans, and I don't want them to judge English breakfast based off of what they get in a Travelodge 😉 Thanks for watching and leaving a lovely comment. I really appreciate your continued support 🙏 Cheers XX Dara
Excellent video! Love that there are reasonable hotel stays in London, my thoughts were always $500+ per night. Question is Travel Lodge affiliated with the US Wyndham hotel chain? Couldn’t find a clear google answer. Another fabulous video Dara! ~Cara 😊
Yes, I believe it is part of the same company. But I'm not sure I would stay at a Travelodge in the United States... 😬 Thanks for watching and your nice comment, Cara! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
My favorite - Premier Inn Earl's Court. Easy commute to and from Heathrow. Close to Central London, Kensington, Freddy Mercury's home and Diana's flat pre-royal life.
Oh, that's a great recommendation! We are always looking for hotels that are an easy commute to Heathrow! Lots of times our American visitors need to stay close to the airport before they fly out in the morning. Cheers! Dara
@@MagentaOtterTravels Eearl's Court to Heathrow is about an hour's ride on tube. For the cost-conscious with a bit of time on hand this is a great option.
My tip for London, especially if driving is to look for hotels on the outskirts that are within easy walking distance of a tube station. You’ll not spend ages stuck in traffic nor paying eye-watering amounts to park in anorexic parking bays.
I agree with you 100%! I didn't mention it in this video, but that is the big reason we stayed at London Ealing. We were able to drive there and park our car reasonably. And it was easy to get to the tube station and get both into central London as well as get out to Heathrow. Our sons stayed there with us and were able to get themselves to the airport easily. I didn't emphasize the driving part because I mostly think this video will be watched in the coming months by people who aren't British. I assume most of them won't have a car when they visit London. But for Brit, definitely a good idea to stay on the outskirts of the city! Driving in London is not fun, and is very expensive!
My tip for London is stay outside the M25..in the Chilterns,Essex or Kent countryside..theres nothing nicer than zooming out of the metropolis into a leafy area after an exhausting day..and spotting your car in a fat free parking space..
@@griswald7156 Staying Outside the M25 solely for London can be a false economy, Train fares are pricey even if you travel off peak, parking is expensive, no easy nipping back to the hotel in the day.
@@john_smith1471 if you’re planning on visiting London and worried about cost, maybe one should be considering Bradford or Barnsley instead..and John you forgot to mention the eye watering fines you will be given in London if you overshoot your paid welcome into these greedy cash frenzied ,aero bar fault concrete multi story car parks…that will not be fit for purpose once everybody has exchanged their fossil fuel car for a battery version… a pack of cards waiting to collapse..the jokers will allow it to happen..no easy nipping back to the hospital in the day.. take my tip..if as you enter,you’re seeing lots of green flashes everywhere lined up..just pay the minimum and get out..
@@griswald7156 I’m giving my knowledge & advice of high travel costs outside the subsidised London travel zones, train fares/travel times/peak time restrictions/track closures/ reduced frequency, maybe one train per hour, assuming the location even has a station.
premier inn in london, can go from 70 a night to 140 a night if there is something on, football, wembley arena, and the likes, i spent 6 years years in travel lodges, premier are the best if you can get cheap, as they tend to have a pub, or a toby attached, good for a drink and food, travel lodge, tend to be more isolated, maybe some garage food meal deal
@@MagentaOtterTravels service station to you dara lol, they may have a meal deal, sandwich drink and snack, they normally do beer and wine, pricey to take to room lol,
@@MagentaOtterTravels travel lode is more for workers working away, but they are clean and cheap, i have a funny story about the premier in might make you laugh, i will type new comment, its premier in an travel lodge lol
Love how you said you had to "pump on" the shower gel dispenser haha that means something very different in the UK 😂 Travellodge is the hotel equivalent of Ryanair. No frills and they try and gouge you at every chance they get.
About Premier and Premiere, i have noticed previously when an American commented on the “English Premiere league” which was not correct, two meanings, two different pronunciations, how are the two words normally distinguished by Americans?
If you are a whitbread shareholder, the owners of premier inn(64 shares I think) you can request a shareholder card that gives you free breakfast for you and up to 4 people aswell as 10% off in the restaurants in premier inns
really useful this, i find Premier Inns to be a standard price across the board whereas Travel Lodge you can find a bargain night at if you boom in advance and are flexible. great difference between the ones in London Dara. some terrible design choices in the Travelodge with storage space. yes thise dead mans switches are annoying, i wonder if it stop/starting so often is more of a hazard? the travelodge is a nightmare to connect to the wifi, which is a couple of pounds per night for just two devices. i mean Haylings is so reasonable why don’t they use that everywhere as standard? i have seen Michaels routine on body wash, very funny. gosh they both have really flexibile prices, we use the same system to find dates.. very well put together and very helpful. great review ❤ definitely wouldnt buy food from either Travelodge or Premier Inn! 👍
Yes, I remember when we were investigating places to stay up north we found some incredibly low rates for travelodge if you plan far in advance and cherry pick the days with the low prices!
I like Ibis and especially Novotel..i like too Holiday inn..and Doubletree by Hilton..and Best Western Dover...the Grand Harbour Southampton,The Queens Hotel,Southsea..
We tend to like the hotel breakfasts. You can eat so much it is effectively "brunch". Children go free so that cuts the cost. If you want to avoid processed, mass produced products you need to avoid coffee shops like Pret and Leon as well and rent an AirBB where you can prepare your own.
We do stay at Airbnb a lot. We just stayed at a wonderful place in the Yorkshire Dales and another fabulous place in Northumberland in the past few weeks. Both of them were renovated stables.
It seems to be popular to bash on AirBnb, but I don't see how people justify how expensive hotels are. Even with the week discount, a hotel room is €135 a night? That's mad.
Well, it is London! That wouldn't be a good deal in other places. But I totally agree with what you are saying about Airbnb. I have seen a few RUclips channels publish videos bashing Airbnb and they get these gigantic number of views! But if I were traveling full-time I can't imagine avoiding Airbnb! When you want to stay somewhere long-term and cook your own food, staying in normal hotels is just not an option... also, when travelling with a family it's the only way to go!
@@WITYTRAVELS the one thing I didn't mention in the video was that we had our car. That was a big reason we stayed on the outskirts of town because the parking was easy and cheap. Driving in the middle of London is expensive and the parking is outrageous.
As well as deadman button hairdryers,have they got minute man showers too..?..theyre probably trying to avoid guests without an elastic band ,using them as overnight room heaters..i dont like shower curtains,give me a screen every day long..
@@MagentaOtterTravels i really dont like it when the wet cold curtain brushes against me….euww..its a really cheap scary way to screen a shower..I can’t imagine the Savoy or the Ritz do those nasties..maybe im just spoiled..they have echoes of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” for me..or was it”Psycho”
If you’re disabled,tell reception and they’ll give you a room near the door.. Does anybody know what you have to say or do to get a sea view room in an Hotel…?has anybody tried bribery ?
I didn't choose an easy time for my price comparisons. I want people to be delighted when they check prices at another time of year and see that they are lower than my examples 😉
Thanks for your comment. I had better luck with the WiFi at PI, so that would matter to me on a business trip. But we are staying at a TL tomorrow night for a few days ;-)
It pays to check out the competition! I decided to do this video after I had stayed at both hotels because they were right across the street and similar prices but one was definitely better than the other!
i moved up from london 2010, met diane my partner after moving to the north east, we been together from boxing day, it was valentines, she said, as suprise, i have booked us into a premier inn, with toby next door, table booked, we get to premier inn, i said book us in i will get the bags, well she took ages, she not good on computers then, she came out she said she mess the booking up, we at a travel lodge, it was 9 miles away middle of no where lol, a (garage) service station, next to it lol, anyway got to travel lodge, drove back 9 miles for the meal, could not drink, 9 miles back, we went to (garage) service station got some snacks and drinks, we were up till 2am drinking and chatting, valentines night, we new couple so to speak, anyway, drank abit to much, i fell over, manager came and knocked on the door can you keep noise down, lol, he probably thought couple up there valentines going at it all night lol, we just got drunk, but made for a great story, totaly true
@@aitchtea I would say London is not a budget destination. For people who are unfamiliar with traveling to London, I was just trying to share some lower price options. But it's all relative
I had never heard of that chain before, so I had to look it up and see what it was. Interesting that they have American diners! However, I would hope that Americans when visiting England would like to have an English experience and not just a fabricated American one 😉
@@MagentaOtterTravels it’s an American Hotel with an English spin on it..I loved it but my Mollies app door entry card had an issue ..but if you’ve developed a frustration with Britain , it could calm you down I would think..and enable you to fulfil your holiday..I don’t know the driving might have done your head in..or the way people talk might have tipped you over the edge..haven’t had a waffle for two weeks maybe..and you’re getting antsy..
Tip No.6. Always ask for a complimentary upgrade. 😁 Tip No.7. Don't stay in the Royal York hotel in Toronto first because it will make all other hotels look like hovels. 😁
Watch out re Premier inn for internet - some have very poor free internet to the point of unusable, so you have no choice but to pay £5 extra a day. Never book an upgrade room if you are only doing it bc it includes the fast internet - in my case even the fast internet was unusable- normally if you pay to upgrade internet you could get a refund of the £5 due to it not working, but if you book the upgrade room to get it, they refused the refund as they said the room has other upgrade aspects - which it does, but if the only reason you booked it was because of the internet that’s irrelevant!
another tip, if you book in advance, thats great, if your a smoker, in premier inn, you can request your room close to reception, 3 days before your arrival, saves walking miles through corridors to go for a smoke, room allocated 3 days before and can be requested, also get your car parked next to the door, so if you do smoke, its cold night, you can sit in car, me and my wife done this often lol
Hey Great reviews I have just done a vlog on the same subject. I found premier Inn wins hands down. I took a look at the best rooms they have to offer. They are always great options for a budget conscious trip. Great channel by the way. Subscribed
@@TourWithBen cheers Ben! Merry Christmas!
@@MagentaOtterTravels You too.
I default to Premier Inn always a decent medium quality room reasonably priced and a restaurant next door. The others vary so much from location to location. Essentially you get a consistent standard with Premier Inn.
Good point! I think if you stay at a travelodge, it's good to get one that is a new property. The old ones can be pretty dodgy...
very true. I know a lot of rough Travelodge's lol. Their premium rooms are worse than premier inns as well.
Your insights on Travelodge vs. Premier Inn are spot-on! 🏨💼 Avoiding hotel breakfasts is a smart move, and your tip about requesting a room close to reception in Premier Inn for smokers is gold. 😂 Loved the hilarious shower gel dispenser moment! 😆 Thanks for sharing these valuable tips and making the decision between these hotels a bit easier. Safe travels, Magenta Otter Travels! 🌍✈
Was the shower gel part hilarious because I accidentally said something obscene? That's what someone else said, and I'm still wondering if I should go edit the video! I feel bad...
Specifically within Hotel Breakfasts…my top tip for your trip is , if you’re not that into sausages …think very hard about what you’re about to put on your plate..
Premier inn over travel lodge every day of the week! They are expensive though, especially in central London. We tend to stay on the outskirts now as the centre is just out of budget now! The beds are so much more comfy in the Premier Inns. Good comparison! Cheers 🍻
One thing I didn't mention in the video is that if you are driving, like we were, it definitely pays to stay on the outskirts of town where the parking is so much more affordable than central London!
That's totally true. I came to the same conclusion on my vlog as well. I did find there is not much difference in price if early enough but haven't stayed at one in London.
i would put Premier Inn in the same league as Holiday Inn low/mid range and Travelodge the acceptable low end. Ive often found prices for £30-40 per night if booking in advance. No frills but when in London your hotel is just a place to shower and sleep. Can save a fortune finding a hotel just outside Central London but near a undergroud station.
Yes, I agree! Using public transport to get into the city is worth it. We have stayed in Canary wharf a couple times for that same reason. Fabulous hotel, but much lower cost than central London.
Travelodge London Stratford is an excellent option. Tube is 5 mins walk from hotel and into central takes 5-15 mins depends on which part of centre. So much cheaper. Also westfield centre there too. For cheap parking if driving in.
I will save this video for when we do manage a London escape. Great comparisons. Your 'tips' videos are so details and to the point. I find them very useful Dara. Another one to be mindful of when booking. 👌🇳🇱🙋♀🇳🇿🌺
Cheers, Anita! I really liked how you stayed in small independent inns or b&b's when you visited Britain. You chose some great places!
Totally agree that Premier Inn is a better hotel that Travelodge, and really for much the same price.
At Premier in, on can change the dates of a stay, even on a non-refundable booking, unless they choose the very lowest tariff. I often to this,
Would say to do a search somewhere South of London (eg, Croydon), and somewhere north of London (eg. Borehamwood), to see where is less expensive near either of these.
Premier Inn also famously do a meal deal. One can pay £25, and have an evening meal, with a drink, and breakfast. I think this is very good value.
This is Dara's husband, Ian. What you're saying is a good point. I was researching hotels for summer 2024 and found that the Wembley Premier Inns were substantially cheaper with rates as low as £60/night in July, when Central London hotels typically start at £200. You just have to be willing to take a 30 minute train ride into the centre of London, no big deal.
@@ians3586 have stayed at the Wembley Stadium Premier Inn in August. Nothing on at the stadium, just a reasonably priced hotel in zone 4 of the city, I believe.
@@andyrobertshaw9120 even less expensive is the Hammersmith Talgarth Road. In July it's as low as £51per night. On Google Street View it is just a construction site so it must've just opened. It's a five minute walk to the underground.
The tip about avoiding the hotel breakfasts applies across most European cities. When my wife and I book our city breaks it's always room only, then we find somewhere local and used by the locals for a breakfast, at often a fraction of the cost of the hotel breakfast.
Oh my goodness, yes! If you can go to a Parisian bakery for a fresh pain au chocolat, why would you eat mass produced pastries from the hotel?!?!
Hotels do rooms its their strong point..Chip shops do food,it’s their raison d’etre..dont confuse the two….i would never go to a chip shop to stay the night….
@@griswald7156 I should think not! But seriously, it is a sensible approach to things. I remember once eating at a 1950s style diner in Los Angeles that was known for burgers and milkshakes and french fries... they had a large varied menu, and I was thinking about ordering spaghetti. My friend said "I don't ever get pasta except at an Italian restaurant". That had actually never occurred to me in my young life, but I have embraced that motto for the last 35 years! For the best food, eat it at a place that focuses on doing that thing well.
@@MagentaOtterTravels was it Mel’s Drive in ?
@@griswald7156 ha ha, no but you get extra points for knowing obscure American things! It was Ed Debevic's. My first job out of grad school I actually worked in Beverly Hills, if you can imagine! A place that was way beyond my budget or salary!
Interesting video, have you seen the Premier Inn-Hub hotels? room a bit snug for two, solo visitors may like these and the rates, there are larger Hub rooms as well, rooms are techie, usb/hdmi ports, ambient lighting, Wi-Fi, rain shower, clever storage ideas,
I just saw them when editing this video. They look like a pod hotel we stayed in in London called Citizen M.
The nice thing about Premier Inn - Hub is that it's a relatively new concept, so you can probably count on the hotels to be fresh, clean, and modern while that's not always the case with original Premier Inn properties.
I like Premier Inns. Although I would recommend going for a 'refundable' in some circumstances - having got caught by this where I was going to stay over for a concert, the concert was cancelled, and I was left with a hotel room in a city I didn't really want to go to - would have liked to transfer to another hotel in another town, but you can't do that. If you don't mind changing your dates in that particular town or city then fine.
Yes, I agree. Often we know that our plans are "definite" barring any health emergencies. So we often get refundable. But for something like a concert, or a business trip, refundable is a better idea
Thanks for your insight tips by comparing the two different hotels. Next time when Philippe and I travel to London (hopefully sometimes soon) and we don't find an affordable Airbnb or Youth hostel we will check your recommendations.
Some great advice for those travelling to London, Dara and Ian. If we were to travel there we would want to be in the heart of the city even if it's a little more expensive. The convenience of not trying to figure out transportation would be worth it to me. But, I'm not opposed to some less expensive hotels as long as the location was central. I believe the Travelodges are in the Wyndham Hotel Group of which we're members of. (members of several others too) But, that seems to be somewhat unclear in the UK. I see their not listed in the UK a being part of the Rewards program. (just checked) Anyway we enjoyed seeing some less expensive options and enjoyed seeing the room comparison.
Travelodge UK is a very different beast to the North American brand, and as far as I'm aware, the UK doesn't offer the same benefits and rewards you'd expect in America. Best stick Premier Inn, they are everywhere in the UK and are pretty consistent across the board. As for staying on the outskirts of central London, that's the best idea 💡 to save you money. Hotel rooms can be a little bigger, quieter, and cheaper. Sure, if you stayed in the heart of the city, you'd have a 20-minute walk to an attraction vs 20 minute tube or bus ride, plus riding the transport is part of the experience of the trip. However, the benefits far outweigh the conveniences.
I did find out that the Travelodge programs or rewards are not the same over there. The Premier Inn did look nicer here and from what I read are nicer overall. Our case is a little different than most. My wife Kathy suffers from Alzheimer's and the convenience of a short walk would be much easier. She's still physically capable and the walk would do us good. Would love to visit the UK, but I don't know if it's in the cards for us anymore. Thanks for your response! @@CRHead-id7gh
Thanks Dave! The UK is very different in general with rewards programs... they don't have nearly as many. We Americans are lucky that way. 😉
Hiya Dara, Me and my friend Michael are going to London next November, where sort of doing a historical holiday, Where going to Tower Of London, Jack The Ripper Tour, British Museum, Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral and London Zoo, where staying at the President hotel, I know its expensive but we've gave ourselves 12 months to save for it, it should be a giggle, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England
That sounds like a wonderful trip! You should have a great time! ❤️🏴
@@MagentaOtterTravelsI hope so,
The hotel comes with a magenta coat and coffee mug? Perfect!
Well that would be nice! If any hotel we're going to do that, it would definitely be Marriott Moxy! Everything in those hotels is magenta! Lol
Yea, remember that video!!
You're absolutely correct about the difference between Premier Inn and Travelodge, and which one would prefer! Very surprised to see Premier Inn cheaper in some places in London: in the provinces it's normally Travelodge that knocks spots off Premier Inn on price. For example, a Travelodge room for £30 in Cambridge compares with a £47-£62 tariff for Premier Inn. I expect it's a decision about whether the quality is worth the extra! Thanks for your critique - always helpful!
Thank you so much, Richard! The price is very wildly by location and Buy exact date. It is always fun to be able to find a room for 30 quid! One thing I didn't mention in the video that's very important is trying to find hotels that are new. Those are always a safer bet 😉
@@MagentaOtterTravels Agreed! New is often better!
A tip to myself & others is choose a new build TL or PI, I stayed in a TL that had previously been an office block, the floors were not solid, the original suspended floor joists were shared with adjacent rooms, so I heard & felt the neighbours whenever they moved around the rooms, also that former office block had no external sound insulation, at 7am the hand car wash people over the road woke me, so too the Laundry Van at 11:30 pm. a disturbed sleep & a poor experience and no quiet night guarantee with TL.
Oh my goodness! That sounds like a bad stay! Yes, after I finished editing the video Ian reminded me that I should've talked about staying in newly built or newly refurbished hotels. Especially with Travelodge, if you stay at a brand new place it's is a safer bet but it will be nice. Although apparently one must make sure it's not a badly converted building! 😳
Interesting comparison video. It's odd they didn't have a hairdryer in the Travel Lodge. I was surprised that the Premiere Inn was cheaper than the Travel Lodge in London. I believe it's usually the other way around. Lots of great advice and tips. Nice job, Dara! 👍❤
I've stayed in at least two different Travelodges that didn't have hair dryers in the room... you had to ask at reception! And sometimes they would run out! For someone with an unruly head of hair like me, that is not OK. haha!
Hi,
I have stayed in both Travelodge and Premier Inns, though not these ones,
I don't think I have been in either without having a hair dryer, although, often hidden in Drawers, Cupboards, sometimes near the extra pillows.
Did you ask at reception?
Agree with you most of the time, if you are in a city, breakfast is better outside, but it is slightly more predictable if prebooked at the hotel.
The area near Aldgate is on the boundary with 'The City' so has a business verses tourist clientele.
The general indicator is the Sunday rate, Weekend rate and the weekday rate.
The Travel Lodge low rate for Sunday suggests a business focus, Friday/Saturday a normally high.
I think this Premier Inn is Tourist with the Travel Lodge being Business, there are 2 other of each within easy walking distance which may have different target clients.
Sorry I mention this because it is a strange boundary area.
I totally agree! We once stayed at a Marriott in the Threadneedles area and that is totally a business area! We got a great weekend rate there!
As for the hairdryer, more than once I have been at a Travelodge where they didn't have enough hairdryers to go around! You had to ask at reception and sometimes they would say "sorry, we've given out all the hairdryers" !!
When I'm at work and outside of London, Travel Lodge tends to be the cheaper option, but when staying for leasure, the wife and I prefer Premier Inn, even if it's more expensive as generally a bit nicer. Never had to stay in London as it is mostly travellable for me
It's nice to find out that sometimes the Premier Inn is actually cheaper!
Thank you very much for the info for the very useful tips.
Thank YOU for watching and taking the time to comment! I hope you have a great visit to London! XX
We have stayed in many budget hotels in London. One served a plate of warm beans and two undercooked eggs for breakfast. I do enjoy Holiday Inn breakfast is included on some deals. The price differences are because Monday to Thursday are priced for business users Friday normally when the tourists visit for theatre trips. We have visited some 4* hotels that have been dreadful and one that put me and my boss in the honeymoon suite ,it didn't last😅.
Oh goodness! You and the boss in a honeymoon suite? That sounds like trouble on many levels...
Your boss might have told them you’ve done nuptials..it does sound like trouble he might suss that you’re not suitable for your position ..and put redundancy on the table..
@@griswald7156 we were working together for 25yrs ,he stood down and l was his boss. At the time l said to him who do l have to sleep with to get your job, his wife said ,not him. The problem arose because our secretary was called honey . She asked for the invoice to be sent to her, the ref Honey ......94. Because we were going to Paris the next day and it all got confused. It would never have worked he didn't want kids I already had 1.
With our rented Airbnb being a flat we had the possibility to prepare our own breakfast, which was very nice....and healthy on top!
When travelling with a family it is usually the best option to do a rented flat like an Airbnb for sure!
I agree being flexible helps, but PI removed a very useful feature, they used to have an at a glance calendar view (weekly/monthly) with room rates, so you could choose a stay based solely on your budget, then fit yourself around the dates & location as long as transport worked out, I know there is still a search by price option, but I liked the calendar view option, more consumer friendly.
Oh yes, that is bad that they took that away! We use that feature when we are booking flights on American Airlines, and it is very handy!
@@MagentaOtterTravels A great PI booking feature, disappeared when they redesigned the website.
There's another problem with the PI website when it comes to figuring out pricing. If you select a number of days for your stay and then you click on "see breakdown", it is off by one day. It's been that way for at least 3 years and it's very confusing. Don't know why they haven't fixed it yet.
Dara, the 2 best places to stay, travel lodge, i have stayed many times, as i delivered London on a weekly basis, is the gatwick, 6 floors 24 hour bar and 24 hour fast food, i was getting that for 70 per night, it was great as i parked in car park and they have parking attendant all night, , heathrow a great one also, that was a cheap one 60 to 70 a night, not as good as gatwick, but great if you are flying from either home to US, and you have early flights.
Thank you so much for these recommendations! We often have American friends visit who need to stay near the airport before they fly out in the morning, so this is very useful!
@@MagentaOtterTravels if they come into gatwick, gatwick travel lodge has a 24 hour shuttle to the airport, that why its basicly open 24 hours, i liked it because i was delivering bifold doors, i have 10k doors on show, but safe at gatwick
heathrow because it is cheap, dont stay london last night, make your way to heathrow, 7 or 8pm, does not have to be early, takes the stress out of getting to airport in time
@@MagentaOtterTravels not just delivering in london, i lived there for 10 years also, north west london, i was in harrow, next to the posh school. worked in greenford, near ealing, great time, expensive, the credit crunch 2008 killed our business, needed to move north for cheaper rents
@@seanmc1351 I totally agree! That's an instance when you don't need your hotel to have a lot of amenities and added services. You just need a convenient and comfortable place to get some sleep!
For a step above the Premier Inn in London and Liverpool, I'd recommend The Resident a very small chain of hotels.
Yes great place in Liverpool!!
At @ £325 a night I should hope they would be. Can do much better in Central London, eg The Academy in Bloomsbury.
@@stephennewton2777 depends where and when you book. I just recommended The Resident after checking rates for a friend and for the 16th of May The Resident Kensington was £174 and The Resident Liverpool was £49. These were Black Friday specials but they run specials all the time. You just have to become a "member" which doesn't cost anything. I think you were looking at the rates for the one in Covent Garden which is always expensive.
When i went to London i stayed in Stevenage…i loved it,villagey atmosphere…with out the big city faff…24/7..
(Every body needs a break from the mayhem)..you’re so right about the breakfasts Dara…Hotel Breakfasts..euww…but always ask for a receipt as i was charged for 2 days breakfast in Bristol……..and i specifically ordered “non petit dejeuner”..they repaid reluctantly £50, when i checked their receipt..
Novotel has the best hotel breakfast ive seen…theyre worth going for..
We have had some amazing hotel breakfasts in Germany and Switzerland. It really depends on the caliber of hotel
@@MagentaOtterTravels i visited a cafe in Bath once, i wouldnt eat it …
I agree with staying on the outskirts of London. When we visited London 4 years ago, we rented an Airbnb and had to take the tube to go to the city. But considering the price difference it was worth the daily trips. 👍
Definitely! If you just want a safe and comfortable place to sleep, you can spend your time exploring the big city!
Hotel prices tend to dramatically increase from about may- september (summer season) and can be double what they are in off season, and hotel prices are always expensive in london, unless on the outskirts. If you intend to stay somewhere not too far from the centre, i'd recommend looking at air b and b's, if you're on a smaller budget. They're really the only viable choice.
Shockingly, we found some good prices at Premier Inn Paddington Basin this summer... even in July! Ian booked ahead. Actually stayed there on FOUR separate visits this year!
But with our family and in places like where we are now, we always use AirBnB.
Hiya. I used to stay at a Premier Inn all the time but then their prices went through the roof and I had to change to Travelodge. Now they're both more or less the same, so I generally go for whichever is the lowest price option that matches my itinerary. Let's face it, all you need is a bed and a shower. Well, you do if you're single (sob). I DETEST shower curtains, however. And I still LOVE what is now called the Premier Inn all-you-can-eat Unlimited Cooked Breakfast. Let's face it (again), you and Ian just nibble on a crust most of the time, but I will, virtually, go through the Menu! I don't believe I've EVER had breakfast at a Travelodge.
Happy Thanksgiving! Stay safe. All the best to you.
I think you're right, Andy. I used to think that I was capable of eating a lot but then when we started traveling with friends I realized that I could not keep up with my male friends in terms of what they were able to put away during a meal. I think part of it is that I am just getting old. It is crazy how expensive things have gotten compared to how they were just five years ago. Fish and chips used to be a bargain, for example, but that's no longer the case and until recently, when Dara and I would travel around Britain, we'd only stay at £100/night places once or twice on a trip. They were extra special places but now that is pretty much standard.
Andy, your comment was very entertaining! Ian and I sat down to enjoy a big meal of Thanksgiving leftovers and Ian was laughing whilst reading your comment about us "nibbling a crust"!! I do think that prices for Travelodge and Premier Inn can be similar, and that's what prompted me to make this video. After staying at both types of hotels literally across the street from each other I found that one was so much better. Having free Wi-Fi that actually worked is a huge deal for someone like me!
There's no shame in enjoying all you can eat breakfast! I know a lot of people do. I really made this video for Americans, and I don't want them to judge English breakfast based off of what they get in a Travelodge 😉
Thanks for watching and leaving a lovely comment. I really appreciate your continued support 🙏
Cheers XX Dara
Excellent video! Love that there are reasonable hotel stays in London, my thoughts were always $500+ per night. Question is Travel Lodge affiliated with the US Wyndham hotel chain? Couldn’t find a clear google answer. Another fabulous video Dara! ~Cara 😊
Yes, I believe it is part of the same company. But I'm not sure I would stay at a Travelodge in the United States... 😬
Thanks for watching and your nice comment, Cara! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
My favorite - Premier Inn Earl's Court. Easy commute to and from Heathrow. Close to Central London, Kensington, Freddy Mercury's home and Diana's flat pre-royal life.
Oh, that's a great recommendation! We are always looking for hotels that are an easy commute to Heathrow! Lots of times our American visitors need to stay close to the airport before they fly out in the morning. Cheers! Dara
I love exploring the Earl's Court area. It has some of the most beautiful architecture in London.
@@ians3586 True. Not very architectural but don't forget the Doctor Who police box outside the tube station.
@@MagentaOtterTravels Eearl's Court to Heathrow is about an hour's ride on tube. For the cost-conscious with a bit of time on hand this is a great option.
My tip for London, especially if driving is to look for hotels on the outskirts that are within easy walking distance of a tube station. You’ll not spend ages stuck in traffic nor paying eye-watering amounts to park in anorexic parking bays.
I agree with you 100%! I didn't mention it in this video, but that is the big reason we stayed at London Ealing. We were able to drive there and park our car reasonably. And it was easy to get to the tube station and get both into central London as well as get out to Heathrow. Our sons stayed there with us and were able to get themselves to the airport easily. I didn't emphasize the driving part because I mostly think this video will be watched in the coming months by people who aren't British. I assume most of them won't have a car when they visit London. But for Brit, definitely a good idea to stay on the outskirts of the city! Driving in London is not fun, and is very expensive!
My tip for London is stay outside the M25..in the Chilterns,Essex or Kent countryside..theres nothing nicer than zooming out of the metropolis into a leafy area after an exhausting day..and spotting your car in a fat free parking space..
@@griswald7156 Staying Outside the M25 solely for London can be a false economy, Train fares are pricey even if you travel off peak, parking is expensive, no easy nipping back to the hotel in the day.
@@john_smith1471 if you’re planning on visiting London and worried about cost, maybe one should be considering Bradford or Barnsley instead..and John you forgot to mention the eye watering fines you will be given in London if you overshoot your paid welcome into these greedy cash frenzied ,aero bar fault concrete multi story car parks…that will not be fit for purpose once everybody has exchanged their fossil fuel car for a battery version… a pack of cards waiting to collapse..the jokers will allow it to happen..no easy nipping back to the hospital in the day..
take my tip..if as you enter,you’re seeing lots of green flashes everywhere lined up..just pay the minimum and get out..
@@griswald7156 I’m giving my knowledge & advice of high travel costs outside the subsidised London travel zones, train fares/travel times/peak time restrictions/track closures/ reduced frequency, maybe one train per hour, assuming the location even has a station.
Motel One is also worth checking out 😊
Thanks for the suggestion! I had not heard of that one before
premier inn in london, can go from 70 a night to 140 a night if there is something on, football, wembley arena, and the likes, i spent 6 years years in travel lodges, premier are the best if you can get cheap, as they tend to have a pub, or a toby attached, good for a drink and food, travel lodge, tend to be more isolated, maybe some garage food meal deal
Garage Food? That's a new term I haven't heard before! 🤣
@@MagentaOtterTravels service station to you dara lol, they may have a meal deal, sandwich drink and snack, they normally do beer and wine, pricey to take to room lol,
@@MagentaOtterTravels travel lode is more for workers working away, but they are clean and cheap, i have a funny story about the premier in might make you laugh, i will type new comment, its premier in an travel lodge lol
@@seanmc1351 cheap and cheerful 😃
@@MagentaOtterTravels agreed, somehwere to put your head down shower,
Love how you said you had to "pump on" the shower gel dispenser haha that means something very different in the UK 😂
Travellodge is the hotel equivalent of Ryanair. No frills and they try and gouge you at every chance they get.
Oh no! Did I make this video now "for mature audiences only"?! I'm horrified!!! 😳😳😳
@@MagentaOtterTravels Haha I think it's just my slightly immature sense of humor
@@what_im_eatin_uk seriously, if I said something X-rated I would like to fix it!
@@MagentaOtterTravels not x-rated. To pump is a British term to pass wind
@@what_im_eatin_uk oh, I was thinking something much more obscene 😳
About Premier and Premiere, i have noticed previously when an American commented on the “English Premiere league” which was not correct, two meanings, two different pronunciations, how are the two words normally distinguished by Americans?
They are pronounced exactly the same way! Very confusing
Immediately after the Cheltenham Gold cup is the” Midlands Grand National” 16th March…which is another grand event in the North East Cotswolds…
Where does that take place?
@@MagentaOtterTravels in the Midlands (North east Cotswolds…). One day event i think..in Uttoxeter..
If you are a whitbread shareholder, the owners of premier inn(64 shares I think) you can request a shareholder card that gives you free breakfast for you and up to 4 people aswell as 10% off in the restaurants in premier inns
@@matgilliver6965 that is a fun fact to know!
really useful this, i find Premier Inns to be a standard price across the board whereas Travel Lodge you can find a bargain night at if you boom in advance and are flexible. great difference between the ones in London Dara. some terrible design choices in the Travelodge with storage space. yes thise dead mans switches are annoying, i wonder if it stop/starting so often is more of a hazard? the travelodge is a nightmare to connect to the wifi, which is a couple of pounds per night for just two devices. i mean Haylings is so reasonable why don’t they use that everywhere as standard? i have seen Michaels routine on body wash, very funny. gosh they both have really flexibile prices, we use the same system to find dates..
very well put together and very helpful.
great review ❤
definitely wouldnt buy food from either Travelodge or Premier Inn! 👍
Yes, I remember when we were investigating places to stay up north we found some incredibly low rates for travelodge if you plan far in advance and cherry pick the days with the low prices!
I like Ibis and especially Novotel..i like too Holiday inn..and Doubletree by Hilton..and Best Western Dover...the Grand Harbour Southampton,The Queens Hotel,Southsea..
You have travelled a lot, Gris!
@@MagentaOtterTravels well you know Madge…you’ve either got it or you haven’t…
We tend to like the hotel breakfasts. You can eat so much it is effectively "brunch". Children go free so that cuts the cost. If you want to avoid processed, mass produced products you need to avoid coffee shops like Pret and Leon as well and rent an AirBB where you can prepare your own.
We do stay at Airbnb a lot. We just stayed at a wonderful place in the Yorkshire Dales and another fabulous place in Northumberland in the past few weeks. Both of them were renovated stables.
It seems to be popular to bash on AirBnb, but I don't see how people justify how expensive hotels are. Even with the week discount, a hotel room is €135 a night? That's mad.
Well, it is London! That wouldn't be a good deal in other places. But I totally agree with what you are saying about Airbnb. I have seen a few RUclips channels publish videos bashing Airbnb and they get these gigantic number of views! But if I were traveling full-time I can't imagine avoiding Airbnb! When you want to stay somewhere long-term and cook your own food, staying in normal hotels is just not an option... also, when travelling with a family it's the only way to go!
All fair points! And for 20ish dollars a night difference, you might as well stay in the center and get more time to see the sights.
@@WITYTRAVELS the one thing I didn't mention in the video was that we had our car. That was a big reason we stayed on the outskirts of town because the parking was easy and cheap. Driving in the middle of London is expensive and the parking is outrageous.
I’ve tried to suffer, travel lodges, but I’ve never had a problem with premier Inn
Thanks for sharing your experience!
As well as deadman button hairdryers,have they got minute man showers too..?..theyre probably trying to avoid guests without an elastic band ,using them as overnight room heaters..i dont like shower curtains,give me a screen every day long..
I've heard that many British people HATE shower curtains. Americans are used to them so probably don't mind as much.
@@MagentaOtterTravels i really dont like it when the wet cold curtain brushes against me….euww..its a really cheap scary way to screen a shower..I can’t imagine the Savoy or the Ritz do those nasties..maybe im just spoiled..they have echoes of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds” for me..or was it”Psycho”
@@griswald7156 Psycho... Norman Bates pulled back the shower curtain and stabbed her to death in the shower 😳
@@MagentaOtterTravels the Bates Motel in Aldergrove,…it looks lovely from the outside..but inside it has a shower curtain..
If you’re disabled,tell reception and they’ll give you a room near the door..
Does anybody know what you have to say or do to get a sea view room in an Hotel…?has anybody tried bribery ?
July is absolutely the most expensive time to stay in London.
I didn't choose an easy time for my price comparisons. I want people to be delighted when they check prices at another time of year and see that they are lower than my examples 😉
it seems rather far to walk from Eeling Broadway station to these hotel.
It was 15 minutes or so to walk there... my hubby loves to walk and loves to save a penny ;-)
I've worked in travel for years, and when it comes to Travelodge, we call it Traveldodge.
That bad, huh?
Random tip. Don't click on the first video you see when you're in a rush because it takes you to a three year old livestream. 😂
You are just brimming with excellent advice today!🙌
@@MagentaOtterTravels 🤣🤣
I think a premier Inn is better for a hotel and a travelogue is better if you are travelling for businesses
Thanks for your comment. I had better luck with the WiFi at PI, so that would matter to me on a business trip. But we are staying at a TL tomorrow night for a few days ;-)
WOW!!! £573 compared to £823!!! This is a huge difference 😳
It pays to check out the competition! I decided to do this video after I had stayed at both hotels because they were right across the street and similar prices but one was definitely better than the other!
i moved up from london 2010, met diane my partner after moving to the north east, we been together from boxing day, it was valentines, she said, as suprise, i have booked us into a premier inn, with toby next door, table booked, we get to premier inn, i said book us in i will get the bags, well she took ages, she not good on computers then, she came out she said she mess the booking up, we at a travel lodge, it was 9 miles away middle of no where lol, a (garage) service station, next to it lol, anyway got to travel lodge, drove back 9 miles for the meal, could not drink, 9 miles back, we went to (garage) service station got some snacks and drinks, we were up till 2am drinking and chatting, valentines night, we new couple so to speak, anyway, drank abit to much, i fell over, manager came and knocked on the door can you keep noise down, lol, he probably thought couple up there valentines going at it all night lol, we just got drunk, but made for a great story, totaly true
That is quite a memorable Valentines Day for sure! 🤣
£933 for 5 nights, as an example, doesn’t seem the least bit like budget travel to me, but i guess we’ve lived very different lives.
@@aitchtea I would say London is not a budget destination. For people who are unfamiliar with traveling to London, I was just trying to share some lower price options. But it's all relative
If you’re American try Mollies hotel..if you’re homesick,you’ll feel at home..
I had never heard of that chain before, so I had to look it up and see what it was. Interesting that they have American diners!
However, I would hope that Americans when visiting England would like to have an English experience and not just a fabricated American one 😉
@@MagentaOtterTravels it’s an American Hotel with an English spin on it..I loved it but my Mollies app door entry card had an issue ..but if you’ve developed a frustration with Britain , it could calm you down I would think..and enable you to fulfil your holiday..I don’t know the driving might have done your head in..or the way people talk might have tipped you over the edge..haven’t had a waffle for two weeks maybe..and you’re getting antsy..
@@griswald7156 LOL
Tip No.6. Always ask for a complimentary upgrade. 😁
Tip No.7. Don't stay in the Royal York hotel in Toronto first because it will make all other hotels look like hovels. 😁
Excellent advice!
I thought Ian would talk like Jasper Carrot,so i was surprised when he spoke like an American on the bluffs..
Watch out re Premier inn for internet - some have very poor free internet to the point of unusable, so you have no choice but to pay £5 extra a day.
Never book an upgrade room if you are only doing it bc it includes the fast internet - in my case even the fast internet was unusable- normally if you pay to upgrade internet you could get a refund of the £5 due to it not working, but if you book the upgrade room to get it, they refused the refund as they said the room has other upgrade aspects - which it does, but if the only reason you booked it was because of the internet that’s irrelevant!
@@shetlandsheep3081 sorry that happened. That's really annoying! Some properties definitely have worse Internet service than others.
Lots of boat asylum seekers are housed in lots of hotels..
KEEP WELL AWAY FROM LONDON but if you have to - get in & get out as soon as possible.
I wouldn't go to Londonstan even if you paid me. everything there is well over priced and none is friendly.
You missed an I in your spelling…