So... I like to plan a head. I may be moving to Europe next year for work, which means 1-2 weeks staying at a local hotel while I find a house. I took a quick look, not much to offer in the area (plus within company rules)... basically comes down to Ibis or Best Western. Never stayed in either, but I have been to Novotel a few times so I know the Accor brand (might even be a member...).
Since I'll be there for a bit, any kind of status perks would be nice, especially the room upgrades. Best Western I could get there via credit card (dump before AF), Accor it looks like two options.
1. Get Gold status by buying stock, not opposed to this at all.
2. Get Gold status by signing up for Ibis Business.
Suggestions? Go with BW, go with Ibis?
I'm leaning towards Accor due to their heavy footprint in Europe, obviously there's going to be a lot of 2-4 day trips in my future (if I do the move). If I go with Ibis, which option is better to get Gold? Stocks means locking up a chunk of money (hopefully with return) for a while, while Ibis Business looks like 90 Euro/yr (is Gold really worth that?).
Of course, the final option is suck it up and slum it like all the little people... but that's not why we're on this forum, right?
Since I'll be there for a bit, any kind of status perks would be nice, especially the room upgrades. Best Western I could get there via credit card (dump before AF), Accor it looks like two options.
1. Get Gold status by buying stock, not opposed to this at all.
2. Get Gold status by signing up for Ibis Business.
Suggestions? Go with BW, go with Ibis?
I'm leaning towards Accor due to their heavy footprint in Europe, obviously there's going to be a lot of 2-4 day trips in my future (if I do the move). If I go with Ibis, which option is better to get Gold? Stocks means locking up a chunk of money (hopefully with return) for a while, while Ibis Business looks like 90 Euro/yr (is Gold really worth that?).
Of course, the final option is suck it up and slum it like all the little people... but that's not why we're on this forum, right?
At IBIS status perks boil down to check in/out early/late and a voucher for a inexpensive drink, IF the property has a bar.
IBIS rooms are pretty much standard, not much to be upgraded for. No breakfast perks and internet is free for all.
Novotel and IBIS are two different animals; One looks like a hotel while the other is a standard tiny room with a bed, no service offered, no service expected.
I would seriously consider if the cost for the status is justifiable at all.
Unsure about perks at Best Western.
IBIS rooms are pretty much standard, not much to be upgraded for. No breakfast perks and internet is free for all.
Novotel and IBIS are two different animals; One looks like a hotel while the other is a standard tiny room with a bed, no service offered, no service expected.
I would seriously consider if the cost for the status is justifiable at all.
Unsure about perks at Best Western.
Well, hoping it's a little better than that... I do need to be able to fit 2 adults and a 7yo in there for a week+ (planning on having them come over about a week after me).
I was thinking the Accor status more for while we're there, since we do plan to do short trips throughout Europe and Accor has a pretty big footprint. Can't afford to keep doing Marriot and Hyatt out of pocket on every trip.
I was thinking the Accor status more for while we're there, since we do plan to do short trips throughout Europe and Accor has a pretty big footprint. Can't afford to keep doing Marriot and Hyatt out of pocket on every trip.
Quote:
In my experience IBIS rooms are fine for one or a party of two; Eventually someone with a seven-year old child may add their view.Originally Posted by NotYouTu
(...) I do need to be able to fit 2 adults and a 7yo in there for a week+ (planning on having them come over about a week after me). (...) Can't afford to keep doing Marriot and Hyatt out of pocket on every trip.
If under a tight budget I would consider Ibis Styles, usually in the same price range but you may be luckier both with upgrades, service and room size, with the additional perk that breakfast is usually included.
Quote:
If under a tight budget I would consider Ibis Styles, usually in the same price range but you may be luckier both with upgrades, service and room size, with the additional perk that breakfast is usually included.
NotYouTu, welcome to FT and our cozy Accor forum Originally Posted by pb9997
In my experience IBIS rooms are fine for one or a party of two; Eventually someone with a seven-year old child may add their view.If under a tight budget I would consider Ibis Styles, usually in the same price range but you may be luckier both with upgrades, service and room size, with the additional perk that breakfast is usually included.
Agree. I have a 7yo. Even though the Ibis range is not usually where I stay, we stayed in two last year (in Germany). We chose a Ibis Styles in Dusseldorf as they have Family rooms which are often two bedrooms with a small kitchenette.
I wouldn't bank on an upgrade as many Ibis Styles only have 1 or 2 of such rooms. For price comparison, a Ibis room for 2pax may for example be EUR55/night (no breakfast). A Ibis Styles standard room for 2 would be around EUR85 and the family room around EUR100 (but including breakfast for all). Of course prices fluctuate greatly.
I would not chose an Ibis unless you can see on the booking site that they have "Family rooms". Anything else would be too small. And at 7 years our girls are at an age where sleeping with mum and dad is no longer fun and they expect their own bed.
In Bremen we stayed in the Ibis Altstadt which does have Family rooms. But we didnt pay for breakfast and opted to cross the road to a local bakery. By the way, this IBIS will in Oct 2015 be rebranded into a IBIS Styles... so you can see now that you should focus on Ibis Styles for family rooms.
For your Europe travels, what you may also enjoy, if budget permits, is to look at Suite Novotel. These hotels only have one room category - the rooms are fairly large and have a sofa bed too + kitchenette (and often a microwave). The Suite Novotel my girls enjoyed very much (we stayed in a brand new one in The Hague). The IBIS Styles not so much. When you look at pictures you will understand - you will need to like the colour scheme
I could not agree more with the suggestions of Gilbertaue. Definitely forget Ibis to stay at 3 during 1 or 2 weeks. You'll get mad after 2 days and especially thinking that you'll likely carry a lot of belongings with you in this context. There will be no room for all of you + stuff in a typical Ibis room.