opinions on Premier Inns?

Post your experiences of travel, especially for the Douro region. Make recommendations for places to stay and visit or ask advice from those that have already been there.
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Glenn E.
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opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by Glenn E. »

Kari and I are considering the new Premier Inn on Holborn (opens early August) for our stay prior to the 2014 Port Harvest Tour. The main attraction is convenience to TBH, but it is also central to most of the sightseeing we plan to do.

Does anyone have experience with the chain?
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djewesbury
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by djewesbury »

Basic, clean, comfortable, cheap.
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DRT
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by DRT »

djewesbury wrote:Basic, clean, comfortable, cheap.
That sums it up nicely.

Bear in mind that this is a budget hotel chain so facilities within the hotel will be very limited.

How many nights are you staying?
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Glenn E.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by Glenn E. »

DRT wrote:
djewesbury wrote:Basic, clean, comfortable, cheap.
That sums it up nicely.

Bear in mind that this is a budget hotel chain so facilities within the hotel will be very limited.

How many nights are you staying?
5 nights total, from Saturday through Wednesday. Thursday we fly to Porto.

We don't generally make much use of hotel facilities anyway. As long as each room has its own bathroom with shower, we'll be fine. The lack of a breakfast room or exercise room, for example, wouldn't bother us at all.
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djewesbury
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by djewesbury »

Glenn E. wrote:
DRT wrote:
djewesbury wrote:Basic, clean, comfortable, cheap.
That sums it up nicely.

Bear in mind that this is a budget hotel chain so facilities within the hotel will be very limited.

How many nights are you staying?
5 nights total, from Saturday through Wednesday. Thursday we fly to Porto.

We don't generally make much use of hotel facilities anyway. As long as each room has its own bathroom with shower, we'll be fine. The lack of a breakfast room or exercise room, for example, wouldn't bother us at all.
In which case you're fine. They usually have a breakfast available in a connected venue at a slightly inflated price. But around there you can find nice coffee and a pastry (etc) pretty easily.
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Glenn E.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by Glenn E. »

One requirement: air conditioning. Is that a safe assumption in central London?
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flash_uk
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by flash_uk »

Glenn E. wrote:One requirement: air conditioning. Is that a safe assumption in central London?
Yes, usually. Though the more important factors being, is it quiet aircon, and are the window glazings soundproof.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by PhilW »

Glenn E. wrote:One requirement: air conditioning. Is that a safe assumption in central London?
Certainly not always present in the budget hotels.
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djewesbury
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by djewesbury »

It should tell you on the booking site. Premier Inns are usually air conditioned.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by djewesbury »

And if it's new then it will be. And it will presumably be quiet too.
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DRT
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by DRT »

I wouldn't worry too much about air conditioning in London in mid September. It will probably be raining and more than likely quite cold.
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djewesbury
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by djewesbury »

Yes. Heating is what you'll need.
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Glenn E.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by Glenn E. »

Is humidity a problem? I often use AC just to regulate humidity, but if that isn't a problem then we probably have nothing to worry about.
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djewesbury
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opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by djewesbury »

Humidity in London in September? In London? Glenn, is this a wind-up?

More seriously, even if it's warm it won't be too humid. We don't have the stormy climate, at least generally not in September. If we have an Indian summer it'll be dry.
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Glenn E.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by Glenn E. »

Sounds like we're leaning more and more toward the Premier Inn. Now if they'd only finish building it.
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RonnieRoots
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by RonnieRoots »

If you are still considering alternatives, I can recommend these in London:
- Think Apartments: studio, 1 or 2 bedroom apartments, so have the advantage of a small kitchen, where you can prepare breakfast or a meal if you don't want to dine out. Several locations and affordable. I stayed at their Bermondsey location, which was fine.
- Ibis: always reliable budget accomodation.
- bermondsey Square hotel: designer hotel on Bermondsey square. ok rates at times, but sometimes expensive. I like the area it's in, but it may not be quitw where you want to be
- CitizenM: budget hotel with designer twist. It may or may not be your thing, I quite like the concept
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jdaw1
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by jdaw1 »

SushiNorth did that in London. PM him.
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SushiNorth
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by SushiNorth »

jdaw1 wrote:SushiNorth did that in London. PM him.
I highly recommend Marlin -- they did right by us, and provided a 1 BR w/ a nice kitchen. They also have studios, if you are looking for something smaller. We enjoyed the London Bridge location, as it was a stones throw from Borough Market. So we ate well at the market, then toured around London (well, she did, I worked).
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DRT
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by DRT »

SushiNorth wrote:Marlin … a nice kitchen … a stones throw from Borough Market
… and a man who loves cooking meat.

What could go wrong?
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SushiNorth
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by SushiNorth »

DRT wrote:
SushiNorth wrote:Marlin … a nice kitchen … a stones throw from Borough Market
… and a man who loves cooking meat.
What could go wrong?
They had something quite wonderful at Borough Market that we rarely get in the states -- small game. Pheasants, quail, rabbit, etc.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by DRT »

SushiNorth wrote:
DRT wrote:
SushiNorth wrote:Marlin … a nice kitchen … a stones throw from Borough Market
… and a man who loves cooking meat.
What could go wrong?
They had something quite wonderful at Borough Market that we rarely get in the states -- small game. Pheasants, quail, rabbit, etc.
Glenn, pack your BBQ :wink:
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
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Glenn E.
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Re: opinions on Premier Inns?

Post by Glenn E. »

DRT wrote:
SushiNorth wrote:
DRT wrote:
SushiNorth wrote:Marlin … a nice kitchen … a stones throw from Borough Market
… and a man who loves cooking meat.
What could go wrong?
They had something quite wonderful at Borough Market that we rarely get in the states -- small game. Pheasants, quail, rabbit, etc.
Glenn, pack your BBQ :wink:
That may be a problem. ~23" diameter, ~48" height.

Would use it as a checked bag, but afraid that sniffer dog might "alert" on it due to bbq residue.
Glenn Elliott
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