France chain Hotels

We stay at Campanile. Sometimes uneven results but often very nice. Also consider the Accor family of hotels. Everything from bare bones to nicely appointed somewhat upper end. Been using French chain hotels for more than 20 years. The “experience” is normal folks not tourists with guidebooks and unfulfilled expectations.

Don’t rule out some of the mid range hotels from America either. There’s a really nice Hilton Garden Inn with a harbor view in Le Havre for example.

Plenty of alternatives!

another chain in France I have come to like is B&B Hotels https://www.hotel-bb.com/en/france/hotels-france

Parking is often included and secure, breakfast varies by amenity and is always optional and reasonably priced, and the locations do vary by level. Most are 2 star, many are 3 star and a few are 4 star. For example, the former Accor property next to the Calais - Coquelles terminal of the Eurotunnel, next to Cité Europe shopping mall used to have Étap (now Ibis Budget level) and Ibis and Novotel Suitehotel. Those are now run by B&B Hotels at 2 star, 3 star and 4 star respectively.

They have hotels all over many parts of Europe now, nearly 900 over their estate.

The 3 star often has a regular double bed and is in a compact room, a la Ibis and that ilk, the 4 star has a bigger bed and much larger room.

You can also browse the many different price points and amenities in the Accor family, another French chain.

Thank you both for responding with very detailed information.

For that matter, the IHG hotels I have found to be good, especially since I use them in the US as well, and have status and perks. I use mainly Holiday Inn Express and Indigo (if I feel like a little class). Other than that, the Accor brands are usually well located, Ibis and Mercure are probably the most common.

The one drawback about some chains though, is they often locate out in the "suburbs" rather than in the city center, but if you look, you can find some closer to where you want to be.

I'm a long time Accor high status member. I've never stayed at an Ibis, but have had no major complaints with the Novotel, Pullman, and Sofitel properties I've stayed at, world-wide. Mercure - somewhat mixed experiences there, but nothing unacceptable. Interestingly, I find the Asian properties better than those in France. (Happy to hear an explanation if anyone out there knows anything!!)

Another chain to look at is Best Western. The properties are not like in the US. Many are quite charming, individually decorated. Last fall, I was looking for lodging near Gare St Lazarre. I had a fine stay at Best Western Plus Hôtel Sydney Opéra. Small room, but not smaller than other Parisian hotel rooms I've stayed in.

Thanks for reminding me about both IHG & Best Western. I use IHG in the US all of the time.

Avoid Premier Classe - very much not!

I don't know anything about "Premier hotel Chain in England." Not at all.

But I can offer this. In France, Accor brand hotels can be... OK. Generally.

Sometimes not.

I remember a visit to an Accor Mercure in Tours where I found dried blood on a bedsheet in the morning after spending the night. No wounds on our legs. It wasn't our blood. The hotel manager was hostile and dismissive about our concerns. That was the last time I stayed in an Accor hotel. Probably forever.

One chain not mentioned thus far is Logis. I don't fully understand its business model, but it seems to be made up of independent hotels, some quite quirky, operating under a common reservation scheme.

Anyway, the Logis hotels I've stayed in have been interesting and not at all the cookie-cutter type of place Accor offers. Some can be a bit bare-bones. Some have pretty good restaurants. If you're up for it, give it a try.

Premier Inn is very different from Premiere Classe.
Premier Inn are well, designed, clean, comfortable hotels with good facilities and I am always happy to stay.
In my experience, Premiere Classe are not.