Easyhotel

Personally, I think that sounds horrible.

Sounds like their rooms are about like their airline, CHEAP! If only they would advertise either as what it is.

I think they do Lee. You know what you are getting, or not getting, when you book Easyjet, Ryanair or similar.

Not something I would try...........

Has anyone?

I've stayed at EasyHotel in Victoria on a couple of occasions, this is the one mentioned in the article.

I think the article is fair.

Firstly, as it states, the rooms are spotlessly clean, that's a big plus in London - I've stayed in places that cost four times what I was charged by EasyHotel and been disgusted by the standard of hygene.

Next, yes the rooms are very small, but for a 'one night and one night only' stay they're outstanding for the money. It's a very good location.

If you've got a full day in London and just need somewhere to get a night's comfortable sleep these places are ideal and very cost effective.

If you're looking for somewhere that is comfortable to use as a base during a vacation - common sense should tell you to pay more and get more. On the other hand, in London I've paid more and got a lot worse.

Al, as usual, is spot on. I stayed at this place coming back from my European vacation this summer. It's about as no-frills as you can get, but given the exorbitant price of London hotels, it's a real bargain. The layout demands that you do the one-bag thing, though. Well-organized packing--use of packing cubes or packing envelopes--will also pay off.

In fact, the reaction on this here reminds me a bit of the reaction of some of my friends to my minimalist packing strategy--"Oh,that must be awful, having to wear the same things so often, having to wash out your stuff in the sink, skimping on cosmetics...I can't imagine travelling with only one bag." For them, my style of travel wouldn't work, including staying at a place like this. But for me, I'd rather save the money on lodging and spend it on meals, theater, entry fees, and beer.

Cost-wise, it's comparable to a hostel, but with better cleanliness, privacy, and quiet. Of course, you don't get the commeraderie of a hostel, but that can be a plus or a minus, depending on your circumstances.

Anyone compare this to the Yotel? I haven't stayed there, but it sounds like it might be comparable.

From looking at the Easyhotel web site, the rooms look as big as cruise ship rooms. Basically bare essentials: a bed, toilet, and a small TV.

If you're needing a place to crash a day or so, this is ideal. Plus the locations are ideal.

Remember, its a big city. Nothing comes cheap in a big city. Be thankful it is clean!

Actually, thank you Kate! I think now I have found my accomodation for myself when I go to London this fall. It seems great to be able to find somewhere affordable with all I need - Bed and Shower. And CLEAN, being the cleanliness obsessed american that I am. I also plan on staying a night at the Easyhotel location in Luton. That one is only 25 pounds, $50 a night. Accomodation was one of my main concerns, since I will be going there on a shoestring, no, not even that, on a Dental floss budget. My husband (englishman) tells me that this company also has Easyinternet Cafes strewn about in the city.

I'm all for saving money, too, but I would have problems with a small room with no windows. Lack of a TV wouldn't bother me, either, since I generally don't use the TV if there is one when I'm on a trip.

Ummmmm, y'all think $79 bucks a night (London) is CHEAP????? :)

B~

Yes, we do!

Guess I'm stingier than I thought! LOL!

I saw on the easyHotel website that rooms with a window run about £5 more per night - I can handle that for a couple of nights...

Thanks for the info. Kate!

Hyde Park Rooms Hotel in Paddington has a standard double or twin room for 48 pounds including breakfast. I'd stay in a place like that way before a closet like easyhotel. waking up in an easyhotel room would be very depressing.

Before I leave, I like to get to Frankfurt a day early, turn in my rental, store my major luggage to be picked up on departure morning, and then go via shuttle to a nearby hotel and relax, so as to avoid all the uh..... "hecticity" of doing it all on the day of the flight.....

Yeah, okay, I DO pay 55 Euros for the room, but it's a ROOM, not a cracker box.

Easyhotel MIGHT be a place for me to "freshen up" during a long lay-over, but not for $79.00.....

B~

I think that folks need to put the price in perspective. London is a country's capital city and hotel prices in any capital city can be pricey. Even Motel 6 can be as costly here in the USA depending on the location and time of year. This one is in a good location on the same street as B&Bs like Luna and Simone - a short walk to Victoria Station. If folks are on a strict budget & only need a place to sleep and clean up then this might be an option. Plus most folks who want to get the most out of being in London will not be in their room much anyway, so any plush excesses can be a waste of money. Personally, I like to stay at the Sidney Hotel down the same street, that sometimes the online in advance price can be close to EasyHotel but include a full buffet breakfast. Yes, the in room bathrooms are as small as a camper, but they are in your room not shared. There's even an elevator. And the bus that goes to Westminister Abbey, Trafalgar Square, theater district, ending in Hampstead Heath stops at the front door every 5 -15 mins 24 hrs a day. My rooms have always been pretty quiet. Mid Dec 2007 rates at Sidney was 35 pounds single and 55 pounds double per night for 1 week stay online advance booking.

Debbie,

Point taken and understood. :)

Just seeing it through "my eyes", I guess, and I try to always get the most value for my money.

My last night in Frankfurt before my flight will be spent in a little B&B for about half that, so I guess that is what I was comparing when I said "cheap".

Thanks

B~

Bill, Yes "Cheap" is relative. I travel through Europe quite a lot. A "cheap" room in Prague for 2 with breakfast for $85 costs but only $25 in small town Czech. Its all about location. Germany - with the exception of special holidays and events can be way cheaper than London. Same $110 room in London will cost you about $75 in Berlin. London and Paris are two of the most expensive places for sleeps. With enough shopping around and some flexablity anyone can find something in their price range. Four of us rented an apartment in Paris' Marais district for $860 for Dec 31 2006- Jan 6 2007. That's what 2 people can expect to pay for a 1 star hotel stay at that time. Having said that. $79 for 2 in London is a steal....at almost youth hostel rates....so who cares if the walls are orange and no window? Turn off the lights and all rooms look the same.

Bill, there's cheap, and then there's cheap but nasty. At least EasyHotel is inexpensive and clean... which is the most important part.

I've stayed in some "cheap" (you get what you pay for) dives, and had a terrible night's sleep. There's no reason to lose sleep if you're thinking about roaches over your head.

Not to mention that many European hotels on the Continent include VAT in their rates, but those in London usually do not. They end up tacking on another 18-20% on to the cheap rate they quoted. The rates at easyHotel already include the VAT, so I agree $79 is a steal.

I'm still not impressed by easyhotel's rates. One can easily get a four star hotel @ $79USD including VAT by using priceline, hotel.com's secret rates, or lastminute.com. These hotels are typically in the Kensington area, include windows, housekeeping, TVs, and much larger rooms. Also, EH's hotels may be in a clean and fresh condition now because they are relatively new, but if enough guests opt not to pay for daily housekeeping, these same rooms will become very dirty and run-down - very quickly.

VAT must, by law, be included in all retail prices throughout the EU. Therefore all hotels in London advertise their prices inclusive of VAT; so this is neither a plus or minus for Easyhotel.

Then there are a lot of hotels breaking the rules... Hotels in Rick's book as well as most of the big chains quote rates exclusive of VAT.

We even found in Spain last year that in some areas all rates were quoted exclusive of VAT. Everywhere else I have stayed in the EU has always included VAT in the quoted rate.

Not doubting you Julie, but I am curious where you are seeing all these hotels in the UK that quote exclusive of VAT? I've never seen this, and as I said, it would be illegal.

I wonder, were you using foreign (e.g. American) hotel booking sites? That might be an explanation as they are probably bound by local rather than UK law.

Peter - Some of the sites were US sites for the chain hotels, but I have also searched on the UK and European versions of these chains as well as European chains and found several that list prices exlusive of VAT. As for the smaller hotels, I usually book directly with the hotel via e-mail or phone. Most of these hotels also have their own European websites. Many of the ones I have checked in London as well as parts of Spain quote prices exclusive of VAT while for the rest of Europe I get quotes inclusive of VAT.