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-   -   Formule one hotels (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/europe/formule-one-hotels-19319)

Matt Cartney 21 Jan 2006 05:13

Formule one hotels
 
I have heard various stuff about these hotels, some good, some not so good. Am thinking on using them as reasonably cheap, easy to find accomodation on my cold beating dash through europe to Morroco in February.
I'm not looking for character or lovely locations, just somewhere to lie down between buttock numbing motorway hauls in my bid to get south as quick as possible.
Are they OK? Secure parking for the bike? Any experience appreciated. Would I need to pre-book?
Matt

[This message has been edited by Matt Cartney (edited 21 January 2006).]

anton_frt 21 Jan 2006 12:09

Hi,

the formula 1 hotels belongs to the international group Accor, they more than 700 hotels worldwide check the website:
www.accorhotels.com
you can search locations and fotos of the rooms of the several hotels from the group, among them Mercure, Ibis, etc.

i hope this can help you, im a former employee of Accor Services Portugal, and i can tell you that the formula 1 is value for money, with clean and confy rooms.

BR// Anton

beddhist 21 Jan 2006 13:20

Cheap, clean, very small rooms. In the off-season you probably won't need to book. Some (if not all) have automated receptions, where you just plug in your credit card and get a room. Some have secure parking, some don't.

There are another couple of similar chains, but I can't remember the names right now...

YHA is another option, particularly in the countryside.

Matt Cartney 21 Jan 2006 16:38

Thanks guys, that's all I needed to know. I reckon they'll do me fine!
Matt

moggy 1968 21 Jan 2006 19:36

There are other cheap hotel chains in france as well. If you just want a bed for the night they are fine, and better value and more honest than most other french hotels which are of poor quality and overpriced. I do aeromedical work all over the world and french hotels are the worst for cost/quality ratio I stay in.

Andy

landy 101 smbie/camper
TLC H60
1968 morris minor traveller

fcasado 21 Jan 2006 20:53

Does anyone know the other(s) cheap hotel chains in Europe?


JonStobbs 21 Jan 2006 21:06

Oh come on Andy,the worse by far is our own Britain! You've got a real job to find anywhere here for less than £30 a night(without brekky).And the welcome we motorcyclists get is terrible normally.
Back to the thread title....I've used Formule1 a lot over the years and as long as you don't expect room service it's a good value,comfortable way to doss down for the night.In season you pretty much have to book at least a day beforehand(either by phone on internet,both very easy and a majority of managers speak a little english).They are normally located just outside towns on trading estates,etc... so easy enough to find food outlets within minutes,and whilst not all have locked gates i've never had anything tampered with(i think CCTV is used on all sites).They all have automated card units in the outside walls so you can get in anytime of night with your card.Once you have used them a couple of times you'll wish there were some here in UK! The only slight downside i've found is that the petit dejuner is a bit boring(coffee,chocolate,baguette,brioche) but fills a whole for a couple of €.

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Just going for a short ride on my bike....

JonStobbs 21 Jan 2006 21:08

Oh yes and their website is www.hotelformule1.com

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Just going for a short ride on my bike....

kevinrbeech 22 Jan 2006 00:09

Villages Hotel is another, probably not as cheap we travel by car but for a family of four with breakfast about £40. With this chain you get en-suite and a tv in your room.
Website: www.villages-hotel.com
You can reserve online and (I think) cancel up to 6pm with no charge.
Check availability and price online, breakfast is 5 euro or less per person, similar locations to F1.

rtwdoug 22 Jan 2006 09:17

Etap hotels are also a big budget chain. I stayed in a few of them when cold/wet, and they were real clean & nice for the money. I'd compare em to Motel 6 over here. If you go to one, you can get a book that shows the locations of all of them, where they are, & prices too, I believe. Most had a good safe place to park the bike, where it was seen by the office.
Hope that helps,
Doug


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www.guzzidoug.com

moggy 1968 23 Jan 2006 08:31

yes fair one!! mind you, I don't stay in those! If I do have the missfortune to have to stay out in this country I usually go from a book like 'The Best Bed and Breakfast' guide

Quote:

Originally posted by JonStobbs:
Oh come on Andy,the worse by far is our own Britain! You've got a real job to find anywhere here for less than £30 a night(without brekky).And the welcome we motorcyclists get is terrible normally.
Back to the thread title....I've used Formule1 a lot over the years and as long as you don't expect room service it's a good value,comfortable way to doss down for the night.In season you pretty much have to book at least a day beforehand(either by phone on internet,both very easy and a majority of managers speak a little english).They are normally located just outside towns on trading estates,etc... so easy enough to find food outlets within minutes,and whilst not all have locked gates i've never had anything tampered with(i think CCTV is used on all sites).They all have automated card units in the outside walls so you can get in anytime of night with your card.Once you have used them a couple of times you'll wish there were some here in UK! The only slight downside i've found is that the petit dejuner is a bit boring(coffee,chocolate,baguette,brioche) but fills a whole for a couple of €.



mjls 23 Jan 2006 16:32

One last note: Formule1 don't have bathroom inside your room. Etape hotels have.

Br.
MS

Matt Cartney 23 Jan 2006 19:35

MJLS,
That's what the second nalgene bottle's for! http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif
Matt

beddhist 24 Jan 2006 04:16

Hmm, the Formule1 hotels I have stayed in DID have an en-suite...

fcasado 24 Jan 2006 15:29

"Toilets and showers are located JUST outside the room", well so they say!


http://www.hotelformule1.com/formule.../chambre.shtml

seanh 8 Feb 2006 16:13

I found these hotels great for a 'cold beating dash' across Europe as they are situated next to the highway on the edge of town. This means you don't have to waste time negotiating your way into and out of town and can get on the highway immediately the next day.
Sean

Caminando 8 Feb 2006 19:49

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt Cartney:
I have heard various stuff about these hotels, some good, some not so good. Am thinking on using them as reasonably cheap, easy to find accomodation on my cold beating dash through europe to Morroco in February.
I'm not looking for character or lovely locations, just somewhere to lie down between buttock numbing motorway hauls in my bid to get south as quick as possible.
Are they OK? Secure parking for the bike? Any experience appreciated. Would I need to pre-book?
Matt

[This message has been edited by Matt Cartney (edited 21 January 2006).]


Caminando 8 Feb 2006 19:54

Hi Matt
Formule 1 is really useful for bikers, though better to camp unofficially in the excellent air de repos in France. Be discreet, dont be seen.
The other chain that beddist didnt tell you about is Hotel Etap - similar to Formule 1. There is also Mr Bed (any relation to beddist I wonder?) but very few of these.
The price of the Hotels is around 28 euros.

I should add that an "aire de repos" is a resting place on French motorways. The large ones have restaurants, petrol etc. Others(the smaller, better ones) have no petrol etc, but do have water and toilets; importantly they also have wooded areas where you can quietly put up your tent. I always ensure that I am hidden from most directions; I leave no trace of having been there. The only caution is to watch out for the occasional dogshit-but with care, this won't be a problem.

These places are good because you can stop anytime when you are tired if you have your tent and cooking gear. And of course, the bike is right beside you. Some of these places are very quiet indeed. And using the aires de repos means not having to search around for hotels etc. You'll find them roughly every 30-40 kms apart. And they're free! The money saved fills your tank next day. I go to France several times a year, and I find I have a few favourites now - home from home!

Best wishes
Denis


[This message has been edited by denis brown (edited 12 February 2006).]

Matt Cartney 8 Feb 2006 22:41

Nice one, Dennis, I'll do a search for 'em.
Matt

mustaphapint 9 Feb 2006 02:28

I think Formula 1s are the cheapest chain in France, although the lack of en-suite is a drawback. As you pay for the room rather than per person they are better value for a family. Accomodation is usually cheap, cheerful and clean. The Banzai chain is also cheap and cheerful and does have ensuite - they seem to be used a lot by blue collar workers away from home. None of the formula ones or Banzai's I've seen have secure parking. If you take a little more trouble and look for the local chambre d'hotes they will almost certainly be cheaper and more likely to have secure parking.
I stayed in a chateau once while I was working in France (found it in www.sawdays.co.uk) They charged less than a formula one, gave me breakfast and I got to keep my bike in the old servants kitchen!

[This message has been edited by harleyrider (edited 08 February 2006).]


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