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A home by the side of the road
Motels in Europe, Africa, and Asia
Motels around the world are really pretty much like motels in America: simple, modern, modular rooms with easy highway access providing a cheap place to crash for the night as you're making a long dash from Point A to Point B.
Of course, with all points in Europe being so darn close together—and with most towns or cities you could choose to stop in bring fascinating places to poke around for a while—one could argue that motels are a bit superflous. In other words, why stay in a boring ol' modern motel when you could head into town and sleep in some medieval buidling surrounded by cobblestone streets?
Well, motels are usually a good deal cheaper that hotel in the historic center, and they keep you zipping along without getting distracted by some new town if what you really need is to get where you're going.
Finding motels in Europe
Familiar names and chains like Holiday Inn (www.ichotelsgroup.com/holiday-inn), Best Western (www.bestwestern.com), and Days Inn (www.daysinn.com) have properties all around the world. Here are some European chains you might not have heard of.Etap
(www.etaphotel.com) - More than 370 basic-service hotels in 11 countries accros Europe, run by the Accor group (the same folks who own Motel 6 and Red Roof Inn—Etap motels would be more like the latter). Rooms about $50.
Ibis (www.ibishotel.com) - Another Accor chain, similar to Etap, with cheap beds in nearly 800 hotels in 39 countries on six continents (they're in the midst of a huge expansion, slated to increase their stats to 1,100 beds in 70 countries by the end of 2010). Rooms are available from $40 or $50 and up.
Campanile (www.campanile.com) - Chain of 380 hotels in nine European countries, with pricesstarting around €40.
In The U.K.
Premier Travel Inn
(www.premiertravelinn.com) - Combined site of Travel Inn and Premiere Lodges, which are a bit like a Motel 6, but clean, decent (thin walls, though), and the price is usually excellent for expensive spot like Great Britain. I particularly like the London Southwark, which is attached the the venerable Thameside Anchor pub.
Rooms start around $80.
Travelodge (www.travelodge.co.uk) - Totally different company from the U.S. Travelodge chain, this is a U.K. version where the rates for a double room start at £27.
In France
Formule 1 (www.hotelformule1.com) - Like checking yourslf into a giant vending machine for the night—when the reception staff is gone (they work only around 6:30am–10am and again 5–10pm), you check yourself in via a machine. More than 360 motels across France. Rooms run about $40.
Kyriad (www.kyriad.com) - Another French motel chain.
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This article was last updated in July 2006. All information was accurate at the time.
Copyright © 1998–2010 by Reid Bramblett. All rights reserved.
