Kinky sex.... (Ibis Hotels in general)

Member Name: LouisaNott

Product:	Ibis Hotels in general
Date:	01/09/01 (4001 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, stylish, comfortable in many ways

Disadvantages: Manky tea, small towels

Is something I could have been having at the Ibis hotel in Coventry last week.

Only I wasn't.

I've stayed in Ibis hotels in a variety of places in europe, and on each occasion, I've been very impressed with both the hotel in general, and the staff's attitude.

I've stayed in an Ibis in Vienna, Boulogne, Paris and good old Coventry, and my parents have stayed in another one in Cov too. ALl of them have been great, and excellent value for money.

They do vary in style, for sure, and it would be silly of me to list them in order as it's unlikely that that'd be of use to you. I would say that Ibis hotels are definitely "of their period", in that new ones are really swish (like the one in central Cov), and any ones that are ex-campaniles are very much still a campanile.

Pricewise, for a night, you'll pay from 35 to 45 quid, depending on where you are and when you stay (weekends are more expensive). Breakfast isn't included.

When you check in, you're very often given a card which operates your door. It's a bit confusing, but far more sensible than a massive chunky key complete with an equally huge key fob!

All rooms are equipped with a nice big double bed, only I've never had the joys of a duvet, it's always been sheets, and very often there are only 2 pillows, which is a bit naff for sharing. There's an ensuite bathroom (of course!), with shower (in some cases, a bath too) with a soap dispenser, sink (complete with free soaps, hoorah), and a loo (of course). The towel situation is often rather sparse, normally one small one and 2 larger ones which are by no means huge. I've found that if you systematically hide your towels day by day you build up quite a collection as the cleaners take the visible dirty ones away, and replace with 3! Nice.

I feel that this particular point justifies a paragraph to itself. The Ibis in Coventry centr
e has the most divine showers! They are huge (big enough for about 4 people), with large, double doors. They are sort of "corner" showers, but are absolutely wonderful and poweful. It's worth 40 quid just for that!

There's always a tv, and remote, of course, and a kettle with tea and coffee making stuff. I would recommend taking some of those little pots of milk, as the milk provided is yucky and powdered. The coffee in the last one I stayed in was nescafe and kenko, very impressive. But the tea was quite manky.

Oh, and there's a 'phone and another connection if you want the internet (in the Coventry one anyway!).

I've never been hot in an Ibis hotel room, as there's also very often air conditioning which you can set the temperature for, marvellous.

Outside the room, you'll find a variation in services, depending on where you go. If the hotel's a big one, you'll find a nice cosy bar and resaurant. It's all very "chain restaurant"-like, but the staff are always nice and friendly. Breakfast, if you so chose will cost you just shy of 4 quid, and it's a buffet. Very nice.

Now here's the reason why I like Ibis hotels...

I'm 21 and don't stay in hotels very often. My (then) boyfriend and I once stayed in one in Boulogne, and the staff didn't care that I was "Miss" Nott, and were very friendly indeed.

Equally, I checked in to the Ibis in Coventry centre last week (I had to stay over in Coventry as I had 2 job interviews on consecutive days), and I explained that my boyfriend was joining me, and although he was from Coventry, he'd be leaving his car in the car park. The lady didn't bat an eyelid, and when I returned to the hotel at midnight with a man, who subsequently left before me in the morning (he had to work), nobody batted an eyelid. I'm very impressed, and feel at ease with this attitude. Soem hotels rea
lly look down their noses at young, unmarried couples and I feel that the Ibis chain are very good in NOT doing that.

All in all, if you want somewhere nice but not very "individual" to stay, Ibis hotels are for you!

I'll update this opinion and juggle information when there have been links put to different individual hotels!

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