The Best Budget Hotels in London (Ibis -London Euston)

Member Name: sandrabarber

Product:	Ibis -London Euston
Date:	28/09/02 (2460 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Value for Money, Very Clean, Superb Customer Services

Disadvantages: None

I'm a big fan of Ibis hotels and stay in them for both business and pleasure. I had, however, read a bad opinion of the London Euston branch, so when I found myself needing to stay in Euston the other night it was with slight trepidation that I booked the Ibis. I was hoping that my several excellent experiences of the Ibis chain would hold out against the one bad experience I'd read about.

LOCATION

The Ibis London Euston is in Cardington Street, literally at the side of Euston Station. Weary travelers can depart their train and be at their hotel in one minute.

Once in Cardington Street you can't miss the Ibis - it is a bright, stylish, continental looking building in an otherwise unprepossessing grey road.

Unlike many London hotels, the Ibis Euston has a car park at the rear, and if drivers follow signs to Euston Station they will find it easily enough.

RECEPTION & CHECK-IN

The Ibis reception is, as the outside appearance of the hotel suggests, bright, breezy, contemporary and stylish.

As you walk through the door there is the open plan bar and restaurant to your left, and reception straight ahead.

It is a very busy hotel, but guests are dealt with very efficiently and I only waited a minute or two before the queue I was in had disappeared and one of the three receptionists on duty was ready to check me in.

Check in consists of filling in a simple form and telling the receptionist whether or not you want breakfast. If you do, you are given a ticket to present at the restaurant the next morning.

You are then given your card-key and directions to your room and wished a nice stay.

The receptionist who dealt with me was very polite, very cheerful and couldn't have been more helpful.

My room was on the fourth floor, which I reached by a lovely, smooth high-tech lift.

THE ROOMS

The hotel has 380 rooms, 8 of which are adapted for
disabled people. They are designated either smoking or non-smoking.

On first entering my room I was struck by the smell. It was gorgeous. Furniture polish and flowers sprang to mind.

The décor was lovely, with the walls in white and apricot and the soft furnishings a jade green.

I had a double bed, built-in wardrobe, chair, desk-cum-shelf, set of shelves, bedside tables and lots of lights which gave varying degrees of intensity.

There was a telephone, extra phone points for hooking your laptop to the net, plenty of power points, tea and coffee making facilities and television.

Everything was absolutely spotless, and a little card on my bed told me which member of staff had cleaned and checked my room.

In one corner of my room was a curved wall, behind which was housed the shower room. The room was small but not too small, with a very stylish sink, a clinically clean toilet and a large powerful shower. Plenty of fluffy white towels were provided.

The general ambience was quite minimalist without being cold, and the style was reminiscent of Swedish/Dutch contemporary - like a more expensive and robust Ikea. Not everyone's idea of a perfect hotel, but definitely mine.

The bed, incidentally, was firm and very comfortable and I had a lovely night's sleep. And despite the hotel being right next to Euston station, I didn't hear one train.

SERVICE STANDARDS

Ibis pride themselves on customer service, and they have never let me down.

In your room, in fact, prominently displayed, is their 15 minute guarantee of satisfaction. Basically, they promise that if there is anything wrong with your room and they fail to put it right to your complete satisfaction within 15 minutes, then you get your stay for free.

I had no complaints whatsoever, but in another Ibis when I did find something wrong, the staff could not do enough to help me and sorted out my prob
lem in no time at all.

FACILITIES

The hotel has one bar and one restaurant. Both are open plan in design and situated on the ground floor. Both are brightly, simply and stylishly furnished.

Prices are very reasonable, with a 2 course dinner at under ten pounds and the bar charging London pub prices.

Main meals are served until 10.30 p.m., but snacks are available 24 hours a day. There are also vending machines dotted around selling soft drinks and chocolate/crisps etc.

I had breakfast in the restaurant, which cost me £4.95. For this I got to help myself to a massive selection of continental fare including fruits, cereals, breads, pastries, cooked cold meats, yogurts, teas, coffees, juices and more. You can have as much as you like and it is all fresh and tasty.

Other facilities include a laundry service, an ironing room, message-taking and more. I don't know about child-care facilities, but I believe these are available at some Ibis hotels.

CLIENTELE

The Ibis Euston attracts a real mixed bag of travelers who are staying in London on both business and pleasure, and attracts single travelers, couples and families. In fact, there is no charge for children under 12 if they sleep in the same room as their parents. Children also get breakfast half price.

RATES

At the Ibis, you pay per room and not per person, so of course it works out half the price if you're with a partner.

My company paid £79.95 for my one night stay, plus £4.95 for my breakfast. I consider this excellent value for such a pleasant, convenient and well-equipped hotel in London. (Other Ibis hotels in London are at Greenwich, Docklands and Wembley).

Prices are cheaper at weekends, and if you use the Ibis chain often it's worth getting a membership card as you get 10% discount on everything.

Rates at Ibis hotels elsewhere in the country are significantly cheaper than the
ones in London.

OVERALL

The Ibis did not let me down. It was everything I've come to expect from this excellent chain and I wouldn't hesitate in recommending the Ibis London Euston to anyone.

The place is stylish and spotless, it caters for you 24 hours a day, it provides you with everything you need, and the staff treat you with more respect than you often find in much, much more expensive places.

I will certainly be staying there again.

Summary: