Search

Chain Hotels

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 28th, 2010, 06:33 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Chain Hotels

Ok I know this topic will cause the ire of some but I am curious.

What do you think of chain hotels like Best Western traveling through Europe?
Steve92064 is offline  
Old Apr 28th, 2010, 06:38 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Best Westerns in Europe are really privately owned. They only use the BW reservation services. So you can't compare them with the ones in the US
avalon is offline  
Old Apr 28th, 2010, 06:42 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 49,560
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Best Western is not a "chain" in Europe. As noted, they are all individually owned. So it's not a good example for your question.

Europe does, of course, have chain hotels, like Ibis, Sofitel, Formule, etc. If you're looking to get opinions on real chains, it would be helpful to identify the ones you're interested in.
StCirq is offline  
Old Apr 28th, 2010, 07:53 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are a lot of "chains" in Europe and in the US. A lot of the "chain" hotels in both areas are not "owned" by the chain itself so this stuff about Best Western hotels not being owned is kinda ridiculous..a lot of the Best Western places over HERE are privately owned, too. A lot of Marriotts are owned by other concerns, etc.,

IMo chain hotels as do a lot of other hotels have advantages and disadvantages..it all depends on what you are looking for in a hotel. And it also depends on what your definition of "charm" is...if it is sweltering in the middle of the heat and humiditiy because you didn;t want to stay in a 'chain' hotel well, that's up to you.

And yes, there are some "chain" hotels which are an absolute avalanche of gilt and drapes..the ones designed and run by Mr. Polito come to mind.
Dukey is offline  
Old Apr 28th, 2010, 08:08 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,422
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm not sure why the question will cause "ire."

Without much thinking about it, I ended up booking more than one Melia hotel over the course of several trips, and I really liked them. So I've got nothing against chains.

In Italy, corporate run hotels are almost never better than family run ones. That said, in some cities like Milano, chains like UNA are worth seeking out.
zeppole is offline  
Old Apr 28th, 2010, 08:38 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,995
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BW isn't a chain anywhere, exactly. They are independently owned in the US, also, I believe.

I've stayed in lots of chain hotels in Europe, what's wrong with them. Most hotels nowadays are chain hotels in bigger cities, it seems to me -- if that means some affiliation with some marketing group. But as for perhaps the "real" chains, I've stayed in quite a few Accor and like them (espec Sofitel, but Mercures are decent), and I've stayed in several Best Westerns and a Millennium in London, which was very nice. I've stayed in even more that were part of some hotel marketing group, which isn't really that different (BW is just a marketing group). I've stayed in chain hotels in the US and in Mexico, also. I love Fiesta Americana in Mexico, for example. Oh, I stayed in an Intur hotel in Madrid which was one of the nicest hotels I've ever stayed at.
Christina is online now  
Old Apr 28th, 2010, 10:58 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,890
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
If you want something cheapish but reliable, Ibis are good. We usually try and stay in smaller family run type inns or guesthouses, B&Bs etc but sometimes a reliable chain hotel can be good. At least you know what you'll be getting.

Kay
KayF is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Byshhe
Europe
12
Dec 23rd, 2011 08:53 AM
Squeaky
Europe
16
Aug 26th, 2010 05:54 AM
jsims
Europe
25
Jun 18th, 2007 05:37 AM
RexDog
Europe
20
Oct 26th, 2006 03:08 PM
Loren
Europe
9
Sep 28th, 2002 02:26 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Your Privacy Choices -