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I have spent probably far too long on InsideFlyer talking about Premier Inn. The thing is, they’re great. The rooms are clean, comfortable and good value, and the food is always passable (in my view, excellent, but my “excellent” is not the highest of thresholds).
Some time ago, I even dedicated an entire post to just how much I like them. I stand by it!
Ultimately, whenever I have recommended Premier Inn to someone, even to the snobbier “boutique hotel” types, those that have stayed, have invariably (if somewhat sheepishly), approached me afterwards and confirmed I was spot on. Yes we’re largely about aspirational travel on this site, using your cunningly collected points to get a sea view room at a Waldorf Astoria, perhaps. But just occasionally it’s worth remembering that you can get great value from a low cost hotel cash-purchase stay, too.
The £29 sale has returned
Anyway, from 17 May until the end of the year, Premier Inn is offering rooms from just £29 a night. I assure you, £29 for any Premier Inn is a cracking deal.
Given their UK-wide location and the variety of rates, you need to just go to the website and have a look at what’s available, but a random search in Birmingham in late May showed a few options:
Even in central London, you can get some very reasonable prices for a weekend night at the end of May:
Ok, there’s not quite the “wow factor” of Champagne Joe’s £89 Westminster view Park Plaza (or indeed even my own spot of £74 for dinner, bed and breakfast at a London riverside Hilton), but I assure you all the above are exceptional value for money. We are talking quality central London hotels for under or around £70 a night. The key point is, these hotels can easily be put in the same bracket as many of the London Hiltons, for example.
Give them a go…
If you’re considering a UK getaway somewhere from 17 May, I would at least have a look at the locations and prices of your nearest Premier Inn.
I’ll even give you a “make-good” guarantee. If you book and genuinely don’t consider the stay good value, write to me ([email protected]) and I promise to assist you in a future hotel booking that more than makes up for the disappointment.
The author of this article does not hold any financial stake in Premier Inn, although he may occasionally be deemed “easily pleased”.
The question is whether you trust that the cleaners at a seriously budget hotel have been utterly thorough and cut no corners at all given the current need to be super careful of picking up Covid from a TV remote used just hours before by some random people.
I would trust the cleaning standards at a Premier Inn to the same extent as I’d trust cleaners at more or less any other chain hotel.
If you’re that paranoid for £29 just give it a wipe yourself.
Finally, someone talking up Premier Inn! Easily as good as Hilton for a night or two. My favourite London option is Kew Bridge (yes, not central but just a tube ride away and near large park areas and Kew Gardens, often have £29 rooms) and the Heathrow Terminal 4 option is great for an early/late flight too. If only they had some kind of points system.
Nice! – I’ve not tried the Kew Garden one, but am a massive fan of the one at Heathrow T4 (one of the truly great travel bargains, if you book far enough in advance). Even with Hilton Diamond status, why would I pay 3x as much to stay at the Hilton a few minutes away?
And yes, the people in Tom’s article who were originally sceptical about Premier Inn is almost certainly referring to me.
Love this comment! A fellow Premier Inn aficionado!! I agree re a loyalty scheme, but they might have an economic argument (similar to Ryanair, Easyjet etc) that not having one allows them to keep prices low and standards up.
Ex Londoner living in US. I usually do 2 weeks @ assorted IHG Properties in London twice a year,
Always looking for something new.
Hilton – Radisson – Marriott – Park Plaza etc. Been there, done that.
My threshold for Hotel quality is middling – Just clean, modern, quiet etc – Now I travel on my own dime,
I look for value today. So time to try something else.
I usually stay central, and close to Covent Gdn, I’m probably a little old for HUB, but I’ll give it a go.
Great blog btw. UK based family always ask me about card churning, points and miles, offers etc – I’ll direct them here.
Appreciate the feedback Soren. Thanks.