Cheap Hotels in London
Hotels & B&Bs in the UK and Europe
Whether you're looking for a luxury hotel in the centre of London or a bed and breakfast in the country, you'll be able to find what you're looking for here.
If money is not so tight and you would rather stay somewhere with a little bit more luxury, then a hotel may be ideal for you. Hotels vary hugely in cost and quality, so it can be hard to decide on what suits you best. Luckily, there are a number of places online where you can compare the best hotel deals in the UK or in any other European city. Even in the capital, if you look hard enough you can find some good quality cheap hotels in London.
There are literally hundreds of hotels in most British cities, ranging from absolute luxury, to far more basic rooms. Obviously the quality affects the price, though the sheer number of options means you should be able to find a good compromise. Hotels are ideal places for weekend breaks abroad, or for your parents to stay in if they are coming to visit and you don't have space.
B&Bs are ideal for if you want a slightly more personal touch. They are far smaller than hotels and you will usually get to know the people running it. Plus in most cases you will get a homecooked breakfast included in the price.
Hostels in the UK and Europe
Hostels usually offer cheap and cheerful accommodation ranging from private single rooms with individual bathrooms to shared dormitories and shared bathrooms. Dorms can be mixed or separated by sex. In general, hostel prices are quoted per person, even if you are booking a private room with a double bed. Hostels are especially good in cities, where accommodation can be expensive. They are usaully a fair bit cheaper, even than cheap hotels in London.
Search thousands of hostels in Europe and book online
Hostels are not always for young travellers. If you are looking to stay with other young travellers, then make sure you book a room at a youth hostel. Most of the time, you can tell by the name of the hostel and the hostel description; keep an eye out for words like: youth hostel, backpacker's hostel and student hostel.
If there's a bar on location, chances are it will be crawling with young travellers, so will be a great place to meet new people, especially if you are travelling during the summer holidays. Also, some hostels will organise day trips, which can be an excellent way to do some sightseeing and make friends- so much more fun than cheap hotels in London! Ask for information either before you book or upon your arrival.
Most hostels offer complimentary luggage storage and luggage lockers. It is a good idea to find a hostel with these facilities, as hostels can also be a good target for thieves looking to get their hands on a new iPod or laptop.
Booking a Bed in a Hostel
Before you book a hostel, check to see if (1) they have a curfew (2) there are visitor restrictions (3) linen and towels are provided. Watch out for descriptions like: "great location" or "just a few minutes walk from major attractions" because these phrases are highly subjective. If you only go by these, you may end up booked to stay at a hostel in the middle of a forest ("great location"...if you love trees) which means you may have to walk for an hour to get to the outskirts of the nearest town (after all, 60 minutes can be interpreted as "just a few minutes") Therefore, always check a hostel's location on a map.
Hostel Safety
- Though budget accommodation has been the target of horror movies and stories, hostels are generally pretty safe. However, it is better to be safe than sorry.
- Always keep your belongings locked away at all times. Remember that even though you may become friendly with other people sharing accommodation with you, you do not really know them.
- For lone female travellers, it is a good idea to book into hostels which have all-female dorms. Make sure that the hostel you choose has safety precautions in place for late night hours (either by locking the front door and giving a key or code to guests or having a person at reception throughout the night).
- Before you book, check the area around your chosen hostel. Make sure it is in a safer part of town.
- You will find that most hostels are near major tourist attractions that can become quite deserted after a certain time, so take care when walking around at night. Do not walk through any alleys, dark paths or anywhere that looks dangerous. Of course, these precautions do not only apply to staying at a hostel, you should abide by these guidelines at all times, wherever you are.
