Browse five examples of budget hotels in Europe
Budget hotels in Europe tend to be small. You won't be able to book them with loyalty club points. It might not even be possible to book a room online.
Travelers who want a hotel with multiple meeting rooms, lounges and flashy lobbies won't find much to like in these small, plain, sometimes family-owned places.
Budget hotels in Europe usually lack multi-lingual staff. Frequently, dinner is not served on the premises, but a breakfast can be taken the following morning in a modest dining area reserved for guests.
For many of us, a hotel is not much more than a place to sleep. Comfort, cleanliness and safety are required, but many of the other frills that the five-stars provide are not necessary.
Full service hotels can provide value and sometimes find their way onto a budget traveler's itinerary. But discount hotels in Europe give needed relief to a budget, especially in expensive cities.
Understand that budget hotels in Europe are not hostels. Some places with the word "hostel" in their names will also offer a budget hotel section, but hostels tend to put people in common rooms at lower prices than budget hotels offer.
Bed and breakfast accommodations in Europe also differ from budget hotels. The B&Bs frequently offer only a few rooms and can be part of a private residence. Hotels operate more rooms than the typical B&B, and are housed in buildings that function primarily as businesses rather than residences.
These definitions can blur at times, and some budget hotels in Europe offer full restaurants on the property. It's also risky to assign typical star ratings to budget hotels, but many of them fall into the two-star and three-star categories.
How does one find and book a budget hotel in Europe?
Guidebooks provide information about a lot of these places, but be aware that because many of these operations are fairly small, the recommendations they receive often lead to a "no vacancy" sign upon arrival. For those that are most popular, book months in advance.
Another way to track down a budget hotel in Europe is to do a search for two-star properties in the city you wish to visit. Again, not all of these hotels conform to a single star rating, but many of them will turn up using this approach. They are also the places likely to have an online reservation mechanism.
Another good method in less crowded places is simple word-of-mouth recommendation. Ask the local tourist bureau where people from other parts of Europe tend to stay. Tell them you don't expect an English-language front desk (although many will have someone who speaks English).
To be sure, finding a budget hotel in Europe will take a bit more effort than booking a chain hotel. But the effort can often cut your hotel costs in half, and enhance your overall experience. This is a way to meet people from other places and practice your language skills. You are far more likely to find people of other cultures in these hotels than at the franchise operation that resembles its cousin in your hometown.
Take a look at five examples of budget hotels in Europe that offered comfort, convenience and low price. They aren't perfect examples, and you could do even better in your searches. But they will provide some insight into how to spot and book a simple, economical discount hotel in Europe.
