Hi, my name is Ray. I'm originally from Ashford, Kent but am currently working as an economist in ...
Hi, my name is Ray. I'm originally from Ashford, Kent but am currently working as an economist in Malaysia. I enjoy travelling, good food,non-league soocer and Formula 1 motor-racing and love writing about these passions. Hope you enjoy reading my ...
Member since:21.06.2000
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Formule I hotels are part of the giant French company Accor,and they have some 3400 hotels in 85 countries. They have opened a number of budget hotels in the UK including Falkirk, Teeside, Doncaster,Coventry, Peterborough, Birmingham Bordesley,Liverpool, Barking and London Thurrock. The Falkirk hotel has 75 rooms, there are 86 rooms at the Coventry hotel, Peterborough's unit has 80 rooms and most of the others around 60 rooms
You can book by telephoning the hotel dirctly or through their web site. Indeed,they have partially eliminated the staffed reception desk-outside peak check-in and check-out times an electronic check-in unit for so called "...automatic room allocator..." checks your credit card,debits the room charge and issues you a PIN that lets you into the hotel and your guest room.All high-tech indeed !
Formule I rooms are very basic sleeping up to three people. There is a large double bed, an upper bunk, a sink with a mirror, TV with remote control, a corner table, and a shower area and wc a few steps away from your room.
Breakfast is in a buffet self-service format with fresh,crispy baguettes,butter,jam,coffee or hot chocolate,tea and a orange drink and is served between 0630 and 1000 am.
This chain,of course,has numerous outlets in France and in other European countries and undeniably offer value for money.You get see-is-what -you-get pricing,no frills accommodation and a night's stay which clearly is appealing more and more to leisure travellers and even some business visitors. By avaoiding frills such as health centres,swimming pools,porterage, and labour intensive room service, Formule I can keep their operating costs down for the benefit of consumers.
In UK only around 5% of the market is represented by budget hotels whereas in the United States the corresponding figure is more like 20%.Formule 1 hotels have a simple colourful design and do not have bars or restaurants. They are not everyone's " cup of tea" but for those travellers reequiring comfortable albeit basic accommodation for the night after their travels,they are a very welcome alternative to more traditional forms of accommodation
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I pass the Peterborough one quite often and am always tempted to stop for a drink in the bar, on the off chance of bumping into Coulthard or Eddie Irvine; but if they havn't got a bar I don't suppose there's much chance.
Miss-D 10.05.2001 15:45
Very good op thanks. Self cleaning loos? This I want to see!
ashford 09.05.2001 02:07
Thanks for the comments. The self-cleaning loos-well they are French after all ! Normal per minute charges apply as I do not recall there being toll free numbers.
RAY
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