Post by WillTravel on May 2, 2003 16:06:47 GMT -5
I'm starting this thread because of a discussion on the Hotel de Sejour thread. In what cities is it cheaper or nearly the same price to get a budget hotel room than to get two hostel beds? I've been considering this question a lot lately as I plan my trip with my 16-year-old son this summer to London and Scandinavia. Here is our experience so far:
London - 1 night at the start, and 2 at the finish. We got a great deal at the Comfort Inn Vauxhall on Priceline Hong Kong (www.priceline.com.hk) and their Lucky Money promotion. (I like Priceline HK better than Priceline.com personally, but the currency issue must be kept in mind.)
The total price works out to about 19 pounds per person per night, and it includes a buffet breakfast that is supposed to be good. We will get a nice spacious room with private bath.
A lot of the hostels I would have favored in London are in the wrong age bracket for one or both of us (I'm 36, and some of the hostels wanted only 18 years and above, or only 18-35). We could have gotten hostel beds for 12 pounds a night somewhere, but it didn't sound inspiring, based on the reviews and location. I also wanted to be pretty close to Victoria Station for the Gatwick Express, because we have only a short time in London at the beginning and end of our trip.
Aarhus - we are here two nights. We booked a private room with two beds at the Sleep-In hostel. Preliminary searches show nothing comparable re hotels - I think they are at least twice as much. Priceline HK is not an option.
Copenhagen - 5 nights. The price differences between hostels and hotels are very pronounced here. We couldn't get a private room at the hostels we wanted, so we have booked dorm beds (the exact hostel we choose may change). If you can get a hotel room with private bath for two people at less than 2.5-3 times the cost of two hostel beds, I would be very surprised. Bed and breakfast is an option, but I think we'd prefer a hostel without a personal recomendation. Priceline HK has failed us here.
Malmo - For one night, we had originally booked a private room at a hostel. It worked out that the Ibis Malmo Stadion hotel is cheaper, so we're staying there instead. Priceline HK failed us.
Gothenburg - For two nights, the Ibis Goteborg City hotel is a little more expensive than the 2 hostel beds we had originally booked. But for a small premium, we're willing to go for it. Priceline HK failed us.
Oslo - For three nights, we booked a private room at the Anker Hostel with a private bath. I think any hotel room with comparable location will cost at least 1.5 times as much. Priceline HK failed us.
(Perhaps I shouldn't say Priceline HK failed us. It's just that no hotels were willing to sell their rooms cheaply enough in those particularly cities, using Priceline HK.)
In each case, there's no doubt that a single hostel bed would be cheaper by far than any other option. But with two people, the arithmetic becomes more dicey, particularly if you are willing to pay just a bit more.
I'd love to hear some comparable indicators for other cities!
London - 1 night at the start, and 2 at the finish. We got a great deal at the Comfort Inn Vauxhall on Priceline Hong Kong (www.priceline.com.hk) and their Lucky Money promotion. (I like Priceline HK better than Priceline.com personally, but the currency issue must be kept in mind.)
The total price works out to about 19 pounds per person per night, and it includes a buffet breakfast that is supposed to be good. We will get a nice spacious room with private bath.
A lot of the hostels I would have favored in London are in the wrong age bracket for one or both of us (I'm 36, and some of the hostels wanted only 18 years and above, or only 18-35). We could have gotten hostel beds for 12 pounds a night somewhere, but it didn't sound inspiring, based on the reviews and location. I also wanted to be pretty close to Victoria Station for the Gatwick Express, because we have only a short time in London at the beginning and end of our trip.
Aarhus - we are here two nights. We booked a private room with two beds at the Sleep-In hostel. Preliminary searches show nothing comparable re hotels - I think they are at least twice as much. Priceline HK is not an option.
Copenhagen - 5 nights. The price differences between hostels and hotels are very pronounced here. We couldn't get a private room at the hostels we wanted, so we have booked dorm beds (the exact hostel we choose may change). If you can get a hotel room with private bath for two people at less than 2.5-3 times the cost of two hostel beds, I would be very surprised. Bed and breakfast is an option, but I think we'd prefer a hostel without a personal recomendation. Priceline HK has failed us here.
Malmo - For one night, we had originally booked a private room at a hostel. It worked out that the Ibis Malmo Stadion hotel is cheaper, so we're staying there instead. Priceline HK failed us.
Gothenburg - For two nights, the Ibis Goteborg City hotel is a little more expensive than the 2 hostel beds we had originally booked. But for a small premium, we're willing to go for it. Priceline HK failed us.
Oslo - For three nights, we booked a private room at the Anker Hostel with a private bath. I think any hotel room with comparable location will cost at least 1.5 times as much. Priceline HK failed us.
(Perhaps I shouldn't say Priceline HK failed us. It's just that no hotels were willing to sell their rooms cheaply enough in those particularly cities, using Priceline HK.)
In each case, there's no doubt that a single hostel bed would be cheaper by far than any other option. But with two people, the arithmetic becomes more dicey, particularly if you are willing to pay just a bit more.
I'd love to hear some comparable indicators for other cities!
