Stay Report: Ibis Styles Tbilisi Center (Tbilisi, Georgia - May 2024)

 Stay Report: ibis Styles Tbilisi Center
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I was traveling to Tbilisi and was looking for a central place to stay.  While looking online, I noticed the ibis Styles Tbilisi Center centrally located and within walking distance to many sights and attractions.  I have stayed at many Accor properties including ibis Styles before (see review here) and so was familiar with their products and knew what to expect.

Accor, and especially the ibis brand of properties, provide clean, decent accommodation at a low price and generally do not offer any frills; or if they are offered, they are priced a la carte.  Generally there is no concierge and breakfast is available for a cost; what they do offer is a clean room with complimentary wifi.  I was able to book and manage my reservation online and through the app, where sometimes lower fares can be found versus the online/website.  

The ibis Styles brand is a bit more upscale versus regular ibis so they have more options for the traveler to choose from; the hotel could offer airport pick-up and drop-off for an extra charge and I used this service for the drop-off to the airport.  The hotel is located on walkway behind the main Independence Square; the walkway is pedestrian only during the day but cars can come early or late in the evening.  Being centrally located and within walking distance to the main square is a great plus point for the hotel; also within walking distance there are a number of restaurants, ATM/banks, shops, and other services all centrally located.  

The hotel is comprised of 7 floors with the check-in desk and main entrance on the ground floor.  Also on the ground floor is a coffee/tea/water station which is complimentary, the restaurant where breakfast is available for purchase (if you did not include it in your rate) and plenty of seating.  As per European standards, the hotel is somewhat narrow and tall but does not feel cramped.  After checking in, I took the key card to take the elevator up to the 4th floor for my room.

ibis Styles main difference between them and other ibis is that they like to incorporate more local and unique designs to their rooms.  When I entered the room, it did have more unique design aspects to them which made the basic room look more interesting.  You entered the room into a tiled hallway which had a open closet on the left with a luggage rack down below and shelves up above.  Continuing on the left was a doorway which led to the toilet and next to that was another doorway which led to the shower.  The sink was outside in the tiled hallway facing the bedroom.  The shower had refillable shower products including body/hair wash and conditioner; the sink had a refillable hand wash next to it and there were plenty of towels.  The tiled hallway led into a carpeted bedroom which contained a desk connected to some shelves along the barrier (the same barrier that had the sink on the other side) as well as a bed with two nightstands on either side.  Mounted on the wall in front of the bed was a TV and on the wall in the tiled hallway were coat hooks.  The bed was comfy and a decent size so provided a good nights sleep; there were also power outlets next to the bed and that was important.  There was a window alongside the other wall and there were nice blackout curtains which were very helpful to get a good nights rest; there was also a decent amount of space between the bed and the window so it did not feel too cramped.  Other amenities in the room included glasses for water, a coffee/tea maker set on the desk, a fridge with complimentary water bottles, as well as a safe.

While the hotel is not full-service, there were amenities provided that were either complimentary or required additional purchase.  Wifi was complimentary and the speeds were decent; water/tea/coffee in the lobby were offerd and they were complimentary all the time; complimentary water bottles were provided in the room; there was a restaurant on the ground floor that was open for breakfast only and there was a restaurant/bar on the 5th floor for drinks and food.  

Overall, it was a nice stay at the ibis Styles and it was centrally located and provided a nice and clean room with a decent bed and ensuite bathroom.  That is what I generally expect from ibis Styles and they delivered on that.

Stay Report: Mercure Istanbul Sirkeci (Istanbul, Turkey - February 2023)

 Stay Report: Mercure Istanbul Sirkeci
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We were traveling on Turkish Airlines and were stopping over in Istanbul.  We had booked the program through the airlines’ “Istanbul Stopover” but the hotel the airline provided was right next to the airport and we were looking for a hotel within Sultanahmet so I looked for a hotel on my own.  In my search, I found a couple of hotels both within the Sultanahmet area as well as across the bridge in Galata.  I read reviews on all the hotels and decided on the Mercure Istanbul Sirkeci as it was a close walking distance to the tram stop, 2-stops away from the Hagia Sophia, as well as walking distance to many shops and restaurants.                                                                                                                                                                                          I have stayed at other Accor hotel properties (Novotel and ibis) but never at Mercure so I was not sure what to expect.  Accor hotels usually have average rooms, good wifi, average breakfast, and sometimes a good location and this is what the reviews said and this is what I found during my stay.  Some of the good aspects are the location as the hotel is central or within walking distance to many aspects including the tram stop, the wifi is free and fast, and hotel was responsive and communicative prior to arrival.  Some of the aspects which were alright or could use work were the size and quality of the rooms and the communication of the staff during the stay.

 
Through the hotel we had arranged transportation to and from the airport, and this can be done at an additional cost, but it was very convenient and the hotel was responsive throughout the entire process.  The hotel is located in the middle of Sirkeci, which is a neighborhood near Sultanahmet and is 2 tram stops away from Hagia Sophia and walking distance to many shops and restaurants.  In fact, the car parks on the side of the hotel as the main entrance is in a pedestrian walk-way with restaurants and a barber in front.  You enter the hotel in the lobby with the staircase in the middle, some seating to the right, and to the left are additional seating, the check-in desk, as well as the hotel’s restaurant.  The size, structure, and decoration of the hotel made it feel more like a boutique hotel rather than a chain and that is something I appreciated.  As we were checking in, another staff member was helping to bring in our suitcase and the hotel was able to hold luggage throughout the stay.  After check-in, we received our key and took the elevator to our room.  There are two elevators to get up – one is a smaller elevator located next to the check-in desk and the other is a bigger elevator located in the middle of the staircase – the circular staircase wraps around the elevator.  Both elevators are tiny – the one next to the check-in desk can barely fit 2 people – and I never saw anyone use the elevator in the middle of the staircase; in fact we were directed to the smaller elevator so not even sure if the bigger elevator works. 

Our room was located at the end of the hall on the 2^nd floor; given the tight space, each floor only had about 16 rooms with about 8 on each side.  Our room was part of what Accor calls the ‘family room’ in that there are two separate rooms with two separate entrances but there is a main door that leads to the hallway that can be closed so that both rooms can act as one or it can be opened so that both rooms can be utilized individually.  In the room, along the right side of the room was a full-length mirror, a long desk which you could sit and work or use as storage, and a section which contained the fridge, mini-bar and coffee details below and a place to store your luggage above.  At the end of the right-hand wall, between the desk and the window, was the closet which contained hangers and a place to hang your clothes, a safe, a luggage rack, as well as amenities such as shoe polish and disposable slippers.  Along the left of the room were two twin beds with a nightstand in the middle, a chair and a table alongside the window.  Next to both beds were charging ports and a plug and above the beds was a ledge which we used to store the phones and other devices that were charging on the ports.  The desk also contained plugs and charging ports so it was very convenient and easy to charge your electronics in the room. The beds itself were decent and contained a nice duvet which provided a nice sleep.  Overall, the room was a decent size and provided enough amenities and storage space to comfortably stay.  The same cannot be said for the bathroom.
 
As I said, I have stayed at Accor hotels before and now that rooms and bathrooms can be tiny but did 

not expect this in Istanbul.  The bathroom contained a small sink with a toilet right behind it and a stand-up shower right behind that.  The space was so tiny that 1) only one person could fit at the same time, 2) you could barely sit and use the toilet without your knees hitting either the shower or the sink, and you could only open the shower door from inside because opening outwardly you hit the toilet.  The shower was nice and contained both a hand-held and rain shower, but because of how tight everything was, you needed to be careful about when you turned on the shower otherwise the water would go everywhere.  Toiletries included refillable bottles of shampoo and body wash in the shower and refillable bottle of soap next to the sink.  The hotel also provided a dental kit, a comb, and other such amenities in the bathroom.  The toiletries and additional amenities were nice and the bathroom had the basic facilities, just the small and confined space of the bathroom was the issue.
 
The Mercure is a full-service hotel so additional services available at the hotel included a hotel restaurant, a gym, laundry service, as well as transportation.  As I mentioned earlier, the transportation service was an extra charge and was easily prebooked.  The gym was complimentary but given my short-stay I did not get a chance to experience it.  The restaurant did include breakfast and while this is not complimentary, it can be added on either through booking or when you check-in.  I have had breakfast at other Accor properties and they are generally similar in that they are decent but not overly expansive with a plethora of options.  The breakfast at the hotel was good in that there was a variety of cheeses, breads, and hot and cold dishes as well as some extras included egg station, coffee maker, and a variety of juices.  It was a nice breakfast and one that left you feeling full, not stuffed, but full and ready to explore the city.
 
Communication and staff support at a hotel is key.  The hotel was very communicative regarding 

booking my transportation prior to my arrival, and were willing to hold luggage during my stay; however, I did have some other communication issues with the staff during the stay.  I had a late flight out of Istanbul so during booking, ahead of arrival, during check-in, and throughout each day I had requested a late check-out, later than what is normally allowed.  I mentioned if there is a charge associated with this, let me know and I would pay it to allow access to the room – every day I was told to wait until my check-out date and when that day came, I was told that the late, late check-out request would not be honored and only the extended late check-out that everyone was getting would be honored.  It was poor communication and poor service and this is something that needs to be worked out.

Overall, it was a nice stay at the Mercure Istanbul Sirkeci.  The location is the best thing about the hotel as you are a 30-second walk to tram stops, shops, restaurants, and banks.  With the tram, you can go to the Hagia Sophia in 2 stops or across the bridge in 2 stops so the location is convenient. The negatives about the hotel are the small bathroom size and lack of information from the hotel staff.  Other than that, a centrally-located stay in Istanbul.

Stay Report: Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus (Istanbul, Turkey - November 2021)

 Stay Report: Novotel Istanbul Bosphorus
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I was meeting people in Istanbul and needed a hotel close to them.  They were staying in the Karakoy district of Istanbul so when I looked for nearby hotels I found the Novotel.  Novotels are part of Accorhotels and they are described as more upscale than ibis but less upscale than Sofitel.  I have stayed in Novotel before and thought it was a decent stay so decided to book the hotel again.  

The hotel is located in the back part of an entertainment section in this neighborhood where there are clubs and restaurants.  The back of the hotel faces this area while the front faces the river; there is still a lot of construction and renovations being done around the hotel so there are not a lot of services near the hotel.  The hotel is a 3-minute walk to the main street and from there you can access the tram, taxis, as well as walk another 5-7 minutes for more restaurants and services. 

As you enter the hotel, you pass the elevators to go towards the check-in desks on the right-side.  There are only two check-in desks and that was not sufficient for the size nor amount of people checking-in; it was a bit chaotic and there was a long wait depending on what time you checked in.  Further into the hotel is the bar and restaurant and on the left side is the small 'business' area with computer and printers (although the printer did not work for me so I had to send it to the front desk to print out - which a lot of people seemed to do).  I checked in, received my key and proceeded to my room.

The room was spacious and had all the amenities of a nice hotel.  You entered into the a hallway on

which the right-side of the hallway are closets that run along the hallway.  The closest consists both of a standard closet next to another closet with shelves; the closets provided a lot of storage places.  On the other side of the hallway was the bathroom which had the sink in the middle, the toilet on one side and the shower on the other (the shower had a window to the room and I do not know why so many hotels are doing this?!!).  As part of being a full-service hotel, the bathroom did have nice amenities including fair-trade products such as soap, shower gel, shampoo, and other products.  Additional bathroom amenities included very big and nice towels, which were good quality and very large towels. 

At the end of the hallway was the main section of the room which had two beds with nightstands on either side as well as reading lights.  The beds were bigger than a twin but definitely smaller than a full  so were both bit small in terms of length and width but they were comfortable enough and provided a comfortable sleep; the duvet on top was also comfortable as well.  Between the bed and the long window was a chair and a couch which was nice to sit and enjoy the view; in front of the bed was a desk to work on and a TV mounted on the wall.  In the bedroom section but connected to the closets was a section for the coffee maker, a fridge, and a safe in the room.  These were in the nook in the closets and provided a nice touch.

As a full-service hotel, there were many amenities that were provided. The hotel contains a bar, a restaurant, a pool, a fitness center,  a spa, free wifi, laundry services, room service, and a barber shop.  Most of these amenities were located on the basement level - I went during COVID so not all amenities were available.  The amenities I used were the free wifi, which was average and decent; and in the time of COVID a PCR test I booked through the hotel.  I needed a PCR test for arrival into my next country so I emailed the hotel and booked a PCR test through the hotel; if I had one in the morning I would have the results by the evening so I booked it for late morning.  The hotel got the timing wrong and I only found this out the night before when I went to confirm my appointment which turned out to be early morning and not late morning; all went well and I got my test done and the emailed the results to the front desk to print out (as the main printer was not working).  

In the end, it was an average stay at the Novotel.  The full service amenities provided by the hotel were nice, the location of the hotel was decent but this did not compensate for the poor customer service.  The hotel provided poor to minimal customer service.  The Novotel provides full service amenities, but not the full service customer service.

Stay Report: ibis budget Zurich Airport (Zurich - November 2021)

 Stay Report: ibis budget, Zurich Airport
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I was going to be in Zurich for a couple of hours and mostly transiting from different travels so I was looking for a place to sleep near the airport.  I was going to be transiting twice so my criteria was it had to be near the airport; near access to transportation; and have availability to leave luggage.  During my research I came across the ibis budget, Zurich Airport.  I have stayed at ibis' before (all throughout Europe) and have stayed at the ibis budget Brisbane Airport.  With each brand, some items are complimentary while others need to be paid for.  The ibis budget brand provides the least complimentary items but they also have the lowest rates.  My experience with ibis is that they provide a basic room with wifi and luggage hold at an affordable rate; since I was only going to be sleeping these - and the hotel met all my criteria - I booked the hotel.  

I was arriving late from another part of Switzerland via train and my flight was early the next day.  The hotel is across the street from the tram station and is only 1-2 stops away from the airport station - both of these make it very convenient as a transit hotel.  I took the tram from the main station towards the airport and got off at the stop and walked to the hotel.  From the outside the hotel does not look like much but it looked nice and clean

As you enter, there is a small waiting area to the left and then the check-in desks.  To the right are the  elevators as well as a very large dining/cafeteria as well as more rooms.  In the back were also elevators down to the ground level where there were more rooms as well as luggage lockers.  I checked in, received my key, and proceeded up to my room.

As I entered my room I noticed 2 things: first that it was a standard ibis room and second it was verysmall room.  As you entered there was a door on right with the toilet and further inside the room, again on the right, was a small sink outside and then the shower door; the bathroom had a toilet, a sink and a shower.  Towels were provided but the quality wasn't great so I would recommend bringing your ownk and there was shower gel in the shower and a small bar of soap near the sink.   There as no real separation between bathroom and bedroom so next to the sink was the on the right-side of the room while on the left side was a TV and a desk.  There was a decent size window across one wall which faced the backside of the airport but it did provide natural light.  Overall it was a very basic room but then again ibis provides a basic room at a lower price so for me it was fine.  The room had the basic amenities that I wanted which were 1) a decent size bed that was comfortable; 2) free wifi; 3) an en-suite connected or in the room and this room provided all that.  

Ibis hotels usually do not provide many amenities other hotels usually provide, and the ibis budget provides even less amenities.  Even though they did provide breakfast in the morning (for a separate charge), there was no restaurant in the hotel so if you were hungry in the afternoon or evening then you had to get food from the vending machines provided.  I did not realize but my second night at the hotel I had booked a rate that included breakfast so I went down in the morning and got my breakfast.  I have had breakfast at ibis in other countries and the quality of breakfast is decent; not great but decent and average and I would say the quality of the food here was also average.  They had croissants, meats, cheeses, fruit and nutella spreads so while not a wide variety, a decent enough breakfast.

There is no gym and no pool but the main amenity is the wifi.  With all Accorhotels, the hotel provides free wifi – it is basic but decent enough to check and send emails.  You can pay for faster internet speeds if that is necessary, and you can also pay to access the computers downstairs if you do not have a smartphone or computer.  This ibis did provide luggage lockers which were accessed for a fee; not all ibis had luggage lockers and some kept luggage for a small time for free but the luggage lockers was a nice addition.  

Overall, the ibis budget provided a decent night’s sleep in an updated room at a low cost.  While the rooms were not lavish nor plush, they provided enough for a good transit hotel. You do not pay a lot and so low expectations are met by a basic and clean room at a low price.

Stay Report: ibis Medellin (Medellin, Colombia - August 2019)

Trip Report: ibis Medellin
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I was going to be in Medellin for one night and basically needed a clean place to just rest for the night.  I looked and found the ibis Medellin - I have stayed at ibis' before (see review here) and know that they provide a basic room at a low cost but usually in locations that are convenient and close to where I want to be - so given that I decided to book the hotel.  It was very easy to book the hotel through the website and manage the reservation through the app.  The hotel is located about a 20-30 minute walk to the city center and about a 45-minute car ride from the airport.  In most locations, ibis' do not provide hotel shuttle but sometimes partner with airport transportation - in this you chose your own method to get to and from the airport.  24-hours prior to my arrival, I received an email indicating I could 'check-in online to save time' and so I went through the process and checked in but nothing happened and I had to check-in again at the hotel.  

The lobby of the hotel was compact, as are most ibis' lobby's.  As you entered the door, in front were the elevators while to the left were the check-in desks and then the restaurant/bar.  In front of the check-in desks was a small waiting area as well as trolleys to help in transporting your luggage.  Check-in at the hotel was very quick and convenient - I was given my key as well as an explanation of the hotel amenities which included complimentary wifi, no room service but a bar and a kitchen in the lobby, and breakfast also available in the lobby.  Most of these are standard amenities in ibis hotels so I was familiar with them and proceeded to the room.  The elevators are located in the middle with rooms on either side - my room was 817 all way down the end of the right hallway.

  

The room itself was a basic and standard ibis room - small but comfortable.  As you opened the door, there was a wall to the right and an entryway the led into the room.  As you stepped into the room, the bed was against the left hand wall and along the right wall was the TV and below that a little space for the restaurant menu and do not disturb sign.  On other side of the bed were mini-nightstands, and the nightstand on the right side of the bed continued into a mini-seating area/storage area.  This ran into the wall and above it, against the wall, was another counter that faced the window - this counter contained additional storage space as well as the telephone.  The storage space connected to the open closet and in front of the closet were open shelves - on the top shelf was a safe.  The room was compact but you had enough room to move around and overall it was comfortable for one or two nights.  The bed was also a standard ibis bed with minimal sheets and a duvet - again it was comfortable for one or two nights and comfortable given the price you are paying, but it would not be my choice for a long term stay.

The bathroom was also a standard ibis bathroom - compact and contained the basics.  There was a sink, a toilet, a walk-in shower, and towels.  I will say this bathroom and specifically the shower was more spacious than some of the other ibis I have stayed at - and the shower was more of a rain shower so that was a nice touch.  Bathroom amenities include hand washing dispenser next to the sink and a body wash/hair wash dispenser in the shower, two towels (not the highest thread count but workable), a shower cap, and two plastic cups.  Again, it was a standard and compact ibis bathroom but it contained the basics and served its purpose.  I would say I prefer the body wash they provide in Europe as it seems to be of higher quality and it has a better smell.

The best part of the ibis experience is the complimentary wifi.  The wifi speeds are strong, you can connect many devices, and you can stream youtube videos as well as check email and social media.  The free and fast wifi is one the best reasons to choose ibis.  Overall, it was a standard stay at the ibis.  If you are expecting a 5-star experience than the ibis hotel/brand is not for you but if you are expecting a decent and clean room and free/fast wifi at a low price than you will be satisfied at the ibis. 

Stay Report: 25hours Hotel, MuseumsQuartier (Vienna, Austria - August 2018)

Stay Report: 25hours Hotel Vienna, MuseumsQuartier
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Hotels in Vienna can be very expensive, especially if you are looking in the middle of the city.  As my time in Vienna was going to be short, I wanted to stay in an area that was either in walking distance to many places or was within a short commute to many sights/attractions.  In looking at these neighborhoods, I found the 25hours hotel in MuseumsQuartier.  The MuseumsQuartier, like the name suggests, housed the various museums as well as other historical sights of the city.  The hotel was located in this area and was a 2-minute walk to the metro station or a 10-15 minute walk to the Museums.  I found the hotel through the Accorhotels website, and even though the hotel is associated with Accorhotels and you can book the hotel through this website, you cannot earn points while staying here and they are not fully affiliated with the company (I am still unclear on the connection between the two).  It was very easy to book the hotel through the Accorhotels app or website and the hotel itself was very communicative when I contacted them directly regarding transportation or other requests. 

From the outside, the hotel does not have great curb appeal.  There is no real drive-up entrance, but the walk-up entrance is really interesting; and this gives you the first impression of what the hotel is all about.  The hotel is modern and fresh approach to hotels as it offers a lot of free amenities for the guests to come and enjoy the city in which they are staying; they are trying to make the hotel and the city feel more integrated.  The main lobby was on the ground floor and had the check-in desks on the right-hand side, right next to a small shop selling the items they have in the rooms (more on that later).  To the left was a sitting area, a little game area, and the entrance to the restaurant.  In the middle was a computer stand if you needed to access the computer.  Check-in was quick and efficient, I received the key to the room and took the elevator (which was small but most European elevators are) to the room.  The check-in attendant usually provides information about the hotel, especially if you are there for the first time or if you are from out of town but this attendant did not provide any information.

The room was behind a corridor and the corridor did not look impressive, in fact the decor of the corridor felt out of place.  The room decor fit nicely within the overall hotel's atmosphere.  As you entered into the room, there was a long hallway which led to the bedroom.  In the long hallway, on left was the bathroom while on the right was an open closet with shelves on top and a refrigerator on the bottom.  On one of the shelves was a bag which was free for guests to use during their trip (and could purchase as well).  The bathroom was quite large and spacious, especially for European standards.  There was a toilet, a sink, a full standing shower, and a shelf that was above the sink and provided a lot of storage space.  One of the concepts of the hotel is to be environmentally friendly, so in keeping with that there are no individual bathroom toiletries; rather, there are refillable bottles of lotion, bath gel, and shampoo.  The bottles also remind you to turn off the water when using the products for water conversation (a nice gesture).  One of the best parts of the bathroom, in my opinion and something I have not seen in any other bathroom, was that the floors were heated.  You could turn the heating on or off, and once on they heated the bathroom floors and it felt amazing.

The bedroom itself was a decent size and contained the bed, a desk, and a wall-mounted TV across from the bed.  Along the wall with the bed ran a wooden plank which served as both a storage place as well as a place to sit.  When I checked in, I was asked if I wanted a room with two beds or one and I had request a room with two beds.  While I got a room with two beds, the beds were so close that they may as well been one bed (so if you are not comfortable with sleeping right next to each other, you will be now).  On either side of the bed was a lamp attached the bed that could be moved to your side (similar to ikea-style lamps that attach to your bedpost).  Also next to each side of the bed were outlets so you could plug in your electronics.  The beds themselves were comfortable and large enough to provide a decent nights sleep.  

The desk contained a phone, a notepad, and a book which contained a list of the amenities the hotels provides for its guests - and the list is long.  You really need to plan your activities to get the most out of the amenities the hotel provides.  Some amenities include a restaurant, a rooftop bar, a spa, a gym, bicycles to rent, and free wifi.  I tried the complimentary wifi - which did not need a code and was completely open (always a little scary to me) but provided decent speeds; and renting the bicycles.  There is a charge to rent the bicycle and you can rent the bike either by the hour, within a 3-hour block, or by the day.  I did a 3-hour block and while it was nice to ride around Vienna, the city is not as conducive to bike traffic as Copenhagen so some parts were very tricky (especially in the inner city where cobblestones and bicycles do not make for a comfortable partnership).  

Overall, it was a very nice and comfortable stay at the 25hrs hotel.  The hotel is conveniently located outside the city center so its quiet and feels residential, but its close enough to walk and have access to restaurants and transportation.  The hotel itself is very nice, provides a lot of amenities for the guests, and provides a comfortable room and nice bathroom for the guests to enjoy.  It was a great stay and its a brand that I would now look for when I am traveling.  

Stay Report: ibis Lagos Ikeja (Nigeria - April 2018)

Stay Report: ibis Lagos Ikeja
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I had an overnight layover in Lagos, Nigeria as I was connecting from my international to domestic flight.  My international flight arrived at 10p while my domestic flight was the next day at 11am, and sleeping at the airport was not an option so I looked for a hotel.  The closest Western-brand hotel to the airport is the ibis and a lot of passengers use the hotel as a transit hotel.  Ibis hotels are a part of Accorhotels and they are a mid to lower-priced brand.  The hotels generally provide basic amenities including a decent room, fast wifi, a restaurant (with complimentary breakfast, depending on which rate you book), and sometimes a gym and/or pool.  There are two ibis’ in Lagos – ibis Lagos Airport and ibis Lagos Ikeja.  I have usually stayed at the ibis Lagos Airport but switched to the ibis Ikeja for one reason; complimentary airport shuttle.  The ibis Lagos does not provide complimentary shuttle but rather arranges one for a fee; on the other hand, the ibis Ikeja does offer complimentary airport shuttle to both domestic and international.  While there is a price difference between the two hotels, with the ibis Ikeja being a bit higher, the comfort of knowing the shuttle is available is well worth the price difference for me.

It was very easy to book the hotel through the Accorhotels website or phone app.  After I had booked my stay, I contacted the hotel to book the airport shuttle.  The hotel got back to me quickly confirming that the shuttle was available and complimentary, and even provided me with the driver’s contact number (the only strange thing was that even though I had provided my flight details, the hotel kept sending emails inquiring about my flight details.)  I had booked the airport shuttle for 10p but due to flight delays I landed later than expected.  I called the driver’s number as soon as I landed and again at baggage claim, but there was a small delay due to shift change (I was the last pickup for the previous driver, but due to delays I got shifted to the next driver).  It was only a small delay and I was able to keep in contact with the driver, who eventually came and transported me to the hotel.

From the outside, the hotel does not have a lot of curb appeal.  The entrance to the hotel is very small and mostly filled with the parking lot, so not great picture from the outside.  The hotel is shaped like an L, with the front desk and entrance in the small part and the rooms in the long part.  As you enter into the lobby, the check-in desks are right in front of you while to the left are the elevators and to the right is the bar and restaurant.  Luggage carts were available in the door to help transport your luggage and right next to the door, on the left side, was a small waiting area plus the ‘business center’ which are two computers connected to the internet.  There is also another small waiting area in between the check-in desks and the bar, and this is where complimentary sheets are provided with the daily news.  The overall look of the hotel was updated and modern, and check-in was efficient so I quickly received my key and took the elevator up to my room. 

As I said, the hotel is shaped like a L with the rooms on the long part, so as you exit the elevator you go down a long corridor to access your room.  As I opened the door, I realized it was a standard ibis room – basic and compact (although it did have some room to maneuver).  As you opened the door, there was a wall on the left and a little entryway that led into the room.  As you go into the room, on the left was the door to the tiny bathroom.  The bathroom contained a shower, a toilet and a sink but it was compact and tiny – there was not a lot of room to move (also, ibis provides minimal amenities; this hotel only provided soap, shampoo, lotion and a towel).

The bed was in the middle of the room and on either side of the bed were small night stands.  The bed itself was a decent in both size and comfort.  The bed had a nice douvet and was generally comfortable; again not a great sleep but a decent sleep.  In front of the bed was the TV nook which had a TV on top and ibis menu and tv guide on the bottom.  Next to that was some space and then there was the open closet.  Ibis has open closets which basically amount to a line of shelves connected to an open area where you can hang your clothes.  It was a small space but decent enough to house your clothes.  The closet was connected to the desk which ran along the wall and looked out onto the window to the city.  At the end of the desk, underneath, was a sitting bench with plugs on the wall.  At the end of the desk was also where the small coffee pot and tea pot was located.  Overall, it was a small and compact room with a decent size bed that provided a comfortable night sleep.

The best amenity ibis provides is the free and fast wifi.  Their wifi speeds are very good and they generally do not limit the number of devices that can be logged on.  In addition to the wifi, other amenities included a restaurant that provided complimentary breakfast (based on which rate you booked) as well as lunch and dinner; a fitness center; and a pool.  My rate included complimentary breakfast so I did try that – there was a decent selection of fruit as well as hot items so it was a good and decent meal.  The breakfast area overlooked the pool and garden so it was a nice and tranquil setting for the breakfast.

Overall, it was a decent stay at the ibis Ikeja.  The rooms were decent, if not small, but they provided a nice and comfortable sleep.  The wifi was free and fast and the complimentary breakfast, if applicable, was decent.  Having stayed at both, there really was not much difference between the two ibis’s in Lagos except for the following: 1) ibis Ikeja provides complimentary airport shuttle; 2) the overlook at the ibis Ikeja seems more updated; and 3) the service at the ibis Ikeja was faster.  While those differences are small, for me they are enough for me to choose the ibis Lagos Ikeja in the future for my stays over the ibis Lagos Airport.

Stay Report: ibis budget Brisbane Airport (Brisbane, October 2013)

Stay Report: ibis budget Brisbane Airport
comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

photo courtesy of Accorhotels

I had overnighted in Brisbane many times and had stayed at different places.  I once spent the night in the airport (lots of noise and lights); while another time I went into the city (long transfer time).  This time, I decided to try and find a hotel which was close to the airport for a more comfortable sleep, but also wasn’t too expensive (as it would only about 12 hours and just to sleep).  The ibis budget Brisbane Airport is a perfect transit hotel as it cost-effective but also provides a comfortable sleep.  The only downside is the location as it is not connected to the airport, takes about 15-20 minutes by car, there is no shuttle, and there is not much around the hotel. 

At the time of booking, it was my first experience with Accorhotels and with the ibis brand so I was unsure of what to expect; I have booked the hotel solely based on price and location.  The hotel is part of the Accorhotel’s ibis brand which includes ibis budget, ibis, and ibis styles to suit travelers from the lowest price range to the highest.  With each brand, some items are complimentary while others need to be paid for.  The ibis budget brand provides the least complimentary items but they also have the lowest rates.  To get the best rates, its best to book online and well in advance (as better prices are available in advance online, and sometimes the hotel is sold out).  Booking online was easy and efficient and I booked myself into a standard room for one night.

As the hotel does not provide a shuttle, I had to book a third party shuttle from the airport to the hotel (or take a taxi).  When the shuttle arrived at the hotel, from the outside it looks like an old motel from the 1980’s so first impressions aren’t great.  Despite the older looking outside, the inside has been renovated and updated.  As you enter, on the left hand side is the check-in desk.  This is where you can collect your key as well as purchase extras, including breakfast.   Across from the check-in desk is the restaurant/sitting area where there are tables and chairs (decorated with Ikea-like chairs and tables) and this is where breakfast can be purchased. There are also vending machines available with drinks and food so these can also be purchased and consumed in the sitting area.

The hotel consists of two floors with a stairs in the middle and two long hallways on opposite sides of the stairs.  There is no elevator to get to level 2 so if you have a lot of luggage or do not climbing stairs, request a 1st floor room.  The hallways and the stairs also have the ‘outdated’ look as well, but luckily the rooms have been updated.

As I was transiting at two different times, I was able to try out two types of rooms – the first room had two single beds while the second room had a double bed underneath a bunk bed that was on top.  Both rooms are tiny, these are not plush rooms, but they are nicely decorated (again with Ikea-esque furniture) and looked updated.

photo courtesy of Accorhotels

For the 2 twin bed, as you entered the door on the left was the basic bathroom (more about that below).  Right next to the bathroom was the first twin bed, a night stand, and then the second twin bed (with very little room between the beds so I doubt both people could stand up in the middle of the beds at the same time).  Across from the beds was a desk and in the corner was a nice, raised TV that provided a lot of channels and in which you could plug your USB cable into.  Overall, while it was a plain and small room it provided all the basic amenities you could need.  What the rooms also provided were comfortable beds.  I did not expect the beds to be comfortable (given the price and size of the room) but they were actually very nice and very comfortable (in fact more comfortable than some of the American hotels I have stayed in).  The second room had the same basic set up but was arranged differently.  As you entered, on right was the bathroom and beyond the bathroom was the double bed underneath a bunkbed.  Next to the beds was the desk which faced a window that looked out onto a parking lot.  Against the other wall, across from the beds, was the TV.  The room size was only slightly bigger than the one with the twin beds.

The bathroom was very compact with a stand-up shower whose only separation from the toilet was a shower curtain - but you can touch the sink from the shower.  The hotel provides a bar of soap and a very thin towel, other amenities such as shampoo and conditioner need to be provided by you (also, bring a better towel if that is important to you). 

photo courtesy of Accorhotels

Ibis hotels usually do not provide many amenities other hotels usually provide, and the ibis budget provides even less amenities.  Even though they did provide breakfast in the morning (for a separate charge), there was no restaurant in the hotel so if you were hungry in the afternoon or evening then you had to get food from the vending machines provided.  There is no gym and no pool either.  The only other amenity I noticed was the wifi.  As with all Accorhotels, the hotel provides free wifi – it is basic but decent enough to check and send emails.  You can pay for faster internet speeds if that is necessary, and you can also pay to access the computers downstairs if you do not have a smartphone or computer.

Overall, the ibis budget provided a decent night’s sleep in an updated room at a low cost.  While the rooms were not lavish nor plush, they provided enough for a good transit hotel.  The downsides of the hotel are the lack of shuttle and the lack of amenities near the hotel (as there is almost nothing in walking distance – so bring your own food and water with you).

Stay Report: ibis Geneve Centre Nations (Geneva, May 2015)

Stay Report: ibis Geneve Centre Nations
comment below and let me know your thoughts :)

I was going to be in Geneva for one night and so I was looking for a hotel that was centrally located, within walking distance to many sights, and that was affordable.  In trying to find a hotel that met these criteria, the ibis Geneve Centre Nations was coming up.  I was traveling from Zurich where I had stayed the ibis there, so I was somewhat familiar with the brand.  For a base price, you get a room with a bathroom in it plus free wifi (strong wifi as well).  Everything else, including breakfast and other amenities, requires additional costs. 

The hotel does not provide complimentary airport or train transportation, so you have to make your own way to the hotel (note: there are two ibis’ in the city, one that is centrally located and one that is not – make sure you do not confuse them as they are very far away from each other).  For a first-timer in the city, it was somewhat difficult to find the hotel as it is located off of the main street and about a 10-15 minute walk from transportation.

From the outside, the hotel does not look that impressive but looks like a standard building.  As you enter into the lobby, there are luggage carts available to help transport your stuff.  Straight ahead is the check-in desk while the elevators are to the right.  On the left hand side is a sitting area plus the restaurant/bar.  The ‘business center’ was also located in the lobby, it was two computers connected to the check-in desks counter; you could check-in to your flight and print boarding passes for free.

I was traveling with others so I had booked a family room which comes with one double bed and one twin bed.  When I went to check-in, I was told that this type of room was not available so instead I received two rooms for the price of one.  Despite the lack of room type available, check-in was quick and the staff were very friendly.

Even though we had two rooms, they were somewhat connected.  From the main hallway, there was one main door that led into hallway.  As you entered the hallway, on the left hand side was the door to the first room while straight ahead was the entrance to the second room.  The rooms could act as two separate rooms, or you could close the main hallway door and the two rooms would be somewhat connected.

The rooms themselves were standard ibis rooms.  As you entered into the room, on the left hand side was a desk and immediately next to the desk was the bed and then a window.  In between the window and the bed was very little room, just barely room to get to the other side.  On each side of the bed were two small night stands, each of which had a light above it and plugs next to the bed (there were multiple plug outlets in the room).  The bed quality was decent and provided a decent night’s sleep.

The TV stand was located in front of the bed, and to the left of the TV stand was the open closet with a place to hang your clothes as well as shelves.  The bathroom was located to the right of the TV stand, at an adjacent angle, near the door.  As with most ibis’, the bathroom was compact but this one had more room that some of the others I have experienced.  The bathroom had a toilet, a sink, and a stand-up shower.  Bathroom amenities included a towel, which was poor quality, as well a shampoo/body wash/face wash combo (I would recommend to bring your own bathroom toiletries).

In the end, it was a decent night’s stay at the ibis Geneve Centre Nations.  For ibis, I always say if you know what you are expecting and prepare for that, then it can be a decent and comfortable stay.  If you are looking for a fancy hotel with all the amenities, this is not the hotel for you.  Generally the hotels have good customer service, free and fast wifi, and are usually centrally located or within walking distance to transportation and amenities.  This is what I was looking for and this is what the hotel provided, along with a decent night’s sleep.