Anyone ever stayed at an ETAP hotel in France? Is it generally a positive experience?

I've booked this hotel throughout France as a means of meeting my budget, it seems clean but is the experience generally a positive one?

I don't remember for sure if I have stayed at an Etap Hotel but I have stayed numerous times at several of these motel chains (Etap Hotel, Formule 1, Premi猫re Classe, B&B, Bonsa茂, etc) and I have always been satisfied, except for Formule 1 hotels which are the only ones not to have a private bathroom (only a sink. Apart from that, they're fine).

They are all clean and generally run by nice, helpful staff. Only one bad experience was outside Quimper in Brittany if I remember well. I am not sure which chain it was, it might have been Etap Hotel but I am not positive, I don't remember. The room was painted gray, the doors black metal and the window was so high that you couldn't look out unless you climbed on the bed, it felt like a prison cell. On top of it all, the lady running it wasn't even friendly. But it was clean, as everywhere else.

Apart from that I have only had positive experiences, my favorite chain being B&B, but it's slightly more expensive. Now incase it doesn't show on their website, the rooms are VERY tiny, there is barely a foot of space around the bed and the bathrooms are tiny too. I never minded that as for me these hotels are a solution for finding a clean place to sleep (even at the last minute 24/7) when I have had a long drive on the highway, but I thought you should be warned. They are also completely charmless. They are just convenient for travelers, nothing more.

Most (not all) are located outside cities so if you are not traveling by car, these hotels are not a good idea (not always easy to get to from train stations) but they are a good option for driving across France on a budget. I remember staying at one of those cheap hotels in the very center of Nancy and it was very good, I don't remember which chain it was either, but most are on the outskirts.

But if you just are looking for a cheap, clean place along major roads, yes, they are good. They are more modern than very cheap hotels located in town centers. You may want to check the other chain names I mentioned earlier. Another cheap option for touring France is Bed & Breakfasts, a lot are within the same price range as those motels. Only drawback is you can't show up at midnight of course. If you are interested I can provide you with links.


EDIT: Here is a book I have in France listing all those cheap motel chains: http://www.amazon.ca/Guide-fernagut-h%C3...
If you look under "product description" you'll find the list of all the chains I was talking about: Akena, B & B, Bonsa茂 H么tel, Etap H么tel, Formule 1, H么tel Stars, Marmotte, Mister Bed, Nuit d'H么tel, Premi猫re Classe, Quick Palace, Villages H么tel.

i don't know about ETAP, but look into logis de france which are not expensive, nice rooms & usually have excellent restaurants for reasonable prices...

i've stayed at some & was very happy....

I stayed in an Etap Hotel and I found this hotel correct, you ve got a little bathroom and 3 places to sleep (one 2 places bed and one on top of this last one) the sheets are clean like the room generally.

But instead of stay in an Etap Hotel I highly recommend you to go in a Youth Hostel it's clearly cheaper (20/22 euros a night with a breakfast) and its very very very friendly (the only inconvenience if you prefer to be alone is the room which are only for 2 or 4 people and the sanitary a little older)

If you go to Paris my (which I go where I come in Paris) favorite Youth Hostel is one in the 11th borough near the Republique underground (line 5,11 and 9 I think...) station

The adress is 8 boulevard Jules Ferry and the number is 01 43 57 55 60 its open 24/24 and 7/7 the people there speak english sometimes spanish and you can meet easily people from all around the world including some Americans too.

Bon voyage ;)

I lived in France last year. When my parents wanted to visit for a few weeks one of the hotels they stayed in was an ETAP. Not only was it within their budget, but the people were very freindly and helpful. The rooms were clean. They had no problems and said they would stay with ETAP again.

Dont bother with fancy hotels and auberges or even the Logis or any of that stuff.

The ETAP chain - and the likes of VIllages Hotel, B&B, F1 etc... are the mutts nuts!

95% of the time clean, cheap and friendly.