Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

Advantages: cheap, clean, friendly staff
Disadvantages: quite a walk from town centre

...Etap Hotels are another budget hotel chain created by Accor, the creators of hotel giants Ibis. This 250 room complex is situtaed in the centre of Birmingham and all rooms cost £35, whether its a weekday or the weekend. But for this price, don't expect luxury acommodation, as luxury is probably the worst word to describe this hotel. The rooms are clean and modern and sleep up to 3 people. In most cases, this is either a double or twin beds with a single bunk on top - not very glamourous but good for the money. You do get a television (complete with an array of English and European channels), but I can't guarantee that you'll get coffee and tea making facilities, as some rooms seem to be missing these. There is also no hairdryer or anything like that, but you can get one if pay a £10 deposit at reception - you will get this returned to...

jdeacon_162 11.11.2006 (12.11.2006) · Read review
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Review of Etap Birmingham Centre, Birmingham

ETAP HOTEL

Advantages: favourable, useful, city centre near
Disadvantages: ---

...Equipment: The Etap hotels can be compared with Mc Donald or Burger King very well. One gets off, one can be sure, what expects one and natural the other way round also, what one mustn't expect from Aix-la-Chapelle to Zwickau -- identical where. As a Low budget hotel the Etap confines itself to the essential. The rooms dispose a basin, shower, toilet, desk, television set and alarm clock, of a big French bed, another sleep possibility for a third person in form of a bunk bed. The Etap in Munich stands out due to the separation from shower and toilet and the available air conditioner in comparison with other Etaps. Despite proximity to the main street many driven on the rooms are quietly and well isolated for closed window. One has increased the offered number of TV transmitters from 7 to 16 in between so that all...

BACK_IN_BLACK_DEVIL 19.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of Etap Hotel München City Sud, Munich

Etap Hotel Strasbourg is a great place to stay!

Advantages: cheap, clean, comfortable, convenient location, friendly staff
Disadvantages: nothing really, unless you count slightly odd decor

...When I first moved to Strasbourg I had no accommodation and had to live in a hotel for a little while. Fortunately someone had recommended the Etap hotel and it was a great place. The hotel is located opposite the station, across the grassy area and gave me a great view from my window. There was a little traffic noise but not enough to disturb you. There's a Mc Donald's nearby as well as another restaurant (I forget the name) which offers a discount to those staying in the hotel. Being opposite the station, it's well located for getting the train or tram somewhere, or alternatively you can just walk. The room was about ?46 a night and when my friend also arrived, it was only a few quid more to add her into my room. Most of the rooms consist of a double bed with a single bunk on top, but because I was there for quite a long stay...

aljs 11.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Etap Hotel, Strasbourg

  "Lille De France" - Geddit?

Advantages: Near London by train, cosmopolitan feel, excellent transport connections, eating out, plenty to see
Disadvantages: Dog poo

...I?ve now been to Lille three times in the past year or so, each previous time, merely for the day. Only over the last weekend did we stay overnight. Why Lille? Well, rather like the reason dogs lick their naughty bits, it?s because we can. Lille is the first main stop in France on the Eurostar/TGV route from the Channel Tunnel ? yes, I know you could get a train that stops at Calais (Fréthun), but that?s like getting out at Bristol Parkway and expecting to be in Bristol! Gare Lille-Europe arrives outside your train window 1 hour and 40 minutes after London Waterloo International disappears. Stage 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), means that we now get to hurtle through Kent at 186 M.P.H. before slowing to a mere 100 M.P.H. to shrug off the 32 miles of tunnel in a mere 20 minutes. Doing 'a ton' MORE than even the over...

BNibbles 07.12.2004 (09.12.2004) · Read review
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Review of Lille (France)

Etap Amsterdam Airport

Advantages: Clean, comfortable, cheap and cheerful
Disadvantages: No safe in room, No drawers

...Etap is part of the French Accor Hotels Group which operate under several names. and comes into the budget bracket, Etap has at present 311 hotels dotted all over Europe, but mainly in France Etap Amsterdam Airport opened in early 2003 and like several of Etap's hotels it is within walking distance of an Ibis Hotel. The price at this hotel is 55 Euros per night and an extra 5 Euros for continental breakfast which is buffet style, but a little bit basic. Coffee is typically paint stripper French Style. There were white and brown soft rolls, white & brown bread (British Toast Size), European Toast Bread, Jam, Chocolate Spread, Honey, Peanut Butter, Spreading Cheese, and the last 2 days there was a choice of pates. On the beverage side there was tea, paint stripper coffee, hot chocolate, fruit and herbal teas, milk and fresh orange...

virgo219 03.02.2004 · Read review
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Review of Etap Amsterdam Airport, Amsterdam

Hossegor, France

Advantages: Beats any British beach holiday hands down
Disadvantages: Strong currents on some days

...My family and I started going to Hossegor, (which is situated in the Bay Of Biscay, SW France), when I was about 5, way back in the mid 80's. Well, up he coast a tiny bit from there actually). We always stay at the same place when we're there. Its a 4star campsite called Le Vieux Port. The campsite has everything that you'd need. Even as young children we always had something to do. The entance consists of a long kind of driveway, along which runs a football pitch, crazy golf and a mini go-kart thing for the kiddies. It all looks very classy, with flags from different countries running down both sides. Then you approach the reception and main bar areas of the site. The campsite has one very very nice bar which is never too crowded, but always is full of atmosphere. There are often live bands playing here (most...

BJEEE 20.12.2000 (21.12.2000) · Read review
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Review of Lille (France)

Lyon- France's alternative city break.

Advantages: Wonderful city
Disadvantages: Pollution

...Introduction As some of you may or may not know, as part of my degree, I study an element of French language in preparation for the third year I will spend in France next year. My likely destination is Lyon and as such I decided it would be worth taking a trip to Lyon to explore what the city had to offer and get my bearings a little before I actually attended the university next year. Lyon is situated in the Rhone- Alpes region of France, which lies in the east close to the Swiss border. It is surrounded, unsurprisingly, by the Alps and is not very far away in fact from Europe's biggest mountain, Mont Blanc. It is in fact France's second biggest city residing close to St. Etienne and Geneva (in Switzerland). So I and my fiancée (who will also join me in Lyon next year) took a visit to the place. How to get there...

ashtonluke 06.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of Lyon (France)

AGAY Experience in France

Advantages: An unspoilt backwater in a sea of development
Disadvantages: Could be too quiet for some

...Calm down, there's no need to panic girls - it's not what you think. I haven't forsaken the lovely Mrs P. for the adventures of pastures new. Although there have been times whe..... You just weren't reading the title properly, were you? Have another look. AGAY - A small beach resort in the South of France between St. Raphael and Cannes. Phew! That's a relief! Let's start with a little bit of advice: If you would like to search on the web for some pictures of this picturesque little town, be prepared for some explicit images of a non-family nature. How can I put it? If you're not interested in seeing large, hairy, naked men in various poses, don't do it! If, on the other hand, you are - then feel free. Anyway.... After our hectic culture overload in Arles, it was off to the beach for a couple of days R&R (that's rest...

proxam 24.08.2003 (30.03.2004) · Read review
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Review of Agay (France)

Etap Hotel Paris Porte D'Italie, Kremlin Bicetre

Advantages: Price
Disadvantages: Quality of rooms

...This is another hotel from Accor, the founders of Ibis. However i am reviewing the Etap hotel situated on the outskirts of Paris, within an area known as Kremlin Bicetre. In this area, you have the choice between an Ibis hotel, a Novotel and the Etap, as well as various other smaller establishments, of which the Etap is by far the least expensive. The Etap Hotel Paris Porte D'Italie is split into two buildings; Ouest (west) and Est (east). Whereas the western hotel has 144 rooms, the eastern has 171. However both offer the same value for money. But please remember these are low budget, no frills hotels so don't expect to be living in the lap of luxury! The French Etaps are cheaper than those in the UK and will only set you back 48 Euros (around £33) per room per night. But bear in mind there is a 3 Euro suppliment for the second...

jdeacon_162 12.11.2006 · Read review
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Review of Etap Hotel Paris Porte D'Italie, Kremlin Bicetre

Easiest way to get to France - Seafrance Ferries

Advantages: Cheap, the ferry was really nice inside, beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: Expensive food and gift shop

...I've been on Sea France ferries a few times now, and, lucky for me, its service is always consistent. Last weekend, me and my partner decided to go on an impulsive day trip to France, so late Saturday night, we booked returned ferry tickets to Calais from Dover. Booking the tickets was, in itself, a little bit of a nightmare if you take into account how many different companies are trying to sell you tickets for the same ferry, some more expensive than others, and often you have to fill out a form and then it'll tell you how much, so it can be time consuming if you're wanting to shop around. After looking at a few different sites, we found one (I can't remember what it was) that had foot passenger tickets as £6 each, which was cheaper even than the Sea France website. The next morning, we had a two hour drive from our town to Dover...

Stephoohla 19.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of SeaFrance Ferries