Recomendations - F1 or similar cheap Hotel near Metz

[wessie]

Used Logis sometimes too. I know what you mean about contacting direct, but there are some advantages to using Booking.com too.........

1) There is clearer assurance that you have booked the correct rooms on the correct date.

2) It allows you to quickly find a suitable hotel either in the exact location, or in an ever-expanding radius.

3) Being able to see at the time that you have successfully booked the rooms, not have to wait for a small hotel to return your e-mail.

(we have booked our 7 nights' hotels, easily - but I'm still waiting for the woman with the gite - to send me the e-mail with her bank details for the deposit, and to cement the booking - despite me phoning her........... )

Those 3 work for me

Al

Plus with some of the booking websites you don't have to pay a deposit and cancellation is free if done within the parameters set (usually at least 24 hours in advance but some say 48 or 72). This worked well for me when I had to abort a trip due to illness. Being able to log onto one site to cancel 3 or more hotels is a big help if you are somewhat distracted by a load of hospital tests over 3 months until you get a diagnosis. Of course, as greyone has pointed out, some people abuse this facility and book hotels in multiple locations and then cancel at short notice, which sometimes leaves the hotel owner with an empty room.

 

[CuzGS]

I use F1s v othen and you gets what you pay for.

On the plus side theyre piss cheap and usually secure, free wifi too. Oh and you get a bunk to stow all your kit.

On the minus side theyre usually on an industrial estate which necessitates a ride or taxi into town if you want to head in for beer and food. Also the sinks are guaranteed to have the DNA of at least 27 Bulgarian builders and various eastern excretia.

Personally I ride to my destination, have scoff, head off for the F1 or similar and get my head down. Having said that Im an unsociable bastard anyway so it works for me

If the communal crappers dont light your fire, the next brand up is usually another 5 to 10 euro and you can dump away in private.

if I do a 20 day solo tour, (often), Ill average 30 a night on a bed leaving more for petrol and beer.

Horses for courses, but I woukld say dont discount the F1s, after a long day in the saddle, the ability to jump off bike, zero hassle check in, shower and kip knowing your bike is "secured" aint to be sniffed at

 

[Giles]

If peepes are worried about bike security, you're far more likely to get yer bike nicked in an F1 industrial site than something like a logis car park.

Pikeys and thieving scumbags are the same Europe over, and industrial sites are like a magnet to them ...

 

[Blackal]

If peepes are worried about bike security, you're far more likely to get yer bike nicked in an F1 industrial site than something like a logis car park.

Pikeys and thieving scumbags are the same Europe over, and industrial sites are like a magnet to them ...

That would be my perception. Plus - when we have booked the small family-run hotel in a nice little French town, with off-street parking - we never worry about the bikes, and have a 5 minute check-in, and an agreement "See you down here in the bar in 15 minutes"

It's part of the holiday - not getting A-B.

Al

 

[CuzGS]

As I say horses and all that.

Id bet good money that my bike is more secure in a F1 car park, locked to a metal table and behind a security gate than most places, oh and I love pissing in the sink too so its a no brainer for me.

For me, the bike hol is about riding my bike on amazing roads and visiting interesting places during the day, at night, i want to brush my teeth, have a dump and a kip, sadly not always in that order

 

[Giles]

.... and not in the sink I hope ...

 

[CuzGS]

Only No 1s

 

[Rasher]

Thanks for all the advice

We like nice places when we get somewhere nice, or are stopping for a few days, but this is an overnighter to break up the 16+ hour Journey from my door to the start of the Alps.

Depending on weather may just turn off the motorway near Metz and head cross country towards Nice and just see what I come across, only need one room so should not be hard to find a room.

Money is not a big issue, it is one night so worst case is I pay too much for too little for one night.

 

[johnnyboy]

Thanks for all the advice

We like nice places when we get somewhere nice, or are stopping for a few days, but this is an overnighter to break up the 16+ hour Journey from my door to the start of the Alps.

Depending on weather may just turn off the motorway near Metz and head cross country towards Nice and just see what I come across, only need one room so should not be hard to find a room.

Money is not a big issue, it is one night so worst case is I pay too much for too little for one night.

Well, there will be plenty of hotels between Metz and Nice.

 

[Rasher]

Well, there will be plenty of hotels between Metz and Nice.

Indeed.

I always find it a balance as if I book in advance I can get there whenever and have nothing to worry about, but if not pre-booking will feel the urge to stop earlier to find somewhere.

Not pre-booking allows us to see how the day is going and stop when we feel like it, maybe going further if weather / traffic / morons at Chunnel have been kind to me, or stopping earlier if I am running late or it is chucking it down.

The one thing I want to avoid is riding around late a night struggling to find a Hotel room, or not liking the look of the parking arrangements at the only place I can find.

Away from the more populated areas I am not so bothered and have often parked outside a Hotel in the Alps / Black Forest / Pyrenees with no concerns.