http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2006/dec/03/hotels.budget.birmingham
Etap Hotel
* Rachel Foster,
* The Observer,
* Sunday December 3 2006
ETAP HOTELEtap Hotel, 1 Great Colmore St, Birmingham; 01216 227575;
www.etaphotel.com
The Etap chain of smart budget hotels has long provided a cheap and
cheerful base for weary travellers and business people in Europe. This
Birmingham outpost is the first Etap in the UK; three more are due to
open in Sheffield, Cardiff and Leeds at the start of next year, with
more to follow.
Starting at =A332 per night, the rooms can fit up to three people. The
third is accommodated in a bunk fitted over the top of the double bed,
but it is not as youth hostelly as it sounds.
Despite the blue nylon carpet and yellow-painted door, reminding you of
the hotel's budget status, the place has a continental feel. My room
felt surprisingly spacious due to its clever design, which incorporates
a clothes rail, a little desk and a sink. The shower, neatly tucked
away behind a glass door, was more powerful and stylish than you'd
expect from a budget base. Of course you have to sacrifice the iron,
kettle, hairdryer and fancy toiletries that you take for granted in a
more upmarket hotel, but I felt I was getting more than I'd expected
for the price.
There's a deli which is open 24 hours, and you can scoff as many
pastries, cereal, fruit juices, tea and coffee as you can manage for a
paltry =A32.95.
I stayed on the ground floor and had a splendid view of the car park,
but the upside is that if you arrive by car there is free parking.
Alternatively, it's a short walk to Birmingham New Street station and
all the other main city-centre attractions.
The price: From =A332 per room.
What we liked: The cost, if you share it's just over =A310 each.
What we didn't: No kettle in the room. I know it's budget, but no cup
of tea in bed?
The verdict: A surprisingly decent budget base.
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