I'm looking at France for a few days, Never been before and doing some research on here I noticed very cheap hotels called F1..
Ive had a quick look at the web site,and to be honest there is not a lot of information to be had..
Has anyone experienced the "F1" chain.I noticed that the prices start from 24 euro, but that's only if you book a year in advance (probably)..How much did you pay ?
I'm not looking for the Ritz, just somewhere clean to lay my weary head ( and the wife as well)
Cheers guys and gals...Tony 23.
Hotel F1 in France.
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knobblywobbly
- Posts: 292
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Re: Hotel F1 in France.
They are basic, cheap, no frills hotels and are all over the place in France. They are clean and usually sleep three people - a double bed with a single bunk over the top. Toilets and showers are shared. These hotels are great for overnight stops when you are on your way somewhere, but quite often they are out of town in retail parks or industrial areas. I normally have to pay between 30 - 35 euros.
There are other similar hotels - Premiere Classe, B&B, Etap (same as Formula 1 but ensuite bathroom and usually about 5 euros more per night), etc.
There are other similar hotels - Premiere Classe, B&B, Etap (same as Formula 1 but ensuite bathroom and usually about 5 euros more per night), etc.
Re: Hotel F1 in France.
They are in the main clean and warm. An instant travelers/reps hotel. Others are available on main routes. Dont sweat about accommodation in France unless you pick an event or national holiday to collide with. B) Small hotels and pensions are in abundance and usually very biker friendly, just go and leave time late afternoon to find somewhere then spend the evening exploring where you landed. 
The secret of a long life is knowing when its time to go.
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simon-vstrom
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2011 11:04 am
Re: Hotel F1 in France.
I’ve done two French tours, one last year to the Pyrenees and one the year before to the Alps. Both times I used F1 Hotels. For the price, you can’t beat them. The “price is the price” irrespectively if you book in advance or when you role up. The rates fluctuate according to seasons. Only once I turned-up at a F1 and was turned away as they were fully booked.
The shared toilet and shower are little pods/ cubicles off the main corridors, which get sanitised after each use. When you visit your first F1, grab their book which gives you details (including sat-nav coordinates) of all their Hotels. They are usually located on the edges of towns and cities, but at least you’re guaranteed parking!!
Etap is owned by the same group (Ibis) and like knobblywoobly said, it comes with an en-suite for a little more. If you pass one, grab their book too as this is great as a back-up.
All the F1 and Etap Hotels I’ve stayed in have a double with a single above (at right angles). They come with a TV, but not much else.
Happy travelling…
The shared toilet and shower are little pods/ cubicles off the main corridors, which get sanitised after each use. When you visit your first F1, grab their book which gives you details (including sat-nav coordinates) of all their Hotels. They are usually located on the edges of towns and cities, but at least you’re guaranteed parking!!
Etap is owned by the same group (Ibis) and like knobblywoobly said, it comes with an en-suite for a little more. If you pass one, grab their book too as this is great as a back-up.
All the F1 and Etap Hotels I’ve stayed in have a double with a single above (at right angles). They come with a TV, but not much else.
Happy travelling…
Re: Hotel F1 in France.
Couple of things.
They are usually in dodgy or industrial areas of town, and some are totally unmanned, you pay and get your room key at a machine, so take a decent chain to lock up your bike at night, and look round the car park to see where the CCTV is pointing.
Because they are shared bathrooms (usually one or two per floor), they can get pretty dirty by 9am. At busy times you'll need to queue, and your not long in there before you wonder how many verrucas you have picked up. Set your alarm for 5:45 am, get in there first and have your shower, then go back to bed for another 3 hours.
ETAP are the next level up, and usually have a little private en-suite wet room and a manned reception, so your bike is a bit safer parked near the door. IBIS is he next level above that.
See www.accorhotels.com for more details.
They are usually in dodgy or industrial areas of town, and some are totally unmanned, you pay and get your room key at a machine, so take a decent chain to lock up your bike at night, and look round the car park to see where the CCTV is pointing.
Because they are shared bathrooms (usually one or two per floor), they can get pretty dirty by 9am. At busy times you'll need to queue, and your not long in there before you wonder how many verrucas you have picked up. Set your alarm for 5:45 am, get in there first and have your shower, then go back to bed for another 3 hours.
ETAP are the next level up, and usually have a little private en-suite wet room and a manned reception, so your bike is a bit safer parked near the door. IBIS is he next level above that.
See www.accorhotels.com for more details.
"Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view" - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Re: Hotel F1 in France.
Premiere Classe is on suit, F1 Hotels are now called Lemond HOtels as the were sold off. Still good value. The Red Bufflow is a steack house chain that is often on the same estate. But for £25 good ,clean but always out a town.
Re: Hotel F1 in France.
News to me that.
Formule 1 and Hotel F1 are still on Accor Hotels website, searchable and bookable.
Red Bufflow - Do you mean Buffalo Grill? If so they are a bit like Frankie and Bennys here - overpriced and not great quality. Convenient, but better to get a cafe or bistro in town.
Formule 1 and Hotel F1 are still on Accor Hotels website, searchable and bookable.
Red Bufflow - Do you mean Buffalo Grill? If so they are a bit like Frankie and Bennys here - overpriced and not great quality. Convenient, but better to get a cafe or bistro in town.
"Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view" - Obi-Wan Kenobi
Re: Hotel F1 in France.
We used F1 and Etap hotels during our French trip in May this year. Next time I go, I will use Etaps, its worth the extra 5 euros to have your own toilet and shower imho.
Re: Hotel F1 in France.
Tony, there is two big hotel chains in France each with sub chains in each budget range;
Accor hotels has Formule 1 (no en suite) as basic budget, Etap is one step up with en suite, then Louvre hotels has Premiere classe to compete with formule 1 but like previously mentioned Premiere classe has en suite, next up for louvre is Kyriad and campanile, both a bit more expensive but you can usually find Kyriads in town centres rather than the out of town sites for Formule 1/Prem classe/Etap/Campanile. Also give Balladins a coat of looking at (similar to prem classe) Prices usually differ from weekday to weekend and depend also on closeness to tourist traps so you may find a posher Etap or Kyriad cheaper than a Formule 1/prem classe depending location.
Good luck and take care
Fatlad
Accor hotels has Formule 1 (no en suite) as basic budget, Etap is one step up with en suite, then Louvre hotels has Premiere classe to compete with formule 1 but like previously mentioned Premiere classe has en suite, next up for louvre is Kyriad and campanile, both a bit more expensive but you can usually find Kyriads in town centres rather than the out of town sites for Formule 1/Prem classe/Etap/Campanile. Also give Balladins a coat of looking at (similar to prem classe) Prices usually differ from weekday to weekend and depend also on closeness to tourist traps so you may find a posher Etap or Kyriad cheaper than a Formule 1/prem classe depending location.
Good luck and take care
Fatlad
