Review of Hotel Ibis: London Euston Station

Way back in the days before the Internet was widely used, word of mouth was often the way people would find out about great, out of the way hotels. And that's is the way I found out about The Ibis chain of hotels, and in particular, one of their London locations located across from Euston Station. It was 1995 and I was a few months into my first "real job." (Real by the way at the time for me meant no uniform, name tag, and having a cubicle. In actuality, it was my first "office job" complete with a cage that upper management referred to as my cubicle).

Anyway, in this first "real job" I befriend the only other young person in the office, Catherine. She was funny, witty, and a bit crazy so I knew we'd be friends (and we are still great friends to this day but no longer work together). Because we both started around the same time, we both got our one year's vacation of two weeks available to us to take around the same time. We decided to go somewhere together. The possibilities were endless. After all, we both were now "office folk" with our own cubicles and even a salary of almost $16,000 a year! (no more hourly for us! Ha!) Maybe a week in New York City or Miami Beach? Or, were we bold enough to dream bigger? Maybe Europe?! Overhearing our planning as we talked over cubicle walls, a coworker, Irene chimed in. You see, Irene is the kind of person who's been everywhere, done everything, and knows everything there is to know about everything under the sun. Irene reached into her desk drawer and pulled out a little booklet about the Hotel Ibis Euston Station. 'Stay here" she said. "Not that I've ever stayed there, I prefer more upscale hotels" Irene added. Indeed she does prefer more upscale hotels. During her last trip to London, on which he picked up the booklet at the airport, her hotel overlooked Buckingham Palace.

The Ibis chain, you see, is a budget conscious chain. Not many frills; no swimming pool, no spa, and no free cocktail receptions in the lobby. Having traveled to London and other places in Europe growing up (I'm a Navy brat) I know that by American standards, it's hit or miss in Europe. Shared bathrooms are common in hotels, but the Hotel Ibis promised in-room bathrooms, and from the picture it looked clean and modern.

So we took Irene's advice and "rang up," as they say in London, the hotel to book a room (two beds of course as Catherine and I were just friends). Upon arrival at London Gatwick, we took the Victoria Express train service to London Victoria station. From there, we were able to take the tube to Euston Station. The Northern Line tube stops at Euston Station. It's only a few stops from Victoria and the rest of the tourist rich West End of London so it's a convenient location for a London stay. Arriving at Euston Station, we easily found the Hotel Ibis by following the signs. It's just across the street in a mostly residential, quiet area.

The lobby was small and clean. There was a restaurant and a bar and not much more. The staff checking us in was friendly and mostly French; the Hotel Ibis is owned by a French hospitality company, Accor. The room itself was small, very small, but clean and modern and there was an in-room bathroom with the best shower I've ever had. The water pressure is amazing! There was only one bed, however, and the front desk did not have a two bed room available even though I had booked two beds weeks in advance. (Actually I suspect Catherine may have called the hotel and changed the reservation to one room, but I'm not sure).

But who cares about one bed or two, for 54.00 GBP a night the hotel was a fantastic value. This price was back in 1996 and has since gone up. I've stayed at the Hotel Ibis Euston Station many times since. Most recently last year and the rate was around 80 GBP per night. In fact, when I have to go to Europe, and it's not a business trip where someone else if footing the bill for a fancy hotel, I stay at a Hotel Ibis. I've stayed at another London location, in the Docklands, in addition to locations in Paris and Amsterdam. I've always been happy with the hotel, the room, and the service. It's simple, clean, and modern. What more could an American ask for?! Thanks, Irene!

The Hotel Ibis Euston Station London is located at 3 Cardington Street London, NW1 2LW, United Kingdom. You can call them directly at +44 20 7388 7777 or visit their website at http://www.ibishotel.com/gb/hotel-0921-ibis-london-euston-st-pancras/index.shtml.

Tip: Ask for a room not facing Cardington Street. This is the road between the hotel and the railway station. And as there are trains coming and going all night, you will hear "bing, bing, bing... Now boarding service to Manchester track seven" but not the trains themselves. Rooms facing the side streets or on the interior I've found are quiet all night long).