Premier Inn vs Travelodge and ibis: five rates, free kids' breakfasts, a sleep guarantee

Shopping at Premier Inn? See all current Premier Inn discount codes and deals, checked regularly.

At Premier Inn, up to two children stay free with a full-paying adult, two under-16s eat breakfast free when an adult orders a full breakfast, and if you don't get a good night's sleep you can claim a refund. For families and anyone who sleeps badly in hotels, those are three strong reasons to book. Owned by Whitbread, it started life as Travel Inn in 1987, merged with Premier Lodge after Whitbread bought it in 2004, and has traded as Premier Inn since 2007. Today it has more than 800 hotels across the UK and beyond, plus hub by Premier Inn in London and Edinburgh and the new, lower-priced ZIP by Premier Inn.

We've compared Premier Inn with two of its best-known rivals, Travelodge and ibis, on price, flexibility, food, families and extras, using each chain's own website.

Rates that let you choose how flexible to be

Premier Inn gives you five rates to choose from, and the price reflects how much flexibility you want:

• Flex: pay now or on arrival, with free cancellation and a full refund up to 1pm on the day you arrive.
• Semi-Flex: pay now, fully refundable up to three full days before arrival.
• Advance: pay now, fully refundable up to 28 full days before arrival.
• Standard: pay now and non-refundable, but you can still move your check-in date at the same hotel up to 1pm on arrival day (you may pay more for the new date).
• Non-Flex: pay now, with no amends or refunds.

Every rate except Non-Flex lets you move your check-in date at the same hotel up to 1pm on arrival day, though the new date may cost more. The middle options are the difference. Travelodge offers a non-refundable Saver rate and a Flexible rate you can cancel until noon on the day of arrival. ibis also has a flexible rate with free cancellation. Neither advertises an equivalent of Premier Inn's Advance or Semi-Flex rates, which give you some of the saving of a fixed booking with a safety net if plans change.

Price: book direct and book early

Premier Inn sets prices by demand, so there's no single headline price. It says its lowest-priced rooms are usually available when booked well in advance, that Friday and Sunday nights are often cheapest, and that its lowest rates are only on premierinn.com and its app. It doesn't hold rooms back for phone or walk-in bookings.

If you only need somewhere simple to sleep, ZIP by Premier Inn has small, no-frills rooms from £25 a night, currently in Cardiff, with breakfast for £4.50.

For comparison, Travelodge is advertising autumn rooms at £35 or less (from £49 in London) for stays until 23 December, booked direct, with limited availability on some nights. ibis members get up to 10% off when they book direct.

Breakfast and dinner, sorted

The unlimited Premier Inn Breakfast costs from £10.99 per adult (some restaurants charge £11.99 or £13.99), and a lighter continental breakfast is from £9.99. Up to two under-16s eat breakfast free when an adult orders a full Premier Inn Breakfast or a Meal Deal.

If you'll eat in, the Meal Deal covers a two-course dinner, a selected drink and the next morning's breakfast from £27.99, which Premier Inn says saves up to 30%. It's available at selected hotels and you add it when you book.

At Travelodge, the Unlimited Breakfast is served at hotels with a Bar Café, up to two under-15s eat for £1 each with each full-paying adult, and a grab-and-go Breakfast Box costs £6.95. Its meal deal pairs a main with a side or dessert from £14.99. ibis hotels serve buffet breakfasts.

Built for families

Up to two children stay free with a full-paying adult, subject to availability. Family rooms have a king-size bed for the adults and two pull-out or sofa beds for children, and travel cots are free (bring your own baby bedding). Some hotels also have interconnecting rooms, which you can check by calling the hotel.

Add free breakfast for two under-16s, and a family of four can often stay, sleep and eat breakfast for the price of one room and two adult breakfasts. Travelodge's £1 kids' breakfast comes close, but Premier Inn's is free.

A guarantee on your sleep

If you don't get a good night's sleep, tell reception during your stay. If they can't fix the problem, Premier Inn's Good Night Guarantee lets you claim a refund for that night within seven days of check-out. Neither Travelodge nor ibis advertises anything similar on its website.

Other useful extras:

• Free Wi-Fi in every hotel, with Ultimate Wi-Fi at £6 for 24 hours.
• 24-hour reception, plus online check-in in the app at selected hotels 48 hours before you arrive.
• Early check-in from 11am for a fee, where available.
• Premier Plus rooms at over 200 UK hotels, with air conditioning, a mini-fridge, a coffee machine and faster Wi-Fi in most.

Where the others have the edge

Premier Inn isn't the right choice for everyone:

• Loyalty points: ibis is part of Accor's ALL programme, so members earn points and get a members' rate. Premier Inn has no points scheme for leisure guests; its discounts of up to 15% off the Flex rate are for Premier Inn Business accounts.
• Price matching: ibis has a best price guarantee: find a lower price elsewhere and it will match it and give a further discount. Premier Inn instead says its lowest rates are only on its own website.
• Longer stays: ibis advertises savings when you book three nights or more.
• A quick, cheap breakfast: Travelodge's £6.95 Breakfast Box is handy if you're leaving early.
• Going abroad: ibis has more than 2,500 hotels worldwide, and Travelodge also has hotels in Spain. Premier Inn's 800+ hotels are mostly in the UK and Ireland, with some in Germany and the Middle East.
• Pets: apart from assistance dogs, Premier Inn doesn't allow pets.

Who Premier Inn suits best

Premier Inn is a strong pick for families, thanks to kids staying and eating breakfast free, and for anyone who wants to fix a good price but keep a way out, using the Advance or Semi-Flex rates. It also suits business travellers who can use Premier Inn Business. If you collect hotel points, travel abroad a lot or bring a dog, look at the alternatives above.

Your questions answered

Can I pay when I arrive at a Premier Inn?

Yes, on the Flex rate at Premier Inn hotels. Flex bookings at hub and ZIP, and all other rates, are paid when you book.

What time are check-in and check-out?

Standard check-in is from 3pm, with paid early check-in from 11am at some hotels. Check-out is by 12 noon, and reception is open 24/7.

Is it cheaper to book Premier Inn through another website?

Premier Inn says its lowest room rates are only available on premierinn.com and its app, and you won't find them on price comparison websites.

Ways to save at Premier Inn

Book early and compare the different rates, look at Friday or Sunday nights, and add a Meal Deal if you'll eat in. Families should check the family rooms and the offers page. We've picked out six Premier Inn deals worth knowing about this week, and you'll find every current offer on our Premier Inn voucher codes page.

Sources: Premier Inn, Premier Inn rates, Premier Inn offers, Premier Inn Meal Deal, Premier Inn breakfast, Premier Inn families, Good Night Guarantee, Premier Inn arriving and departing, Premier Inn payments, ZIP by Premier Inn, Wikipedia: Premier Inn, Travelodge, Travelodge promotion terms, Travelodge breakfast, ibis, ibis on ALL Accor

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