 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm driving out to the PdS on boxing day, to arrive on the 27th. I arrive quite late in France, around 8pm, but would like to knock off as much of the journey as I can that evening. I could do Troyes in about 3 hrs and stop at the Formule1 there, but the reception closes at 9pm.
I see from their website that they have
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| 24 hours out of 24 and 7 days out of 7, the Automatic Rooms Dispenser*, placed in the entrance of the hotel, enables you to access your room thanks to the bank card with which you made your booking on the Internet. |
Has anyone used these automatic dispensers? Is it just a case of 'checking in' by swiping your card and getting the key automatically?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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We used one of these last year. They are a little strange.
When you arrive you use your booking ref and card to 'check in'. This then gives a print out showing the front door code, your room number and the code to get into your room. There are a couple of large vending machines in the lobby with various food, drinks and other travel essentials. I think there was also a microwave for the ready meals.
The rooms are very basic.
In the morning there is breakfast, and staff are around.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| feef wrote: |
| Has anyone used these automatic dispensers? Is it just a case of 'checking in' by swiping your card and getting the key automatically? |
Yes and Yes.
The other chain hotels have automatic checkin too and have en-suite bathrooms. I have used all the Hotel BBs in Troyes on the way out to the Alps.
There was a time when the F1 system was a lot more reliable than any of the others but I haven't had a problem for a few years.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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They are common at many of the budget hotels in France. Used them quite a bit.
Last winter, arriving at midnight at one hotel in Bethune we found the machine was out of order - fortunately the staff were waiting up for us.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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scski, we stayed at a Hotel-BB, not an F1 
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davidof, I wasn't aware of the Premiere Classe hotels, and they offer the same automated checkin which is cool. I'm well aware of how basic F1 is as I've used them before, just not the automatic checkin, but at €35 a Premiere Classe is hardly going to break the bank.
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I've used Premiere Classe in Rennes. Basic (very), but clean is about the best way to describe it. If F1 is even more basic then that would be below my limit I think.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yes, I've used the machine to get a late room at several of the French hotel chains. Not when I've booked (I rarely book - just turn up when I feel like getting off the road). I did once find a Frenchman on his knees in front of his door in a F1. He'd clearly not read the instructions about how to open the door. Having just negotiated my own I offered to help. He looked a bit startled (maybe thought this was a new form of proposition) but thanked me politely when I opened the door for him and was probably mighty relieved when I went on my way.
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F1 Hotels have a shared bathroom/toilet in the corridor, whereas the Premiere Classe have this in the room for your use only  Used both and the automatic check in is quite easy, never crossed any Frenchmen as Pam w stated though!!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Premiere Classe is looking more attractive. It's been a while since I had to do a stopover like this, so it's interesting to see how much the budget hotel market has moved on
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Having spent plenty of time in youth hostels and campsites in my time I do not suffer from the absolute Shock Horror of some snowheads at the thought of shared facilities.  I prefer my own, obviously - who wouldn't - but if the F1 is closest and has a room, that's OK. The IBIS Budget chain is good. I rarely have breakfast at any of them - I tend to get on the road early then stop after an hour or two at an aire, depending on how hungry I get.
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| pam w wrote: |
| then stop after an hour or two at an aire |
for a wee wee? After a crossed-leg night in an F1 you'd need it.
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You know it makes sense.
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After a crossed-leg night in an F1 you'd need it
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they do have toilets in F1, oddly enough. And usually clean, IME. As I said, for somebody quite accustomed to camp sites and youth hostels sharing a loo is not too traumatic and I'd prefer not to pay €40 to do it without walking a few metres down a corridor. The length of time I spent in an overnight stop on the drive to and from the alps I usually only need one or two.
I wonder how the people who can't bear to share facilities cope at a mountain restaurant when they stop for a coffee or lunch?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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pam w, Does the automatic checkin allow you to just turn up and get a room without booking then? even better if that's the case.
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Poster: A snowHead
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feef, Yes. Assuming they have a room free. We always in advance, gives a target to aim for and a guaranteed bed once there. We used to just turn up, but after one or two difficulties (taking hours to find somewhere) we don't risk it anymore.
In fact, next Saturday night we are in the BB in Troyes - we were booked into the MrBed but having read the reviews we thought better of it
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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A mate of mine used one of their hotels once. Not saying the walls are thin but he said he could hear the guy next door slurping his cup of tea.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I've only used F1 once. Checked in seamlessly, went straight to my room, dumped bags and straight off to the shower, which whilst communal and down the corridor was clean and decent enough. I went all "European" and left my clothes in my room, so post-shower returned to my room wearing nothing but my towel clutching shampoo bottle in hand, only to realise I'd forgotten the room combination code and was locked out in the corridor (much to the amusement of the girls opposite).
Fortunately someone still happened to be at reception (which was only manned during limited hours) and able to give me my code again.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Does the automatic checkin allow you to just turn up and get a room without booking then? even better if that's the case.
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yes, if they have rooms free, and I'm sure the same would be true of other chains.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| pam w wrote: |
I wonder how the people who can't bear to share facilities cope at a mountain restaurant when they stop for a coffee or lunch? |
Wedge the gondola door open with a ski pole and p1ss on the slopes below through the gap, and you?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I wonder how the people who can't bear to share facilities cope at a mountain restaurant when they stop for a coffee or lunch?
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It's more the hassle of having to get up, get dressed and leave the room to have a pee in the middle of the night. Oh, and getting into a soggy wet shower cubicle after someone else has has used it.
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sat 18-10-14 17:11; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| davidof wrote: |
| pam w wrote: |
I wonder how the people who can't bear to share facilities cope at a mountain restaurant when they stop for a coffee or lunch? |
Wedge the gondola door open with a ski pole and p1ss on the slopes below through the gap, and you? |
You've been living in France too long
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pam w, if I am in my own room, I don't need to put anything on.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Hells Bells, I do agree it's nicer to have your own room, though I always wear PJs anyway. But I am willing to slip a pair of shoes on and walk along a corridor to earn €40 in 5 minutes.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| pam w wrote: |
I'm happy to do that to save enough for a good supper. |
I'm tempted, the F1 in Troyes is 19 euros, compared to 35 for the 1ere classe. For 16 euros difference, hmmm that's a steak and chips and a glass of bordeaux, I could pee out the window.
Where Pam gets her 40 euros from I don't know?
Normally the difference between F1 and 1ere Classe is in the 3-6 euros bracket.
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lol @ gondola cabin no comment about the time I found out that the last Waterloo - Guildford train via Oxshott doesn't have conveniences, after a night out up town.
foot was well placed to avoid amputation
not sure I trust a machine to give me a room key at 1am after an 8 hour drive.
only one I did stay at with the key dispenser was Leipzig Etap (before the refurb to Ibis Budget). jobsworth there refused to serve me because I arrived 15mins before reception opened. he sat outside the door until 17:59:59 reading his paper. I sat out side the door until 17:59:59 waiting for him to finish reading his paper. machine doesn't operate until 18:00 (or maybe whenever reception closes).
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You know it makes sense.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
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I wonder how the people who can't bear to share facilities cope at a mountain restaurant when they stop for a coffee or lunch?
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It's more the hassle of having to get up, get dressed and leave the room to have a pee in the middle of the night. Oh, and getting into a soggy wet shower cubicle after someone else has used it. |
I don't have an ensuite at home and I don't wait for the shower curtain to dry after my son's had a wash.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Nor do I feef, it's strangers being in the bathroom that is the issue. I'm fine if I'm staying in a friend's house for example, but have had bad experience in the past in shared facilities like this. Let's just say I left without using the bathroom at all after I opened the door. I really, really wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth, I shared one bath and loo with 5 others, but they are family.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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>> Has anyone used these automatic dispensers
We tried to stay in a Formula1 just outside Paris one summer using the automated dispenser. it was 1am when we got there. The English button didn't work so all the text was in French. I couldn't make head nor tail of what it was trying to tell me... but I understood enough to know that it didn't like my credit card... My wife took a look through the doors and saw people trapseing around in their PJs going to the bathroom... and was immediately turned off. So I drove into the centre of Paris to a hotel near the Champs that we'd stayed at a few years earlier... and we booked in at 2am!
Since then, when driving down for skiing, we (as a family) all agree that it is nicer to catch an hour's sleep in the car and continue driving down to the resort rather than "brave" the experience of a F1.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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jamescollings, there was a time when it was always wise to travel with a bunch of credit cards in France, but these days it's generally easier, with universal chip 'n pin. I rarely have fewer than 3 though, one of them French.
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My wife took a look through the doors and saw people trapseing around in their PJs going to the bathroom..
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those were the better class of guest - the others pee in the basin.
Off the beaten track (and 1 am at Formule 1 qualifies for the description) it does make life easier if you speak just a bit of French. Imagine a non English-speaking Frenchman trying to find a bed in Redcar at 1 am.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| jamescollings wrote: |
>> Has anyone used these automatic dispensers
We tried to stay in a Formula1 just outside Paris one summer using the automated dispenser. it was 1am when we got there. The English button didn't work so all the text was in French. I couldn't make head nor tail of what it was trying to tell me... but I understood enough to know that it didn't like my credit card... My wife took a look through the doors and saw people trapseing around in their PJs going to the bathroom... and was immediately turned off. So I drove into the centre of Paris to a hotel near the Champs that we'd stayed at a few years earlier... and we booked in at 2am!
Since then, when driving down for skiing, we (as a family) all agree that it is nicer to catch an hour's sleep in the car and continue driving down to the resort rather than "brave" the experience of a F1. |
I'm comfortable speaking French, and seeing folk in PJs in a hotel that has shared facilities is kinda par for the course. I don't see it as anything that has to be 'braved'. Certainly more civilised than sleeping in the car
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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pam w, they wouldn't find one in Redcar and the B&B would have locked the door hours ago
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Hells Bells, I thought they might have found a bed in redcar at 1:00am...but it might have only been for an hour
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Renowned as the place in France where travelling salesmen go to masturbate or commit suicide....
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the deaders presumably don't make it to the breakfast room. I have seen some ski families traipsing in with all the gear they don't want to leave in the car. I've seen some with an electric kettle. Personally I CBA though I usually take my laptop in.
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Best past of Premiere Classe in Rennes is the proximity to the chinese buffet!
BB are worth a look- we booked into one in Dijon on Boxing Day after deciding we were too tired to drive all the way to Morzine.
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FAQ
not nice.
) was, to my shame, my son. We did clean it up though and our fellow guests were very understanding and tolerant.
