Eight of the best European hotel chains to try

Most of us are familiar with the big UK hotel chains - a large bed and a small bill at Premier Inn for example. But most UK holidaymakers have never heard of the German equivalent, Motel One - despite it being one of the biggest hotel brands in Europe. 

There are bargains in Spain, Portugal and France too. A typical Canarian lodge amid blooming tropical greenery in La Palma or a room in an 18th-century farmhouse in the Loire Valley, both for under £100. 

Here we reveal Europe’s lesser-known chains, whether you want grand palaces and castles, well-priced seaside resorts or a cheap stay with style.

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Luxury Paradors in Spain

Many of Spain’s grandest buildings are state-run hotels known as paradors. Some are luxurious and pricey, like Granada’s medieval palace turned convent, complete with Moorish tilework and baths (£397 a night), while others are bargains. Leon’s is a former monastery and hospice for pilgrims stuffed with antiques and art (£170), while La Palma’s is a Canarian-style mansion with a pool and lush tropical gardens (£97). 

The rooms aren’t usually as palatial as the buildings but come with modern comforts, including air-con. There are 103 dotted around mainland Spain and the Canaries. They’re not all in historic buildings; the modern ones are stylish mid-market hotels in scenic spots. Tenerife’s Parador de las Cañadas del Teide is one of the more modest – a mountain lodge – but the spectacular setting at the foot of the Canary island’s lunar-like volcano and superb stargazing makes up for the simple rooms and mediocre food. 

How to save Sign up free online for the ‘Amigo’ rate, which gives you a 5% discount and a free welcome drink on arrival. Over-55s get 10% off bed-and-breakfast rates. 

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Historic Pousadas in Portugal

You can sleep in a monastery, palace or castle in Portugal by booking a stay at a pousada. Around half are set in historic buildings. For example, Pousada de Lisboa used to be the Ministry of Interior and presides over Lisbon’s main square. 

Inside there’s a sauna, indoor pool and steak restaurant plus a stained glass staircase and opulent ballroom. When we checked, a classic room was £264 a night, including breakfast – only £50 more than a room at nearby Sofitel’s smart but bland Lisbon Liberdade. 

The rest are country houses, such as Pousada Caniçada (£156 including breakfast), a converted hunting lodge with panoramic views and a pool in Peneda-Gerês National Park in northern Portugal. Originally government-owned, pousadas are now run by the hotel group Pestana, which has lots of heritage hotels. 

How to save Get 10% when you sign up to Pestana’s guest club. 

Motel One - Germany’s budget chain 

This German chain has much more personality than your average budget brand and, despite the name, its hotels are often in city centres. Amsterdam’s Motel One has tulip-themed chairs, flowery carpets and ceilings, and a bicycle-shaped sculpture, while Manchester’s has a Britpop-themed bar. The rooms tend to be small and less exciting than the public areas, but all have the essentials including tea-making facilities. 

You’ll find Motel Ones’ in most European capitals and they’re ubiquitous in Germany. When we checked, a room at its Berlin-Alexanderplatz hotel was £117. All Motel One’s use renewable electricity and will soon be Green Key certified – a well-regarded eco-label. 

How to save You usually get the cheapest room rate if you book direct as it doesn’t sell cut-price rooms to booking sites. Sign up as a member for free breakfast. 

No frills Campanile

The lime-green logo is a common sight in cities, at airports and near motorways across France – where Campanile’s hotels are typically advertised as a three-star stay – but it’s also found in several other European countries, including the UK. 

Across the channel it’s long been synonymous with no-frills accommodation and better-than-average food. As well as a decent breakfast buffet, most Campaniles have a restaurant serving international and local fare. When we spot-checked several locations, room rates ranged from £80 to just over £150. 

How to save Get 10% off if you sign up to Campanile’s loyalty scheme. Over-60s get 10% off flexible room rates – use the promo code SENIOR10. 

What can you expect from a three-star stay? Hotel star ratings - in the UK and Europe - explained

Independent B&Bs and guesthouses with Logis Hotels

This 75-year-old French organisation has a fairly slick website listing 2,000 independent guesthouses (and restaurants) ranging from châteaux to city hotels - with a sprinkling in Belgium, Germany, Italy and Spain. Most are rural, family-run and have restaurants serving up typical dishes. 

As well as offering a warmer welcome than homogenous chains, Logis is often cheaper. A night at Auberge de Launay, a converted 18th-century farmhouse in the Loire Valley, was £69 for spring, while a nearby Ibis was around £90.

How to save The website says it will refund the difference if you can find a cheaper hotel – and it beat room rates on other booking sites when we checked. 

Bargain bed and breakfast with B&B Hotels

You’re never far from a B&B Hotel in France and there are also plenty to choose from in Germany, Italy and Spain. It usually gets the basics right: spotless rooms, comfy beds and free wi-fi. Rates vary hugely depending on location. 

A night at Florence’s Hotel Laurus al Duomo – where you can enjoy a view of Florence’s mighty cathedral while you eat breakfast – was £197 when we checked. A double room at Hotel Firenze City Centre - just a 15-minute walk away - was £119. Despite the name, the (variable) breakfast buffet isn’t always included.

How to save Book direct. Our spot checks found room rates were up to £56 cheaper on its website than on Booking.com.

Slick seaside stays at Barceló

Despite being across the world, Barceló’s mid-range coastal resorts don’t feel mass produced. Adults-only Teguisé Beach Hotel in Lanzarote has sugar cube buildings in keeping with the Canary island’s traditional architecture, while terracotta-hued, adobe-style Barceló Tenerife nods to its desert surrounds. 

Bigger hotels have à la carte restaurants, beach and pool bars, and rooms are generously kitted out with amenities and toiletries. When we checked, half-board at Lanzarote’s Teguisé Beach was £176 a night, while the all-inclusive rate was £268.

How to save Book direct and Barceló will match the price if the rate on its website drops (up to 72 hours before check-in).

European resorts at H10

This Spanish chain’s mid-range beach hotels tick all the boxes: pools surrounded by sun loungers and palm trees, a raft of buffet and à la carte restaurants and bars, activities for all ages and a spa. They typically have bright, spacious rooms and more character than many resorts. There are 19 in the Canary Islands alone, of which half a dozen are child-free. 

When we checked, a night at Hotel Rubicon Palace in Lanzarote, which has eight pools and four restaurants, cost £164 for half-board and £234 for an all-inclusive stay in April. H10 also has chic city and heritage hotels, such as Venice’s Palazzo Canova. It seems to be making genuine efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and 90% of its hotels now use renewable electricity.

How to save Its website offered cheaper prices than booking sites when we looked. You get a 5% discount and welcome cocktail if you sign up for its loyalty programme, Club H10. 

Four tips for booking a European hotel stay

1. Check reviews

Do some research on your specific hotel of choice. The brand may be the same, but the quality can vary from property to property. 

2. Compare room rates

We found that hotels’ own websites usually offer lower prices than the big booking platforms. 

3. Use the right card

You’ll probably pay in euros, so remember to use a card that doesn’t charge for foreign transactions, such as Starling or First Direct. These are the best debit cards to use abroad in 2024.

4. Look out for loyalty schemes

Many are free to join and offer perks like room upgrades, booking discounts and free drinks.