Cheap Hotels in Belfast

So i was reading today on http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/1105/ibis.html that a new hotel chain is opening in Belfast with a £12 million investment by the hotel chain IBIS and the creation of 50 jobs here in Belfast. This is great news for anyone looking for new hotels in Belfast in the near future because as we all know the more choice the better. It’s actually two new hotels that are being built and it’s thought one of them will be going into the Queens quarter. Ive always wondered if Belfast has had enough hotels to cope with the sudden waves of tourists and visitors we get from time to time and also if we really have enough competition in the hotels market to keep prices down. On the whole i think prices are quite good compared with the rest of the UK like Cardiff for example but prices in the city centre can still be very expensive depending on where you want to stay.

Many people these days are plumping for out of town guesthouses as a cheaper alternative to a hotel in the centre of the city. For instance i recently stayed in Parkview guesthouse on the Cave Hill road (outskirts of Belfast) because it was so cheap. I think its actually one of the cheapest places to stay in the whole city if you discount hostels etc as the room was only £35 for the night with en-suite which i thought was really good value. Compared to most accommodation in the centre of Belfast which would be twice or sometimes three times the price i thought it was a bargain. I know some people may resent having to travel to get back into the city but it was only a 5 minute taxi ride. Also you have to consider that most people end up getting a taxi back to their hotel anyway even if it is in the centre they are off seeing the sights or are on a night out and dont want to/cant walk back. Very few people want to just stay in the area around their hotel anyway so i often don’t see the sense in paying extra just for location.

Also i have to keep in mind i was only in the guesthouse for a very short time. I mean that i literally went there got dressed and then hit the bars. So for me as long as it was a comfortable place to sleep it didn’t matter the location or any of the facilities that they had as i wouldn’t have had time to notice anyway!

On another note im wondering how busy many of the hotels around here are going to be over the holiday season. I know from insiders (i have spies everywhere) that hotel bookings for December are down compared to last year which i suppose in many ways is not surprising given the present economic climate. At the same time i know many tourist dependant businesses are hoping for big things in the New Year. One thing i hope to see a lot more of are the big discounts to the more exclusive hotels like The Merchant et al as i really think they need to do more to tempt people into these places in the first place. I know for alot of hotels in Belfast that the biggest problem is getting news about their offers out there so people can book. Word of mouth still seems to be one of the best ways to get the message across and in today’s social network world why don’t we see more hotels announce deals and run competitions on twitter and facebook? Still im sure they will catch up with the rest of us soon. Until next time

Hotels in Belfast, News belfast, Discount, Hotels, location, News, Parkview, The Merchant

So the first step with any type of search for accomodation is to work out what kind of hotel/apartment/hostel you are looking for. Realisticly if you are looking for a cheap hotel it is going to be 3 star or below (although i have seen very good discounts on 4 star hotels). Prices have gone up in some respects for accommodation in Belfast city centre mainly becuase there are so many new tourists visting the city these days. So with this in mind i have compiled a short list of some really good budget places to stay in the city in no particular order. (All prices are for a standard en-suite double room)

• Days hotel Belfast. This hotel in situated very close to the city centre and has good access to many of the main bars and clubs if thats your thing. Its very close the Europa but is a fraction of the price as around £60 per night.

• Travelodge Belfast. Big hotel chain that operates right accross the uk and has an established name in Belfast. The accommodation is situated in the student area of the city and repesents really good value at around £55 for a weekday. It is however about 20-25 min walk from the city centre.

• Bestwestern Wellington Park Hotel. This is the only 4 star hotel in the list but i think it represnets great value if you are willing to spend a little extra. It is situated right beside one of Belfasts best pubs “The Bot”. While it is not in the city centre it is a great area with the Queens University right down the street. Prices start at around £90 per night.

As you can see it is possible to find cheap accommodation in Belfast if you are willing to look around for it. Also work out what your main priorities are when you are booking and where you need the hotel to be located in order for you to have to best holiday possible. Also as a side note more and more people are renting cars when they are visiting the city, so you may want to check out Car Hire In Belfast before you arrive as there are some great deals to be had if you book early.

Booking advice, Hotels in Belfast, location Accommodation, Bestwestern, Cheap, Days hotel, Travelodge

The Europa is one of the premier hotels in Belfast both due to its history and its amazing location right in the centre of the city. Its location really couldn’t be better as it is situated right next to the Grand Opera House and some very famous bars. The most famous is one of Belfasts oldest bars “The Crown” and also “Robinsons” which is right across the the street. The Europa also has the very dubious honour of being the most bombed hotel in Europe!

The Hotel also features a Brassiere which is open for around 18 hours a day to the general public. There is also a piano bar and great bespoke entertainment on certain nights of the week. One of the most stunning things about the hotel is also the architecture which is recognisable from the very second you see it. Even though this hotel looks really expensive its actually considered reasonably cheap accommodation in belfast by most people as your only talking about £80 per night which is very good for a hotel in the centre. The hotel really lends itself well to the overall theme of the city and is usually somewhere lots of tourists visit even if they are not staying there.

Hotels, Hotels in Belfast, Reviews belfast, City centre, Europa, Review

When you are touring Belfast you should make sure to check out some of the famous tourist spots like St. Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast City Hall, Waterfront Hall, the Grand Opera House and the Queen’s University. The Zoo, which is a must visit is a bit far away and though you can reach there by cab, it is recommended that you take a bus. This helps you to familiarize yourself more with the city and mingle with its citizens and at the same time it is also far cheaper than a cab. There are some other options too. You can check out for a cheap car rental service and use that to drive your way round the various tourist spots. There are some agencies which also offer cycles on hire, these are quite cheap and help you exercise as well.

Remember the locals are your best help and guide, so try to get in touch with as many locals as possible and ask your way around the city. This is the best way of touring a city like Belfast which has quite a number of landmarks like the “Belfast City Hall” which is an architectural relight as well as an important building since it houses the Belfast City Council. There are guided tours available for the interior of this building. You might also like checking out on the “Albert Memorial Clock”. This clock has an amazing height of 35 meters and it situated right on Victoria Street. The crowned lions along with their shields and the floral motifs on this clock make for an unforgettable experience.

Hotels in Belfast, Things to do, Transport