Every time my partner, Marc, and I travel, we often check and see if the city we are visiting has an IBIS hotel in it. That or a NOVOTEL, the more upscale version of the IBIS. I must say, this chain has been heaven sent to us. The IBIS, without any doubt, make it very easy and affordable for us to travel within Europe and Asia.

To date we have stayed in a number of IBIS Hotels. Most charge within the $50 to $150 range. It was in Vienna Messe during our last trip to Austria did we pay just 35 euros per night or a very cheap rate of $50 while the most we ever paid for a room in this chain was in Melbourne for approximately $130 a night.

The IBIS is a budget hotel and that is just fine with us. When we travel, we are big on the sights and attractions while hotels for us are simply places to rest and sleep in. We really hardly stay in them. We leave early in the morning to sightsee and return very late afternoon or early evening. Hence, staying in a pretty fancy hotel, while wonderful, is not high in our list of priorities.

What we do require is that the IBIS be centrally located and it be in a very safe area. I do need to inform you that IBIS hotel rooms are small, very small, with equally small closets (if any) and tiny bathrooms. If the tiny room size doesn't bother you, then you and the IBIS might just be a fit.

Do we exclusively stay in IBIS hotels every time we travel? Most certainly not! We always compare prices and if ever there is a better quality hotel but similarly priced and equally centrally located as the IBIS, then we go for the non-IBIS hotel.