Exploring Unique Stays on a Road Trip
Have you ever wanted to pack your bags, hit the open road, and explore the beautiful landscapes of Europe? We did just that on our recent road trip through France, Spain, and Portugal, stopping at some fascinating hotels along the way.
Whether you’re planning a similar adventure or just curious about these unique stays, this guide is for you. We’ll give you the inside scoop on each hotel, sharing the highs and lows of our experiences, so you can decide which places might be worth a visit.
Our first stop was in the charming town of Poitiers, where we stayed at the Contact Hotel Come Inn. If you’re looking for luxury, this might not be your first choice, but it certainly has its own charm. The rooms were pretty basic, almost feeling like a hostel. Unfortunately, our wardrobe door took a tumble when we opened it, adding a touch of slapstick comedy to our stay. No air conditioning, but fans were provided—one with a cracked casing.
While the bathroom light decided to take a permanent vacation, breakfast saved the day. Simple, yet filling, it offered a comforting start to our travels. For two rooms, we paid £135 for one night. Our verdict? A solid 5/10. It was a place to rest our heads, but not much more. I didn’t remember to take any pictures but this is the nightmare junction I found whilst looking for somewhere to park and get food in Poitiers. It was a gorgeous area but hard to park especially as we had only began our road trip driving in France that day!
Valladolid’s Hotel Conde Ansurez
Next, we travelled to Valladolid, driving into Spain for the first time. We checked into the Hotel Conde Ansurez on the outskirts of the city. Here, we found comfort and a touch of luxury that made us feel at home. The rooms were thoughtfully designed, offering both essentials and a few surprises, like plush pillows. Priced at £126 for two rooms per night, it felt like a steal.
The only downside was the restaurant, where vegetarians might feel as though they’d entered a meat lover’s paradise. Beef cheeks, anyone? There was literally nothing vegetarian available and the staff had no ideas where we could go for something. We ended up driving to a Burger King!
Despite the culinary hiccup, we rated this hotel 8/10. With a better dining experience, it could have easily been a 9.
Muthu Oura Praia Hotel, Albufeira
Who doesn’t love a good beachside escape? After driving from Valladolid in Spain through the mountains we entered Portugal and drove through Portugal down to Albufeira. By the time we arrived it was hot and we were ready for a few days off driving! In Albufeira, we stayed for six nights at the Muthu Oura Praia Hotel. Our all-inclusive experience was both a hit and a miss.
The hotel was nice, reasonably clean but the all inclusive was very disappointing as the hotel itself only had one restaurant that was not available every evening and was quite specific (a sushi restaurant) and only had a pool bar 11-6, no other food or drinks were available without having to go to other hotels in the chain.
One of the hotels was next door but others were a 20 minute walk away down (and then back up!) an extremely steep hill. The food in the other hotels were nice but this was very sneaky I felt calling our hotel all inclusive when it actually wasn’t. The pool was lovely and the room had everything we needed. Overall I would give this hotel 7.5/10 due to the food and drink issues.
The room and pool, however, were nice and relaxing by them was perfect. Despite the food and drink issues, we gave this hotel a 7.5/10. It’s a lovely spot if you don’t mind a bit of an adventure to find a meal.
Ibis Madrid Fuenlabrada
In Madrid, we were warmly welcomed at the Ibis Fuenlabrada, a hotel that ticked all our boxes. The service was impeccable, and the rooms were both comfortable and affordable—£187 for two rooms over two nights, with breakfast included. It’s hard to beat that kind of value.
We enjoyed the delicious breakfast and the hotel’s proximity to Madrid’s attractions. We got an Uber into Madrid which was nice as we wanted a day off driving. Our rating? A well-deserved 9/10, making it a must-visit for anyone heading to Spain’s capital.
Bordeaux’s Comfort Aparthotel Bordeaux Begles Arena
Heading back to France, we spent some time at the Comfort Aparthotel Bordeaux Begles Arena. This hybrid between a hotel and an apartment offered practicality and space, although privacy in the apartment was a bit lacking with its open-plan layout. The kitchen area was a nice touch, perfect for those who like to cook basic meals in the room.
Breakfast wasn’t included, but we tried it once—and once was enough due to the extra cost. the food was nice but certainly not worth the extra we paid. We paid £185 for two nights, finding it fair value. Overall, we rated it 6/10. It’s fine for a short stay, especially if you plan to spend your days exploring Bordeaux. It is probably a perfect hotel for workers doing business in Bordeaux and less suitable for families.
Look how beautiful Bordeaux is though – no picture of the hotel as it didn’t look that exciting!
Premiere Classe Le Havre Centre les Docks
Our final stop was in Le Havre at the Premiere Classe Le Havre Centre les Docks. This hotel, located in a residential area, offered simple but comfortable rooms. We suggest paying for parking unless you enjoy neighbourhood football!
Though it lacked air conditioning, the continental breakfast was a pleasant surprise. For £118 for two rooms over two nights, it was incredible value. We gave it a 9/10, it could have been more with air conditioning.
Reflecting on Our Hotel Journey
Overall, our road trip through France, Spain, and Portugal introduced us to a mixed bag of hotel experiences. Each stop offered something unique, whether it was the quirky charm of Contact Hotel Come Inn or the welcoming warmth of Ibis Madrid Fuenlabrada.
For those planning a similar adventure, we hope our experiences provide useful insights into choosing your road trip stays. And if you’re curious about any of these hotels, feel free to reach out, I’d love to share more stories from our travels!
