Is a Premier Inn Plus room worth it – I paid extra to see what you actually get

I decided to spend a bit extra on a recent UK break by booking a Premier Inn Plus room to see if it was worth it compared to a standard room at the budget hotel chain

If you’re after a cheap stay in the UK, there’s no shortage of budget hotel options. The likes of Travelodge, ibis Budget and easyHotels all offer plenty of no-frills rooms that are cheap and have the basics you need for an overnight stay. However I’ve personally always leant towards a Premier Inn as I’ve never had a bad experience, the rooms are decent and clean, and I think it does offer good value for money.

In recent years, budget hotel chains have been upping their game with slightly fancier rooms – such as Travelodge’s Super Rooms – which include a few extra perks, from larger rooms to upgraded Wi-Fi. These come at an extra cost, but when I planned a trip to Stirling, I spotted that Premier Inn’s version, Premier Inn Plus, was only an extra £20 compared to standard rooms (£117 compared to £97), so I figured that it was worth giving it a go, as the cost didn’t feel too awful if I ended up being nonplussed.

Ultimately, it’s a decision I didn’t regret; I was very quickly won over by the upgrade.

The main perks

For me there were four main perks that came with the fancier room. The first was the size of the room; it instantly feels more spacious than other Premier Inn rooms where I’ve stayed. The room had plenty of space for the bed, armchair and footrest, vanity area and a desk, and I didn’t struggle to find somewhere to put down our suitcases (not always an easy feat with a toddler in tow).

The second perk for me was the offering of amenities. The room came with a Nespresso machine and kettle and a decent choice of tea and coffee, while the mini fridge had complimentary water bottles and small chocolates which felt like a nice touch.

Another perk was the larger wardrobe and vanity area. When staying in budget hotels, I always find that the wardrobes can be a bit poky, and vanity areas sometimes feel like a shelf has just been stuck on a wall next to a mirror. However in this room, I had plenty of space to lay out all of my stuff, and hang up a few outfits, without feeling like I was cramming it all in.

For me though, the fourth and one of the better perks was the upgraded bathroom. It had a bit more space for toiletries, and the bathtub also had a rainfall shower option which felt a bit more luxurious than other hotel rooms I’ve stayed in, while the Baylis and Harding toiletries smelt incredible and I actually considered buying some for home too.

One downside

As someone who spends a little bit too much time on her phone, one of the perks that had caught my attention was that with the upgraded room, you get the Ultimate Wi-Fi package included, which you’d normally have to pay extra for with a standard room (although the standard Wi-Fi is free). The promise of faster connections and better streaming quality was appealing, but I personally didn’t notice much of a difference, and once or twice even reverted back to the standard Wi-Fi when it felt like the Ultimate one was being a bit slow. This could have been down to a number of factors, but it was a perk I felt I couldn’t use.

Is Premier Inn Plus worth it?

Ultimately, I think so. I booked a second Premier Inn Plus room at its London Canary Wharf hotel recently as the price difference was £40 which felt a bit steeper, but it still came in a lot cheaper than most London hotel rooms. I think the extra perks of the nicer room, tea and coffee and the decent bathroom all make it feel worth it overall. That being said, a £40 difference is probably the maximum I’d be willing to pay – I’m not sure that any more would start to justify the cost, and I think sometimes it can just work out better value to then look at other hotel or accommodation options.

It also depends on the trip and what you need out of your room. Would I book it for a weekend break? Absolutely. Would I book it for a full week’s staycation? I think it would depend on the extra cost and whether the location was truly worth it.