I've stayed at the Formule 1 hotels in Besancon and Le Havre. Both times I found them to be very good and clean. Toilet and showers are down the hallway but you still get a TV in each room.

I had breakfast on my first stay but I didn't think it was worth the money. It ws about £2.50 and included bread, jam, a glass of something that looked like orange juice, and coffee. I'd sooner go to a local patisserie, but if you were travelling a long way then it is probably easier to have the breakfast in the hotel.

Andy.

We have used this chain a lot over the years. It is best to book online as they can get full in certain weeks. You can book up to 100 days in advance. Remember to take the credit card you book with on holiday with you as you will need it when you get to the hotel. It is a bit strange first time. You insert your card into the machine outside and it gives you a 6 figure code to get into the hotel and your room.

Rooms sleep 3 (1 double and a single bunk) with a TV, sink and towels.

WC and showers are shared but they clean automatically after every use.

If you are only overnighting I can recommend you pay the bit extra for the breakfast. It is onlya basic menu but there is unlimited coffee/tea/juice which is worth the cost alone.

Usually these hotels are sited in industrial areas but there are always restaurants within walking distance (usually Buffalo Grills at least)

Strongly recommend these no-frills hotels but book ahead if you will be in a popular region such as in Paris or close to the Channel ports.

I find them good value for money - and they are popular with the French both for business and holiday stopovers. Just remember your room code when you go to the loo! Bring a plug for the washbasin and some soap, because both tend to disappear with guests!

I use this chain regularly, and have done so for the last 15 years. It's a basic room, but has everything you need for a simple stay.

We stayed in one on an overnight stop, we booked with them direct over the phone. The rooms are basic but very clean and the breakfast was about £2.50 per head when we went but found it very good value as it was unlimited. Would definately recommend them

Shell

I stayed at the Formule 1 in St. Denis a few years ago, and it was horrible.

The shower was push-button activated, and the button had to be pushed (and temp. reset) every 20 seconds or so. I hadn't had to deal with this type of shower before, or shared showers and toilets before, so I was especially annoyed.

The bathrooms were dirty.

It was in a terrible neighborhood.

The plug in our room fell out of the wall when I tried to plug my booklight in.

This was a few years ago, and in a kind of dodgy area, so perhaps it's just this one. Or maybe I was just spoiled. The places are very cheap, and I haven't stayed in too many other Paris hotels since then, so I don't really know how it compares.

But I still wouldn't recommend staying the St. Denis Formule 1!

Have you contacted the Accor group and passed on your views about the St Denis F1? I think they genuinely appreciate honest feedback. We complained several years ago about the hostility of the proprietress of the St Omer F1, and our night's stay was refunded.

I still think they are worth staying in - or if you need to have a bathroom in the bedroom try the Etap chain (next step up from F1).

We have stayed in an Etap in Paris and it was really good value, it was the same layout as formula 1, a double bed with a single bunk over the top but there is an ensuite bathroom , the breakfast was the same, Bread, croissants, jam, coffee & orange juice but it was enough to start the day off with.

It was very clean, my only complaint was the noise as it was at the side of a motorway, I like to have the window open at night.

http://www.theglobalvoyage.com/reviews/accor.html

One of the reasons that these hotels are so cheap is their location. If you want a middle of towm hotel you pay the price. These hotels are usually built in cheaper areas near motorways because that is where most of their custom comes from, passing trade overnight stops.

One exception to the rule is the Etap in Avignon which is right next to the city wall and an easy stroll to the centre ville and all the touristy bits. I can recommend Etaps if you do not wish to share facilities.