IKEA Joins in on Cheap Hotel Trend

Love them or loathe them, we’ve all been saved at one time or another by a no-frills hotel. Yes, these big hotel chains are soulless identikit environments with about as much charm as a parking ticket, but sometimes it’s just not worth splashing out on a bed for the night.

These places are perfect late night crash pads and cheap alternatives for budget-busting weddings. They lack the sexy design and luxurious extras of proper boutique hotels, but when you’ve just indulged in a free bar or given yourself four hours to get some sleep, these things probably don’t matter.

Sometimes, all that’s needed is a safe and clean place to lie your head. And as Lenny Henry says, cutting costs on accommodation leaves more cash to splash on shopping, food, drink and other treats.

IKEA recently announced that it’s dipping its toe into this lucrative sector. The Allen key empire is planning to open 100 hotels in across Europe, the first of which will open in 2014.

The Swedish mega chain is a rite of passage for young people in London. Practically every student flat or budget house share in the capital has some sort of build-your-own-bargain under its roof. It’ll be interesting if these happy customers try out the hotels, too.

This isn’t the first time the company has hit the headlines with big ideas. IKEA is currently building a residential area on 27 acres of unused industrial land just south of the Olympics Park in Stratford.

IKEA hasn’t revealed too much about the hotels yet, but the chain will be operating under a different name and promises to be as affordable as the furniture. Let’s hope the food is better than the usual warehouse fare of cheap meatballs and greasy breakfasts.

Image courtesy of dcmaster