Lower-cost lodgings, East and West

In response to the editor’s request for info on acceptable budget accommodations (Aug. ’12, pg. 67), I have three companies to suggest. There are no luxuries at any of their lodgings, but the locations are very good and the prices are great. I would gladly stay at any of them again.

• In Japan, each of the six sites of K’s House Backpackers Hostels offers traditional hostel accommodations in addition to a good selection of private rooms. All locations are smoke-free, which is a real bonus and not easy to find in Japan.

As a solo traveler, I stayed at K’s House Kyoto (418 Nayacho, Shichijo-agaru, Dotemachi-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Japan 600-8142; phone +[81] 75 342 2444, fax 342 2440) for four nights, April 3-8, 2012, and paid ¥4,200 (about $54) per night for a private double room with shared bath.

At K’s House Hiroshima (1-8-9, Matoba-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, Japan; phone +[81] 82 568 7244, fax 7240), I stayed two nights, April 8-10, and paid ¥5,500 ($70) a night for a private double room with bath en suite.

The hostels both were very clean and included kitchens and lounges with computers for guests’ use, so you saved even more money. The staff spoke very good English and could provide great advice for travelers.

• In the United Kingdom, the hotel chain Travelodge provides basic standard hotel rooms around the country. Booking online and as early as possible will get you the best price.

The Travelodge Waterloo Place Edinburgh (3 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh, Scotland, EH1 3BG, U.K.; phone 0871 984 6445 or fax 01315 567443) is nothing fancy, but the location and price cannot be beat. It’s just a few blocks from the Waverley train station and is easy walking distance from many of the city’s sights.

Room prices start at £19 a night. This is a third to a quarter of the price of any other place nearby. I stayed for three nights, May 22-25, 2012, and paid £29.95 ($47) per night for a double room without breakfast.

Although this hotel did not offer breakfast, many Travelodges do for an additional charge.

• Based in Finland, the chain Omena Hotels also has hotels in Stockholm and Copenhagen. All of their hotels are nonsmoking, and all have a standard room design that includes a double bed; two futon chairs that fold out into small twin beds; a table and chairs; an en suite bath with shower, and a cabinet with a small refrigerator, microwave and kettle.

Room configurations and sizes differ, as they use repurposed buildings; at least, they did in Stockholm and Copenhagen. Rates are per room, not per person, and rooms can hold up to four persons.

Stockholm has some of the highest hotel prices in Europe, yet I booked the Omena Stockholm (Torsgatan 10, 111 23 Stockholm, Sweden; phone +46 10 470 5550) for four nights, June 6-10, 2012, for only SEK599 ($87) per night.

The Omena Hotel Copenhagen (Colbjørsengade 5-11, 1652 Copenhagen, Denmark; phone +45 4324 1525), where I stayed four nights, June 10-14, 2012, cost DKK399 ($67) per night. The earlier you book and the more off-season your trip, the better the rate.

The Stockholm facility was quite nice and very clean. The Copenhagen hotel was old and, I felt, not as well managed. In these Omena hotels, adjacent restaurants offered guests a breakfast buffet at extra cost. Omena hotels are not staffed; you are given a door code that works beginning at 4 p.m. on check-in day.

TAMARA COMPTON
Bellingham, WA