Ibis Brighton City Centre Station

Tasteful, modern, and straightforward, Brighton's branch of the Ibis hotel chain delivers on the standards this budget brand is known for. Guests who have stayed in Ibis hotels might recognize the decor, especially in the guest rooms. The exterior is just a neutral beige facade with columns of windows. Inside, there's no dedicated lobby -- the hotel opens into a dining and bar area, where the reception desk leads directly into the bar. This area is surprisingly trendy for a budget property, with wood accent walls, wavy slatted ceilings, and lots of places to sit, including on wood stools, bright red benches, and sleek Eames-style molded plastic chairs in red and white. The hotel attracts a range of travelers, from guests who put a premium on being close to the train station, to those looking for a wallet-friendly property and don't mind the lack of extras. 

Ibis Brighton City Center is situated on a pleasant street lined with restaurants and coffee shops, right across from the Brighton train station. It's certainly not a waterfront hotel, but the beach is reachable in about 10 minutes on foot (expect some of the walk back to be uphill), and there are plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops within a 10-minute walk. Theatre Royal Brighton and Brighton Dome are about an eight-minute walk, while Brighton Palace Pier and the Brighton i360 Tower are each about a 15-minute walk. Gatwick Airport is a straight shot from Brighton Station, just a 20-minute ride, but Heathrow Airport will take at least two hours. London can be reached in an hour. There's no on-site parking, but the hotel offers a discount at a nearby lot.

Rooms here look identical to many Ibis-brand rooms around the world, but they're appealing with simple, straightforward, modern decor that pairs wood floors with blonde wood laminate furniture and chalkboard-like black and white murals above the beds. Baby blue accents and bright red plastic desk chairs add a little color, and rooms, while not giant, are reasonably sized. Modular-style bathroom "pods" are compact but functional with small vanities and shower stalls. Rooms are air-conditioned and feature small desks, open wardrobes, flat-screen TVs, and coffee/tea service with electric kettles, but no mini-fridges or safes. Bathrooms have hairdryers and toiletry dispensers as well. Most rooms are for two, with a queen bed or two twins, but family rooms are also available with sofa beds, accommodating up to three people. Some past guests have complained of noise issues, both from within the hotel and from the bustling street outside.

The main extra property feature at this budget hotel is the on-site Fogg's restaurant and bar, which essentially serves double-duty as a lobby lounge. The ambiance is decent, there's lots of seating, and the bar portion of the restaurant, which features a snack menu and a decent selection of drinks, is open 24-hours -- but the food gets mixed reviews. The restaurant also offers dinner and a hot and cold breakfast buffet featuring the usual suspects, though breakfast is not usually included in the room rate. Guests who forgo room cleaning can get a free voucher for use in the restaurant. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and a computer is available for guest use. The front desk is open 24 hours and staff can assist with tickets or laundry service. Pets are allowed for an extra nightly fee and cribs are available for guests traveling with small children. But there are some notably absent features: There's no gym or other wellness facilities and no on-site parking, though the hotel offers a discount at a nearby lot.