European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                8a0 we Ami Abram Chain Ranee has formula for budget hotels by Barbara Shea new Day last year i took a trip through France s chateau country wandering the Forest trails and Village lanes and gaping at the centuries old Royal chateaus along the meandering Loire River some of these centuries old castles now Are grandiose guesthouses at rates in keeping with their regal past but my lodgings during this we Klong swing Cost an average of $33 a Day and even had advantages Over Louis Xiv s draft old Fontainebleau. These bargain digs weren t spartan hostels or grungy truck stops either but stylish links in rapidly expanding chains of French budget motels. With a credit card guests can Check in 24 hours a Day via a High tech Quot reception autom Atique Quot that looks and works something like a Cash machine. You Quot Converse Quot with it in English French or German about your room needs and length of stay. On your receipt is a personalized six digit code that you punch in on key pads to get into the building and your room. The managers of these Quot Ultra budget Quot chains live on the premises and Are available in emergencies but staff the front desk for Only the few busiest hours morning and evening. Daily room rates ranged from $24 to $40 prices sometimes vary by season or location especially for a Paris property. In Many cases the same room rate applied for single double and even triple occupancy. The motels were All attractive inside and out with Flower gardens and lobby bouquets. Four had gabled roofs that made them look like overgrown French farmhouses two were dramatically modern. Rooms All were spotlessly c lean quiet and featured color televisions usually wit a Remote and in one Case also a varas Well As guest controlled heating Cooling units and automatic makeup systems. Most also had private Baths and phones. Decor was functional a sort of Early College dorm but Ivy league and there was an Overall Quality that Madison Avenue might term european 6lnn. Three of the Motel offered All meals and those that did t were located next door to a restaurant or a hotel with a full service dining room. Most also had snack machines a breakfast Buffet was available at All for $4 to $6 a somewhat stiff for a cup of Coffee and Rolls served in a lobby Alcove but a few places also added Yogurt fruit cheese and cold Cereal. Most guests probably Welcome an on premises Eye opener at any Price because of the typical Lack of charming cafes in the neighbourhood. If the motels snared one flaw it was their locations a always Handy to Auto routes but surrounded by a Moat of Light Industry warehouses and the French version of shopping malls. Here s a closer look at my Choice of motels starting with the most expensive. A hotel climate de France at $48 for one or two people a third person was about another $5climate was my most expensive overnight Stop. The Young woman at the desk seemed to speak no English but when we reached an impasse she cheerfully played 20 questions in French. My room had a cheery Blue and White color scheme and besides the television there was a phone and a Var videos Cost 30 francs about $6 each from a machine in the lobby. The private bathroom had a tub Shower and its own healer. Down the Hall was free Coffee Tea or chocolate. My $20 dinner at climate s attractive la Sou if re restaurant off the lobby was the highest priced of any of the three hotels with dining rooms but still was nearly half the Price of a comparable meal at Many Independent restaurants in the Loire area. 3ho breakfast Buffet about $0, also was the prior Iest but in lured Juir e and fruit. For a director of hotels write i Lotel climate de France 5 ave. Do Cap Horn by 93-91943 Les ulis Fedex France a res hotel prime Ere the pretty Motel Cost about $40 for one or two people a lobby sign noted that the High season rate was about $5 More and had a pleasant restaurant. My room was similar to die one at climate though the dominant color was red with a color coordinated Matisse poster from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg the bathroom again had its own Heater but just a stall Shower instead of a tub a comparable dinner was about $5 less than at climate unfortunately i d misunderstood the breakfast hours and every Trace was gone when i arrived. In France you can Reserve a room by telephoning 05-90-85-36 from 8 30 . To 7 30 . Mondays through fridays and from 10 , to 3 . On saturday the calf is free the inst Page of the brochure lists toll free numbers from outside France. For a directory of the Chain s 100-plus establishments also known As Comfort inn write res hotel prime Ere by 6691223 Bret Igny sur orge Fedex France a Aster the property i stayed at Best pulled off the  Park ambience. At $38 a night for one or two people third person $12 extra $6 Quot supplement animal Quot a the poodle Loving French it was my All around favorite As a travelling american in France you can Reserve a room by dealing 16 4 7-60-36-00 Between 6 30 . And 6 30 . Or you can r All the hotel directly. Addresses and phone numbers Are listed in the Chain s brochure if you plan to arrive after 11 ., ask for the night r ode that will enable you to get in. For a directory of the Chain s 16 hotels write Aster 16 Rue de la Tui Lerie by 10237551 St. Avert in Fedex France. A mister Fieri Basic to be sure but so inspired that at $27 a Day for up to three persons $9 for a fourth it was the All around value Winner. At the Motel i stayed breakfast $4,50 was a Lovely presentation of juice Yogurt cheese Cereal Rolls drinks and fruit that even extended to Kiwi and a whole Coconut. It was Laid out amid Plain yellow lopped tables in the rustic modern Redwood and Glass two Story lobby which was open to the roof and brightened by faring window Walls the Motel was just 7 months old f was fold by a harming Young Man at the desk who went far beyond the rail of duly in complimenting my French pronunciation room decor was yellow and Forest Green and the furniture though simple had a Pizazz missing in most american chains especially at the Bottom Price Range. The modular private bathroom relied on the room Heater but had a fabulous Shower though there was no restaurant vending machines offered snack fare plus meals to heat in a microwave. There Are 15 mister Beds in France for a directory write mister bed 32 Rue Pierre Curie 92000 Nailer re France. A i Lorlei for Rufe 1 at $24 for one two or three persons this was the cheapest of the accommodations i used and probably also the most ambitious i be desk clerk at the Motel where i stayed took great re to explain that things were pretty Basic. My room had a bunk bed Over the double bed and a television but no Remote i lie biggest drawback no bathroom Only a sink in the bedroom. Shower cubicles and lavatories Down the. Hall again were automatically disinfected after every use. Ibis Litan has More than 200 locations in f Ranee and is expanding into Belgium Britain Germany and elsewhere for a direr Lory write f Haine Des i Lofils forr Nule 1, imm Euble be Descartes 29 promenade Mir Hel Nimori lip 159-9 3166 noisy Ervind r of i Ranee. The Bror inure lists hotel phone numbers and addresses of Reserve a r Gurri r intact the hotel direr try.  Sam