Whether you’re wanting to start your holiday early by staying the night before your cruise, or wanting to relax a little before that long journey home after your cruise, we have compiled a list of the best hotels in Southampton for ANY budget.
There’s something for everyone on this list, whether that’s a cheap place to lay your head, a family friendly hotel, or something more luxurious, we’ve got you covered.
To assist with which hotel you should choose, we’ve compiled a set of criteria that we think are important. Those criteria are:
- Cost
- Free WiFi
- Dining options
- Onsite car park
- Accessibility
Budget Hotels
For those travelling on a budget, there are plenty of options to choose from in Southampton. They’re all conveniently located to the cruise terminals, and either have their own car parks or are adjacent to car parks.
Most have their own dining options, but those that don’t are very close to many restaurant options in Southampton.
Premier Inn Southampton West Quay
If you’re not from the UK, then you may not have heard of Premier Inn before, but just like the other budget hotels on this list, you’ll find one in pretty much every town and city centre in the UK.
They offer a “good night guarantee”, meaning if you don’t sleep well, you may be entitled to a refund! The beds are super comfortable though, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
The Premier Inn is conveniently located next to the West Quay shopping centre, which has plenty of restaurant choices, although the hotel does have its own restaurant and bar.
- Free WiFi
- Onsite restaurant
- Accessible rooms
- No onsite car park but parking is available at the adjacent Westquay multi-storey car park
- Prices start from £53 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Travelodge Southampton Central
Over the years we’ve stayed in many a Travelodge, often with a good experience. Although the time we stayed with our dog was a bit of a disaster, he kept barking every time he heard a noise!
A Travelodge is more of a motel than a hotel. It has a small reception, and bedrooms with en-suite but nothing else. You generally don’t find an onsite restaurant or bar in a Travelodge, but this one does have a bar and cafe, though you may wish to wander into Southampton for a meal instead.
While some may view the lack of amenities as a negative, it does help keep the running costs down, which in turn means you pay less for a room.
- Free WiFi
- Onsite bar/cafe
- Accessible rooms
- Chargeable onsite parking but not for the duration of your cruise and spaces aren’t guaranteed
- Prices start from £39 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Holiday Inn Southampton
The Holiday Inn offers a couple of potential benefits if staying here that could save you money. One being that IHG members get member rates at this hotel, which are slightly cheaper than the standard rate.
They also offer military/veteran discount, so if that applies to you then this could be the best option.
Another great thing about the Holiday Inn is that it has its own car park, and you can book a “Park, Stay, Cruise” package, which includes your hotel room, parking for up to 15 nights and return taxi for 2 adults.
Not only does this take out the hassle of booking separate parking for your cruise, it also covers the hassle of organising transport to the cruise terminal!
- Free WiFi
- Onsite restaurant + kids eat free
- Accessible rooms
- Chargeable onsite parking. Also available as a package including room, parking & transfers
- Prices start from £85 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Ibis Budget Hotel
Not to be confused with the neighbouring Ibis Southampton Centre hotel, the Ibis Budget Hotel is a separate hotel entirely and offers cheaper accommodation.
Cheap doesn’t have to mean poor quality, however! The Ibis offers free WiFi, continental breakfast, car parking at £10 per night, and it’s dog friendly. It’s also the closest hotel to the train station on this list, so if you’re arriving by train this could be the best option for you.
As with all the hotels on the budget list, it’s convenient for any cruise terminal but if using the onsite car park you’ll need to arrange a taxi to get you to the terminal, otherwise you could have a 20 minute walk with all your luggage!
- Free WiFi
- Onsite restaurant for breakfast
- Accessible rooms
- Chargeable onsite parking
- Prices start from £56 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Verdict
In our opinion, we think the Premier Inn is the best option. It’s convenient for the cruise terminals, it has car parking adjacent in the West Quay multi-storey car park, where you can actually leave your car for the duration of your cruise at a cheaper rate than the hotel car parks.
The Premier Inn also boasts its own restaurant/bar for meals but it’s also next door to lots of restaurants in the West Quay shopping centre.
We’ve stayed in the Premier Inn, and many other Premier Inns both as a couple and as a family and find that they’re always clean, the check-in process is slick, and if you’re introverts like us and want minimal fuss, you can actually check in, stay, and check out without speaking to a single person!
You know what you’re getting with a Premier Inn, and we think that the little bit extra you might pay on top of some of the other budget options is completely worth it.
That being said, you won’t be disappointed with the other options, and if the Premier Inn was fully booked then I would look at the Holiday Inn Express as the second alternative.
Mid Range
If you fancy something a bit more upmarket than a budget hotel but don’t want to break the bank, then the next two options could be the ones for you.
Leonardo Royal Hotel
The Leonardo Royal Hotel gives you that luxury experience, but without the luxury price! Double rooms start from £99, with sea view rooms and more luxurious suites available at an extra cost should you wish to indulge.
There is also an onsite swimming pool, gym and spa. If you do choose to use the facilities and work up an appetite, then the Marco Pierre White restaurant will cater for your needs in the evening and also serves breakfast.
There is a chargeable onsite car park available on a first come first served basis, so if staying here and driving, it may be worth having a back up plan just in case the car park is full. The Harbour Parade and Quays South car parks are both adjacent to the hotel should you need them.
- Free WiFi
- Onsite restaurant – Marco Pierre White
- Accessible rooms
- Chargeable onsite parking. Also available as cruise package including room, parking & transfers
- Prices start from £99 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Novotel Southampton
The Novotel is in a great location, not only is it opposite Dock Gate 10, it’s also right next to the train station. If you’re arriving by car then there is an onsite car park that you can make use of for £10 per night and you can park for the duration of your cruise.
Note that the car park is only 200 spaces, so if you’re sailing on a busy cruise week, such as the school holidays, then it’s worth having a backup car park in mind. Luckily the Southampton harbour area isn’t short of car parks, so you’ll have no issues finding a space somewhere.
- Free WiFi
- Onsite restaurant
- Accessible rooms
- Chargeable onsite parking
- Prices start from £75 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Verdict
We think the Leonardo Royal hotel is the best option in this category. It has all the feel of being a luxury hotel, but is significantly cheaper than the options in the luxury category of this post. Although you can upgrade you room to a sea view or suite, which will bump up the price to something close to the Harbour hotel.
We think the restaurant option in the Leonardo Royal hotel is better than the Novotel too. That being said, there are plenty of dining options within walking distance of all the hotels to cater for any diet.
Luxury Hotels
Okay, now we’re into the luxury section. Here you’ll find 5-star offerings, boasting uninterrupted views of the sea, with spas and rooftop bars. You’re really starting your holiday in the best way possible with these options.
Harbour Hotel
Well first of all, the Harbour hotel is shaped like a ship, so if that isn’t a reason to stay here before or after a cruise, I don’t know what is!
With amenities such as a Nespresso coffee machine, minibar and Egyptian cotton sheets, it’s easy to see why this hotel is rated as 5-stars. Even the standard rooms come with a complimentary gin & sherry.
Not got a sea view room? No problem, why not check out the roof top bar for a cocktail or two! Don’t worry though, it’s covered so the British weather won’t spoil it!
The Harbour hotel also has a multi-award winning seafood restaurant, The Jetty, with plenty of fish options to choose from. If like me, you don’t enjoy seafood, then there are other options available on the menu too.
- Free WiFi
- Onsite restaurant – award winning seafood
- Accessible rooms
- Free onsite parking for hotel guests for the duration of your stay but not for duration of cruise
- Prices start from £176 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Room2
This is a hotel with a twist. It’s actually a hometel, which offers you all the best parts about being at home but in a hotel. For this reason, it’s probably the best family option on this list if your budget can stretch this far. Anybody who’s travelled with kids will appreciate the extra space!
Rooms come complete with a kitchen for those wanting to save a bit of cash and eat in. You’ll also find the usual hotel amenities such as hairdryer, towels and free WiFi.
There is onsite parking available to book at £13 per night, and the hotel is conveniently located next to Queen’s Park, which is just a short walk from the Ocean Cruise Terminal for P&O.
- Free WiFi
- Accessible rooms
- Bookable chargeable onsite parking
- No onsite restaurant but kitchen facilities available in room
- Prices start from £145 for 2 adults sharing a room
Pig in the Wall
From one hotel with a twist to another. Pig in the Wall offers unique rooms for guests, that is to say that each room is decorated differently and has its own quirks. You may want to book this one pretty far in advance considering there are only a total of 12 rooms available here!
There’s a restaurant that serves breakfast for staying guests and there is an evening menu available too…and yes, there’s a sausage roll available!
It’s located next to the Holiday Inn and Leonardo hotels, so it’s in a great location with easy access to any cruise terminals.
- Free WiFi
- Onsite restaurant
- Accessible rooms
- Free onsite parking for hotel guests for the duration of your stay but not for duration of cruise
- Prices start from £160 for 2 adults sharing a double room
Verdict
The Harbour hotel wins this category in our eyes. If you’re about to embark on a cruise, then starting your holiday in a 5-star hotel shaped like a ship has to be the way to go!
The rooms have that luxury feel, with the mini bar, Nespresso machine and Egyptian cotton bed sheets. Then there’s the rooftop bar and seafood restaurant, which none of the other options on this list can boast. Sure, it’s not cheap, but that’s why it’s in the luxury category!