We decided to book Etap to celebrate my sisters birthday, so we booked 6 triple rooms for 2 nights as there was around 18 of us.
From the moment we reached the hotel, the staff were rude and unhelpful. The only nice staff were the security who seemed realistic and "normal". The other seemed to have a "programmed robot" approach.
7 of us arrived first at around midnight and as we checked in, the woman-Rahal, didnt smile once and she gave us the rooms after a very boring process. I work for a travel company and I know one hundred percent that when you go to a hotel, a warm welcome response is the response that you are meant to receive. Did we receive this...no!
The following day when another 3 people checked in, this was fine, but then they checked to see if the room was still confirmed for the 8pm arrival-which they confirmed... BUT when the 8pm arrival came to the hotel, the hotel said the room wasnt there?!!! How could this be after they had just confirmed it at 2pm..and also after it had been booked a month before???
It was my sisters bday and we were celebrating with music and having the cake celebration, singing happy birthday..and yes..we did leave the door open but it was only 8pm and our floor was full of noisy people in and out their room-mostly students... next minute..one of the workers and a security guard arrived... the security guard was smiling but the worker came in with a FOUL face... Fair enough we were doing some wrong but at least the security was treating the situation in a professional manner, the hotel member of staff just didn't want to compromise. He treated us like kids when the group was age ranged between 18 to 35!
The next day on check out day-check out time was 12pm. We were all up and getting ready and then the rudest woman with short brown hair, came knocking on our doors at 11.55pm and rudely saying to everyone "you need to get in 5 mins, and pointed to her watch".. yes we know check out time is 12..why are you disturbing us? Fair enough warn us but why be soooo rude about it???? Then she was harrassing everyone at 12.05, making everyone feel so uncomfortable like we had committed crimes!
To top it off, a ladies car got stolen behind the hotel and she got chased by 2 men with a baseball bat!!

On a lighter note, the rooms were fine, BUT whats with the see through shower doors!!!?? why cant they have the toilet, shower and sink in one corner...instead of wasting space by having a sink in the main room, the toilet in a cupboard and the shower in the middle of the room with a see through door.. How annoying is that? We had to put a sheet over the door which was very stupid!!! Others had to leave the room when one person was having a shower!!

Seriously, I know Etap is a budget hotel but the service does NOT need to be budget to. I am disgusted that we were treated more like wrong doers then normal people who have paid for a service. I know that due to being a budget hoptel, they must get a lot of students and clubbers, but still-have respect for your customers!!!

This is my second review of Etap after the last stay over a year ago.

I booked two rooms for five people for the 13-15th June. We was given adjacent rooms on the fourth floor facing Great Colmore Street, near the end of the corridor furthest away from Bristol Street (the dual carriageway).

Some people in my group have stayed at Etap in Europe and said the rooms in this branch were smaller.

The last time I visited, it was £35 per room per night, but since Aug/Sept 2007, it has gone up to £38.


The pros and cons:

+ Cheaper than other hotels near the city centre for an odd number of people.
+ Walls seemed thick enough, as we couldn't hear noise from adjacent rooms.
+ Towels were changed, and toilet roll replenished.
+ The bedsheets in our room were made, but not the bunk bed in the second room.
+ Duvet and bedsheets were clean.

- Car park was full, so had to park elsewhere.
- Road noise coming from the air vent above the window.
- Some marks and stains on walls and on various sections of carpet. Saw some red dots on the ceiling above the bunk bed which resembled blood.
- Noise coming through door from loud guests returning from their night out at 1am-5am. Pray that you don't have inconsiderate neighbours.
- Couldn't get to sleep on both nights on the bunk as the duvet was too thick, however my room mate slept OK on the bottom bed.
- Power socket was so close to the wall that I couldn't plug in my 4xAA battery charger.
- The smoke alarm in second room covered by plastic film, probably done by any previous occupants who wanted to smoke in the room.
- Shower didn't drain fast enough so a puddle of water formed at your feet as you were using the shower.
- Lift broke down on the Saturday morning, and we was in it for about 2-3 minutes before a member of staff opened the doors. Everytime we pressed the alarm button, the lift doors opened but floor doors didn't open because the doors didn't line up properly. Not a good sight to look at if you've got phobia(s).
- Room card for our room didn't work when we returned on Saturday afternoon, so had to get it reactivated. Had to wait five minutes in the queue.

Notes:
* Car parking costs £3 for 24 hours.

This hotel was completed about two years ago, and the rooms would probably need a refurb within the next two years.
I'm gave a 'two' this time as there were too many problems compared to the last stay.
For my next Brum trip, I'll consider paying more and staying elsewhere.

This is a city centre hotel, for £38 you get a room for 3 adults with an en-suite, and breakfast is £2.95 each. Yes it is basic but considerably cheaper than the hotels offering more facilities.
It is clean, the beds are comfortable and for a couple of nights it is first class value for money. No I would not want to stay here for a 2 week holiday, but for 2 nights it was great.
As for it being on a busy road yes it is but as long as you shut your window properly it cuts out all the noise of the traffic.

I booked this hotel because it is within walking distance from the National Indoor Arena (1 mile away).

The price (£38, booked directly with hotel) was reasonable for a central hotel. Reception was bright and airy, and the staff were polite and helpful, despite many people checking in at the same time.

The room was very small. The toilet in particular felt very cramped, and placing the sink next to the bed was not very convenient. The shower was ok. The room felt grubby, there were lots of stains on the walls and it was dusty.

This said, the bed was the most comfy bed I have ever slept in in a hotel. It had a foam matress, which was very comfy and supportive. Normally I have trouble sleeping in small hotel beds, but I got a very good night's sleep here.

I would recommend this hotel as a good budget option in a convenient location.