lol, uktravelover, I've seen the adverts! a comfy bed is really all we need - we will be on our way to Bologna so the food is not of the greatest importance.

Just been to a planning meeting for the trip and will be booking it tomorrow. Thanks again to all.

Maybe some -- but every Premier Inn I've stayed in (at least four, maybe five) had lifts . . .

The die is cast - the Premier Inn it is, out and coming back. I even know the times of the shuttle bus from the airport to the hotel and back again thanks to the very helpful person I talked to at the hotel. There will be a group of four of us travelling out together, but we all al be coming back at different times; I'll be the last one back I think. The parking at my home airport is costing a fortune but cheaper than two taxis.

Thank you again for all your help; if I remember I will report back afterwards.

Good to hear that it’s working out for you all. Enjoy your trip.

janisj - lucky you … the one I’ve stayed at have been stairs only. It may be they have lifts in their newer hotels and/or Premier Plus or possibly those with more than 2 floors…..

The Premier Inns I have stayed in all had elevators, it was the reason I was staying there instead of a B&B. They also had on-site restaurants with perfectly adequate food. I was impressed by the staff, and even more by the size of the room in London.

BTW, my go-to site for sleeping in/near airports is (surprise) sleepinginairports.com. For Stansted: https://www.sleepinginairports.net/g...port-guide.htm

Thanks, Thursdaysd, I wasn't aware of that website. Curiously though the prices it comes up with are not replicated when you click on the links they provide. Anyway I'm a tad relieved that even at the prices they give on the website they can't beat the Premier Inn rates. Given that the rest of our party is also booked in there it would have been a little awkward to change.