The Ibis site now shows pictures of rooms (and it seems to be the same picture for every hotel). But, as kerouac mentioned, I'm sure there are differences for hotels that aren't purpose-built:

An example:
http://tinyurl.com/27jy2f

Click on Virtual Tour of your room.


In case you are worried about losing local flavor, Europeans definitely use Accor hotels and definitely use chain hotels in general.

For families, note that Ibis hotels typically allow one free child under 12, which is often not the case at other French hotels (other hotels in the Accor family typically allow 1 or 2 children, with a few exceptions).

Also note that Ibis hotels are often air-conditioned, a rarity for 2* hotels in Paris.

In any case, I am a big fan of the buffet breakfast for 7€.

They do have a couple well-located hotels in Paris, as others named. I think both the Ibis and Cambronne locations are fairly good (maybe that one was the Arcade?).

I think Ibis is about like Novotel on ratings. Ibis is mostly 2*, but there are a few with more amenties that are 3* (the one out by Porte de Clichy is, I believe, and has a pool). Novotel is mostly 3*, but they have a couple 4* ones around.

Hi
Last time I stayed in an Ibis, my shower was pulled out from the fawcett of the sink and hung in the shower. The room are fairly small and very basic. I don't think of them as Motel 6 equivelants. I think they are nicer but more basic. Try a Formula brand motel in Europe, if you think Ibis is like Motel 6,it is also owned by Accor. Novotel is better, a little more upscale. I just booked a room at the Novotel in Brussels airport.

www.accorhotels.com seems to have the pecking order of its European hotels:

Sofitel
Novotel
Mercure
Suite Hotel
Ibis
ETAP
Formule 1

The Dorint chain is also being sucked into the Accor group little by little.

I guess i'd put Dorints in between Sofitel and Novotel?

In Berlin, there are some former Dorints which have become alternately Mercure, Novotel, and Sofitel, so I'm not sure there's a straight one to one correspondence.

The Dorint at CDG has been double-branded Dorint-Novotel.

There's a Dorint at Amsterdam Schiphol airport that seems to have a different Dorint- second name, not Novotel but can't think of it

My shuttle bus to my ETAP airport hotel served that hotel too and it looked rather upscale compared to the IBIS next to my lower-rung ETAP

Accor i believe also owns Wagons-Lits so night train travelers are also Accor customers - wonder if that counts for points on their Accor discount card?

It may be noted that Accor also operates Club Med as well as Le Nôtre luxury catering.

It is also a partner of the Skyteam airlines (Air France, Delta, Alitalia, etc.), Europcar, SNCF, Thalys, the Total service stations and owns Courtepaille restaurants.

I have an American Express Accor card, and am really racking up the points without being rich. I always trade in my points for Accor hotel vouchers.

And it seems they run cafeteria restaurants in Italian train stations - one in Termini Rome and SMN Florence - can't think of name but believe it's part of the Accor portfolio.

Jack - do you know much about who owns Accor - publically traded or dominated like Carrefour by some wealthy families i read - some from Spain.

Just curious - i do like the Accor hotels.

Accor is 10% owned by Colony Capital, a U.S. investment fund (since last month -- they used to own 3%). The second shareholder is the French Caisse des Dépôts, a major holding bank controlled by the French government. The rest of the capital is dispersed among public shareholders. I think I even own something like 33 shares of Accor. The internet site of my bank claims that they have gained 69% in value since I bought them 3 years ago.

I stayed at a Dorint in Dresden which was labelled Dorint Novotel. There was also a Mercure in town, but I think it was supposed to be a bit more upscale than the Dorint. They had just bought some other hotel and made it a Dorint, it used to be something else not that long ago, though. The Dorint Novotel in Dresden was pretty upscale to me, it was a 4* hotel by the German system, and I think that Mercure was def. higher level than many Mercures, also. They also had several Ibis there.

I think Accor is a very good company, their stock might be good to have. They've been in the news due to some mgt. shakeups in last couple years regarding the CEO. It was founded by Gerard Pelisson and Paul Dubrule. This is probably more than anyone would want to know about the company and its history, but is interesting

http://www.answers.com/topic/accor?cat=biz-fin

Accor is publicly traded. Just go to the Bourse website and type ACCOR or AC into the search box to see what's up
http://www.daily-bourse.fr

Speaking of IBis around Europe, the one in Salamanca is well located a short walk from Plaza Mayor. We stayed one night and it was ok, buffet breakfast was a good deal. For 6 euros.