You can often get a room for that price at the Radisson Edwardian on Cromwell Road very close to Gloucester Road station on the Piccadilly Line or the Country Inn a little further west.  It's an excellent location with shopping and decent food on Gloucester Road, and quick access betw. Heathrow and the West End.  Check the hotel websites and hotel search engines for the best price.  If it's close, try calling the hotel directly and asking for some kind of discount -- they like to fill their rooms!

Yes, they can save money by going out to some remote area, or to the construction zone in the depressed Newham/Stratford area.  But their time is limited, and it's nice to be able to stay within walking distance of major sights, and to have 3 Underground lines nearby so that you can get anywhere in Central London within 20 minutes or so.  The grocery stores (Waitrose and Sainsbury's) and fast food places in the area will help them save money on other expenses, too.  Sometimes it's worth paying a little more to make the overall experience more enjoyable.

Posted Jul 23, 2011

In London, I've heard good things about 40 winks: http://www.40winks.org/ and also about Lavender House http://www.thelavenderguesthouse.com/.  I haven't been to either though...

Posted Jul 19, 2011

Your friends might try one of the YMCA's in London; what I have seen of them has struck me as lots of  young people, lots of energy, basic but clean and safe, and under $150 for a double. There is an Indian YMCA near the British Museum and within easy walking distance of the theatre district and lots of good transportation options. The place I stay, the Penn Club, is also in that area and also under $150, but I think really more for those of us older than twenty-something!

Posted Jul 20, 2011

Your friends are going to struggle getting a posh hotel for that kind of money in central London unfortunately - prices are insane there. However, our public transport system is very good, particularly the tube, so if they're prepared to be out in zone 2 or 3 they could do quite well (but not near the airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted or Luton which are miles and miles out of London). Stratford (where I live and where the Olympics will be next year) has several hotels from the common European budget chains - Travelodge, Ibis, Holiday Inn Express and you're only 30 minutes out of the West End shopping district. That might be worth considering - I wouldn't recommend 'bed and breakfast' establishments which can be very variable in quality. If they pick out a particular place that's not central I can give you some more information on what the area is like and either recommend it or warn them off!

Posted Jul 22, 2011

For Munich, I suggest Das Hotel in Muenchen or Hotel Splendid-Dollmann. Both are very comfortable. Das Hotel in Muenchen is in Schwabing, the student area, so may be more appealing to your friends.

Posted Jul 23, 2011

There's a very reasonable Travelodge at the King's Cross Station.  Check it out.

Posted Jul 25, 2011

Hi Sally. For Munich I could recommend the Hotel Imperial at Landsberger Str. 463 for you. It's not a very fancy place but might just be the right thing for this young couple. Double rooms start at $62/per night. The place obviously gets more expensive around the Oktoberfest time. It's close to the subway as well which might be another benefit. Another small but helpful tip might be if this couple books whatever hotel they go with in the end through an American travel website. I won't name any of them here but you know what I mean. This way they avoid possible exchange rate fees. Hope this is helpful.

Posted Jul 25, 2011

You might be able to find good deals in www.airbnb.com

Posted Jul 28, 2011

Are the set on going to hotels?  Hostels are generally much cheaper and I've been able to find some great ones through www.hostelworld.com (it uses customer reviews for the ratings, which I've found helpful).  If they don't want to be in rooms with a bunch of other people, many places offer private rooms with bathrooms so it's just like being in a hotel.  And in my experience it's easy to find hostels located right in the city.

Posted Jul 31, 2011

It is possible to get a good hotel in London for cheap, but you've really got to scrounge through the internet. I recommend looking at the interactive live hotel map on the London Town website. My husband and I scored an amazing deal on a room at the posh Apex City of London hotel when it first opened in 2009 -- their promotion was posted on this site, along with many others. Here's the website map link:

http://www.londontown.com/hotelmap/

Also -- warn your friend to be very careful about picking London hotels based on website photographs alone. They are very deceptive. He should read reviews carefully and look for disparaging remarks about general cleanliness.

Tony's advice above about eating a few meals from grocery stores is wise. A chain pub like Wetherspoon can also provide affordable meals, even if it's not very fancy.

Posted Aug 03, 2011

I stayed in a really nice youth hostel in Munich that cost i think about 20 euro a night.  I can't remember the name of it, but there are certainly a lot of hostels in that city that are clean and friendly and perfectly located.  

Posted Aug 08, 2011

My in-laws just came to London and stayed at the Glenlyn Guest House in Finchley www.glenlynhotel.com. It's not central, but it's in a reasonably safe and quiet area and the prices are great (£80 for a double room and full breakfast). Plus it was clean, friendly, with a beautiful garden for guests' use (very nice after a day pounding the city streets). It's five minutes' walk from the tube, and from there about 30 minutes into the centre of London.

Posted Aug 21, 2011

Leonardo Boutique Hotel in Schwabing, near where I used to live is a great location. Schwabing is hip with students, and a five minute walk to Odeon Platz, and Munich center.

Posted Aug 29, 2011