sorry can not help with a good option but avoid the Novotel and Ibis if you can, very bad reputation which has been backed up by comments from people I have spoken to that have stayed there.
Try the new TULIP inn near Port Solent..(Just off M27 next to the Marriot) I know its not Soton but its close enough.. £59 per night advertised as the rack rate... sure you can get better.
travelinn or travelodge usually about £50 a double room, and you can cancel til 1.00pm i think without charge if your plans change. Quite a few of them around...I ve found them to be more.. reliable.. in standard than trying to find b+b
well, I've used both the Novotel and the Ibis without any probs - except French staff. Good value & central. what's wrong with them??
Also, the Express at Holiday Inn is good. The one at West End (by the Hants county cricket ground is doing a deal online at £49 a night inc. breakfast. The brekkie is the horrible danish pastry thing, but otherwise fine. Dutch staff, I think.
only going on what people have told me. I work for the NHS and hold meetings which people from all over come to and stay in town for the night. As you would expect they exchange view on the hotels they stay at and Novotel and Ibis get slated every time, holiday in seems to fair better. The fav is always the Grand Harbour who do amazing rates for the NHS at short notice....hmm, a plan, pretend you work for your local Trust, tell em you are the EPR Manager, always works for me /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif