Cheap hotel near legoland?

asquiths_2

Hi all,
I was hoping someone might be able to advise me on somewhere to stay near legoland thats cheap?

We are a family of 6. 2 adults, child 8, child 7, child 4 & 11 month old.
We live in Leeds and my DH will be travelling to reading for work on tuesday 08/06/10. We were thinking of maybe going down to visit legoland on monday 07/06/10 then staying over in a hotel so he can attend his meeting and I can take kids back for a second day.

We have 2 x 2 4 1 legoland vouchers so thats a start but i was wondering if anyone could advise us on somewhere to stay?
I know that chances are we will need to book 2 rooms so keeping it cheap is quite hard!

any ideas??

greatly appreciated
Asquiths

easy

The first time we went, we stayed at the Travelodge in the middle of Windsor. Upside is that you are right in the middle of town, so near to loads of food outlets for evening meal (and we nipped into M&S in the morning to buy sandwiches & drinks for our picnic to take to LL).
Downside is that you have to pay to park in the multistory overnight

[Deleted User]

There is a Travelodge in Staines and an Innkeepers Lodge at Old Windsor. I don't know how you are orgnising your transport but Staines is on the Reading train line but it would be difficult to get to legoland by public transport. Windsor has a bus to Legoland I think.

asquiths_2

I have been searching and found an offer on a legoland package.
241.50 for us all with tickets into park for 2 days plus overnight stay at holiday inn m4 j4. (including breakfast).

To get around the sleeping situation i could arange the rooms as 1 family room 1 adult and 3 children + cot. Then a single room for 1 adult (not bothering to use) we'll just all bunk up together?

Does this sound like a good deal?

btw we are travelling by car so public transport won't be an issue.

Thanks

susancs

If you are quick you can currently get the 4 star Millenium Copthorne Reading 10 year anniversary £10+VAT per room deal for Monday 7 June. It is one booking per adult, but when we went in feb we booked one room in my name and one in hubbys and then emailed for interconnecting rooms. The rooms have to be a double and a twin. They currently have both these available for Monday. It has a nice swimming pool open until late and a trading estate in front with mCdonalds, Burge king, Pizza Hut in it. Also we went to a nice Toby Carvery which had a £5 eat before 7pm deal, which was about 10 minutes drive away. We only had 2 children, so not sure if they would allow 4 children in 2 rooms. The rooms were very big though and the bed a king size, so you could all fit in, it is just if they would allow you for fire safety reasons. I expect as long as it was not obvious that you were a party of 6 then you could just check in. We found we each had to check in with a card for security and we had the children sitting on the sofas in the lobby so as not to crowd the desk. It has has free parking. I would buy some cold drinks and store them in the mini bar (s) in the room (you have to break the seal and buy a juice for about £1.50)

Millennium Madejski Reading
Arrival Date:Monday, June 07, 2010 Departure Date:Tuesday, June 08, 2010


10 Year Anniversary Package ROOM ONLY - EX TAX - NOT COMMISSIONABLE


Standard 1 Double Bed

GBP 10.00



Standard 2 Single Beds

GBP 10.00
http://www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/millenniumreading/specials/specials_anniversary.html

Legoland also do a parent and Toddler voucher for your dates £18 for an adult and £8.50 for an under 5, that might do work out well for the 4 year old and one of of you. Then 2 for 1 for 2 children (£28) and use the raring to go for 1 adult (£21) so £75.50 for a day instead of £84.60 using 2 for 1s and paying for the 4 year old. Also check in the park as Chessington and Thorpe Park they do a bounce back come back the 2nd day deal in these parks for about £6 each, which I can't see on their website. I can't remember if Legoland did this when we went recently.
http://www.legoland.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/23145BFC-125A-4503-A18A-463F766CCF9B/0/LLWParentandToddler.pdf

http://www.raring2go.co.uk/offerMenu.php

So 2 rooms and 2 days park entry (if you can't get bounce back next day cheaper rates in the park) would be £174.50.

asquiths_2

Thanks for the tip off susancs

I'm not sure if i dare try booking it and risking it.

How likely do you think it will be that they don't notice?

Its really tempting!!

Thanks again

BTW we aren't actually that bothered for the 2nd day in the park so this deal would save us alot of money!!!

susancs

To be honest I don't think they would notice as it is a big hotel which was busy when we went on a Monday as it is a training/meeting place during the week it seemed, so lots of coming and going with meeting rooms just off the main foyer. You can just walk around it and the lifts to the rooms are to the left past reception. It also has a restaurant and health centre just past reception so again a lot of activity. At the end of a long row of check in desks is a desk if you want help with lugguage so no-one on door/lobby directing you any where. I don't think you would have a problem with having the baby in the double room, as I am sure I read somewhere that you can request a cot (and seem to remember someone discussing the deal rang them to get a cot in the room and had no problems). You could ring or email to ask if a double room could have a baby in a cot in it. If you just don't all go to the desk at once, you won't draw attention to the size of your family. You would have to book in for one room anyway and hubby the other room.

asquiths_2

Well i've done it so heres hoping it all goes ok
Thanks so much susancs. Its ended up costing us just 100 quid for 1 day in park + hotel!! I can't believe it!!

Am thinking of taking kids elsewhere the second day. Not sure where yet. Probably somewhere we can go whilst heading back north to leeds.

Any ideas welcome.

xx Asquiths xx

susancs

We didn't go when we went to Reading, but a friend of ours recommended the Coral Reef swimming Pool in nearby Bracknell. By the way don't forget Swimming gear and towels if nice weather holds for Legoland as they have a nice wet play area.
http://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leisure/leis-coral-reef.htm

Gullivers Theme Park in Milton Keynes off the M1 is great for under 13s. They now also have a splash park open it seems. My children used to love Guillivers when they were younger. It is a smaller park, with less queues and is a lot cheaper than the bigger theme parks.
http://www.gulliversfun.co.uk/

Harrietxxx

This hotel is right by a Costco with a nice cheap cafe if you have a card.

asquiths_2

Thanks for the advice.

I'm considering taking the kids to hamleys to spend their pocket money given to them for the trip on the second day.

what would be the best way to get there from the hotel in reading?

I would rather not have to drive in london so was thinking of parking near and possibly getting a train?

What do you think? Is it going to be worth it?

thanks asquiths