Lastminute.com - Top Secret Hotels REVEALED (London ONLY)

Pelican_eats_pigeon

mandragora wrote: »

Anyone able to help with these at all please - my mother (in her 70's) and I are taking a trip to London in Feb, and I'd love to treat her to some luxury! any help identifying either of these two much appreciated:

Amazing late Deals in the Heart of the West End - 4* - London

Thanks to a perfect location in the heart of the West End, this truly delightful boutique style hotel is a great choice for those who want to be within walking distance of London's exciting attractions including Covent Garden, Soho and Oxford Street. This traditional, privately owned hotel offers guest rooms enjoying all the modern facilities you'd expect from a 4-star hotel, including air conditioning and wireless broadband.

Rathbone Hotel. Already been revealed about 5-6 times in the thread, including on the previous page. This hotel is OK but there are better 4* deals out there usually.

mandragora wrote: »

or:
Chic hotel close to Hyde Park & Paddington - 4* - London

This chic hotel has been fully refurbished as a 4-star hotel complete with luxurious features. Each room has been newly refurbished with the emphasis on comfort and relaxation. With a variety of room types to choose from this hotel is an ideal place to stay for business or pleasure

Hyde Park Premier London Paddington. Again, it's been revealed at least a couple of times in the thread.

I would avoid staying at this hotel.

mandragora_2

Thanks a lot for that - much appreciated. My eyes were starting to glaze over in the end, so I'm sorry I missed the 'reveals' earlier in the thread.

I worked out that one of the others on my shortlist was the Grafton - it looked as good a bet as any, but I found that the very best price (including VAT) I could get was from the hotel's own website - beating Lastminute, laterooms and their own phone-in line by at least £20, and sometimes considerably more. They have a package called 'pay now, save now' or something similar - tip - you need to scroll down to the bottom of the quotes page in order to find it.

I lost the will to live when I was almost ready to buy - when I went to finalise bookings only to find that the prices that many of hotel websites give does not include VAT - so for anything in the New Year, you need to factor in another 20% to get the 'real' final price you're looking at.

Hope this helps someone!

Pelican_eats_pigeon

If you're travelling in February there should be an awful lot of good deals available nearer the time - occupancy is not high that month (check whether your dates are in half term though). The good secret hotel offers are only released about a week in advance, I would definitely wait.

If you're really scared to leave it so long before booking you could always book some place with a good cancellation policy as insurance just in case, but I don't see it as necessary.

What sort of budget are you looking at? And what days of the week? I might be able to give you an idea of what is likely to be available nearer the time.

mandragora_2

That's really kind of you - however, I've already booked. My mum's in her 70's and I know she'll be happier that we've got something sorted now. I've only used secret saver once before, so I hadn't really twigged that they'd be cheaper closer to the time - and handy tip for next time!

Pelican_eats_pigeon

In future, if you're travelling with someone who needs that type of reassurance, the strategy of booking a cancellable rate well in advance and then looking on secret hotels circa 1 week before is a very good one. You get both the security of knowing you have somewhere to stay and the potential for a really good deal.

The only times this might not work are July/August peak season, bank holiday weekends, or weekends when a major event is occurring.

sailor-s

Hi I'm looking for somewhere to stay on Saturday 18th December & was wondering if I've left it too late to get a good deal on a top secret hotel? Also does anyone know if The Arch (Great Cumberland Place) & the St. James's Club (Park Place) take part in top secret hotels?
Thanks. S

Pelican_eats_pigeon

sailor-s wrote: »

Hi I'm looking for somewhere to stay on Saturday 18th December & was wondering if I've left it too late to get a good deal on a top secret hotel? Also does anyone know if The Arch (Great Cumberland Place) & the St. James's Club (Park Place) take part in top secret hotels?
Thanks. S

You shouldn't have left it too late, I predict you will find the best deals between Sunday and Tuesday.

I have never seen The Arch as a secret hotel, I have a feeling St James's Club has taken part before but it's only a feeling, I can't be sure. St James's club will never be cheap even as a secret hotel.

Watch out with the 5* hotels as there are a few that take part that I don't believe deserve to be rated 5*.

However I can see the Threadneedles "Award winning boutique hotel" listed at £130, what is either the Rafayel or Verta at £146, and Plaza on the River at £150.


What is your budget and what sort of standard are you looking for?

RichardF_2

Any one know

"Victorian hotel for shopping, Hyde Park & museums - 4* - LondonArea: London
Hotel information
Decorated in warm relaxing colours with scatterings of fine artwork and designer furniture, this central London hotel is a picture of style. This Victorian townhouse still retains many of its original features from the stain glass windows to the elegant and decorative painted ceiling. view full hotel description


I am after a hotel in that sort of area if anyone has any recommendations? under £100.

Thanks

sailor-s

Pelican_eats_pigeon wrote: »

You shouldn't have left it too late, I predict you will find the best deals between Sunday and Tuesday.

I have never seen The Arch as a secret hotel, I have a feeling St James's Club has taken part before but it's only a feeling, I can't be sure. St James's club will never be cheap even as a secret hotel.

Watch out with the 5* hotels as there are a few that take part that I don't believe deserve to be rated 5*.

However I can see the Threadneedles "Award winning boutique hotel" listed at £130, what is either the Rafayel or Verta at £146, and Plaza on the River at £150.


What is your budget and what sort of standard are you looking for?

Thanks for that. I'm looking for a boutique/independent hotel in central London. Absolutely hate chains (they're soulless) so don't want to accidently book a Hilton or anything like that. It's for a special occassion so my budget is anything up to £250. I have had a look back through the entire thread & there was one that somebody thought might be the St. James's Club but somebody else thought it was Duke's - it was never confirmed which it was. Threadneedles looks great but unfortunately it's a little too far from where we need to be. Thanks again

Pelican_eats_pigeon

Had a look and I don't think St James's Club is a secret hotel for the date you're looking at, if indeed it ever has been one. I've had a quick look back through the thread and the secret hotel there was some debate over turned out to be Dukes in the end. There is also "Gorgeous bolthole in exclusive St. James's" for £200, but my research suggests that's the Stafford Hotel, which is decent but not sure if it's what you're after?

I looked on the St James's Club website and if you really want to stay there, it appears you might be able to book direct with them and stay in budget.

The Athenaeum is not down as being available under its 'secret' name "Top West End hotel" on the 18th, however it can be had for £200 direct at the hotels website. It is a very very good independent hotel and friendly too.

Cadogan Hotel and Royal Horse Guards are on lastminute for the 18th as non-secret hotels, both are very good and around your budget, the latter is part of the Guoman group but doesn't feel too chainy/branded. It could be worth looking to see what their rates are direct or whether any other site has offers.

Booking.com has the Kensington Hotel within your price range but don't know if that's close enough to where you need to be.

In any case, occupancy appears really low for the 18th at the moment so I reckon you're safe leaving it a couple of days to see if anything else suddenly appears, there's a tendency for hotels to release their best deals in the last week.