London hotels

cougar_3

This isn't a whinge about London hotels upping their prices last night, but a question about if I should change my plans because of the attacks.

I'm definitely going to stay in London in mid-August but need to know what you think - will the bombing mean it's better to wait for a late deal or should I book now anyway? There are two of us and we'd be looking to stay in a 4* hotel, at no more than £40 p/p.

fatboyonadiet

I reckon it's probably best to book now, tourism will be hit hard and prices will have dropped to encourage people back in, might have risen again by August as people will hunt for the bargain.

MylesBetter

Good central deals for London in August should be achievable.

Try https://www.londontown.com if your budget is a bit flexible you should get a good 4* hotel or a 5* hotel.

My experience for a good deal is the 1st weekend in September, kids are going back to school and the business traveller is not quite back in numbers.

On the Londontown web site for £108+VAT per double room per night is the 5* Waldorf Hilton. This is a bargain price and as central as you can get for theatreland, sightseeing and Covent Garden. Treat yourself don't let events distract you.

Do The Big Bus tour (£20) and go on the free ghost walk which is really a pub crawl around the Strand and Covent Garden. Line your stomach first.

Also try Best Western Hotels in particular the Bryanston Street, Mayfair location. Advanced booking should be around £80 per room per night. Stayed here and is recommended.

Holiday Inn are doing a summer deal of £49 PP PN. If you can get in the Holiday Inn Mayfair (Opp The Ritz) for this price take it. Stayed there and it is fabulous (rack rate £250PN). Otherwise try their Welbeck St hotel.

Experience has taught me the further out your hotel the more you end up regretting it as of the time you spend travelling in and out of central london. Add this cost to your hotel budget instead and stay within walking distance of all your visit attractions. It means you can also return to your hotel during the day for a rest, drop off shopping, have a freshen up.

cougar_3

I came across londontown through google and despite sounding dodgy, it is very good for price. I can't find any Holiday Inn offers anywhere in London for mid August. It's annoying that they show the prices exculding VAT because it adds nearly 20% on top of what you see.

I'd like to go to somewhere modern, and found the Ramada London West only it's quite a way out of the centre. Chelsea village also looks good value for money. I'll try and find somewhere that's good value and with good reviews on tripadvisor.com if possible..

Thanks for the advice, Smiley_mum via PM!

pesky2

Tryb Travelodges deals or Holiday Inn Express

MylesBetter

Friend of mine stayed at the Chelsea Village hotel recently.

He was gobsmacked to find use of the hotel swimming pool is an extra £25 per day.

alanrowell

I've used Lastminute.com "top secret" hotels before.

In theory you don't know which hotel it is until you book but if you use the "closest to" option when searching you always end up with a hotel and a "top secret hotel" the same distance from a given landmark and with a virtually identical description.

For example, I wanted a hotel near to Westminster.

The first two hotels shown - one named, one "top secret" - both 0.61km from Westminister had descriptions which read

Good food, attentive service and fashionable surroundings have earned the hotel's restaurant a justifiable reputation.

Overlooking Westminster Gardens, the restaurant is ideal for barbeques, private dining, cocktail parties and pre-theatre meals.

and

One Twenty-One Two is contemporary eating at its best. Good food, attentive service and fashionable surroundings have earned the hotel's restaurant a justifiable reputation.

The Terrace Room Annex, overlooking Westminster Gardens, has a veranda and is ideal for barbeques, private dining, cocktail parties and pre-theatre meals.

which strongly suggests the "top secret" hotel is in fact the 4* Royal Horseguards, but the "top secret" price is £50 per night less.

elisebutt65

As I've advised before, priceline.co.uk is an excellent way of getting a bargain.

Again, you don't know where you're staying until yo've paid but if you're careleful with your location selections, you can get some real bargains.

Last month I chose most of central London, 4* and £40 - got the Hilton Metropole. When I got there I asked for a family room so got a 3 bed room at no extra cost

In the past I've also had the Kensngton Forum for £50 and the Crowne plaza (birmingham) for £40.