U.K. and Ireland - LHR Hotel Hoppa bus stops moved for Olympics

FYI, the Hoppa buses have relocated to the central bus station during the games. At least that seems to be the case for T1 and T3. Not sure about the other terminals. So it's a long walk in store for you if you need the Hoppa. The bad news is that while they didn't have any problems deciding to inconvenience the traveling public, they apparently couldn't be bothered to change the signage that points you out to the normal Hoppa bus stop. Where you will wait forever wondering why no Hoppa buses are coming around. :mad:

:td::td:

Thankfully, I use the LHR Free Zone when staying near LHR...but I'm sure many will not realize this!

FYI, the Hoppa buses have relocated to the central bus station during the games. At least that seems to be the case for T1 and T3. Not sure about the other terminals. So it's a long walk in store for you if you need the Hoppa. The bad news is that while they didn't have any problems deciding to inconvenience the traveling public, they apparently couldn't be bothered to change the signage that points you out to the normal Hoppa bus stop. Where you will wait forever wondering why no Hoppa buses are coming around. :mad:

http://www.heathrowairport.com/transport-and-directions/buses-and-coaches/hotel-buses

From the Hoppa web site:

If you are arriving into Terminal 1 or Terminal 3, please select the Heathrow Airport option in the jouney planner below.

I wonder if it's a permanent change.

:td::td:

Thankfully, I use the LHR Free Zone when staying near LHR...but I'm sure many will not realize this!

I have an annual Travelcard so don't even need to worry about the free zone.

Is there any other major airport that has caught onto the wheeze of banning courtesy shuttles like this?

I have an annual Travelcard so don't even need to worry about the free zone.

Is there any other major airport that has caught onto the wheeze of banning courtesy shuttles like this?

The Hotel Hoppa isn't a "courtesy shuttle". It's a very expensive bus service.

I know. Hence my question — has any other airport banned courtesy shuttles like LHR has done?

FYI, the Hoppa buses have relocated to the central bus station during the games. At least that seems to be the case for T1 and T3. Not sure about the other terminals. So it's a long walk in store for you if you need the Hoppa. The bad news is that while they didn't have any problems deciding to inconvenience the traveling public, they apparently couldn't be bothered to change the signage that points you out to the normal Hoppa bus stop. Where you will wait forever wondering why no Hoppa buses are coming around. :mad:

There was clear signage at T1 the other night to the new location; so clear in fact that I noticed it before starting to go my usual route.

There was clear signage at T1 the other night to the new location; so clear in fact that I noticed it before starting to go my usual route.

They told me that later, however they failed to remove the old signage which is all I happened to see last night as I walked to the exit.

They told me that later, however they failed to remove the old signage which is all I happened to see last night as I walked to the exit.

Ah, I didn't notice the 'old' signage (wouldn't have been looking for it though) I was actually quite bleary eyed and am a little surprised that I happened to notice the new signage as I would most likely have ended up at the old location and not been happy if I had not been paying attention.

They did I thought have the new stops well signaged with routes etc and it didn't feel very temporary to me.

Thankfully, I use the LHR Free Zone when staying near LHR...

^ +1.
And with the stops moved to Heathrow Central, there is no reason whatsoever anymore to use Hoppa, for all but a few hotels. (Secretly I'm hoping that the Hoppa rip-off loses tons of money during that period... ;))

The Hotel Hoppa isn't a "courtesy shuttle". It's a very expensive bus service.

There used to be courtesy shuttles. Indeed, I was travelling out of LHR with the car parked at a hotel when the switchover happened, hotel free shuttle on the outbound, Hotel Hoppa on the way back. June-ish 1997, I think.

Neil

I am staying at a hotel near Heathrow for the Olympics. First time visiting London so need some transit help.

Hotel suggested I take public bus to terminal and take tube to downtown. I will staying for at least a week. Would a 7 day travelcard be my best option? I know there is the Heathrow Express, but I am trying to save some money.

Thanks for any help.

I am staying at a hotel near Heathrow for the Olympics. First time visiting London so need some transit help.

Hotel suggested I take public bus to terminal and take tube to downtown. I will staying for at least a week. Would a 7 day travelcard be my best option? I know there is the Heathrow Express, but I am trying to save some money.

How often will you travel? If every day for a week, yes.

You can get some nice 2 for 1 offers if you're not doing Olympic stuff the whole time by buying it from a railway rather than Tube station. You will in either case need a passport-sized photograph for the associated photocard (I'm pretty sure LU reintroduced them, anyway).

Neil

I know. Hence my question — has any other airport banned courtesy shuttles like LHR has done?
I don't know the origin, but at MUC, there is a nontrivial charge for the airport hotel shuttles, IIRC 8 Euro per person. I think the same is true at certain other airports in Germany.

I am staying at a hotel near Heathrow for the Olympics. First time visiting London so need some transit help.

Do you not have any tickets for the Games? You are supposed to get a free all zone travel card with each ticket.

I don't know the origin, but at MUC, there is a nontrivial charge for the airport hotel shuttles, IIRC 8 Euro per person. I think the same is true at certain other airports in Germany.

That might be because you don't often get anything for free in Germany - even the little sachets of ketchup at burger restaurants are chargeable, as is using the toilets.

I think that's just a cultural thing, that you shouldn't expect anything for nothing and should pay a fair price for the product/service consumed regardless of how small.

Neil

Do you not have any tickets for the Games? You are supposed to get a free all zone travel card with each ticket.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get tickets. Cosport did not have much to choose from.

[QUOTE=pacer142;19003827]How often will you travel? If every day for a week, yes.

I will be visiting for 10 nights and do plan to travel every day. I amy look at the train option at the end of the trip since the tube may take more time out of my day than I care. Thanks for advice.

I am staying at a hotel near Heathrow for the Olympics. First time visiting London so need some transit help.

Hotel suggested I take public bus to terminal and take tube to downtown. I will staying for at least a week. Would a 7 day travelcard be my best option? I know there is the Heathrow Express, but I am trying to save some money.

Thanks for any help.

7 day travel card MIGHT be best option.

How many of you are there? Just you?
Which hotel is it?

What do you plan to do? [Any specific non-london places, etc? London everyday?]
How long is your stay (days) will you be travelling all of them?

And will you be travelling before 0930 on weekdays?

7 day travel card MIGHT be best option.

How many of you are there? Just you?
Which hotel is it?

What do you plan to do? [Any specific non-london places, etc? London everyday?]
How long is your stay (days) will you be travelling all of them?

Traveling solo and staying at Sheraton Heathrow (not best hotel but at 3k spg/night before increase I can handle it). I plan to go to various Olympic sites (including Wimbledon) and maybe some of the tourist sites, so not too far from Central London. I will be there 10 days and I anticipate traveling every day to and from hotel and possibly from one Olympic site event to another (multiple trips/day).

Most days I will be traveling after 9:30 am, but there might be a day or two where I attend a morning session and leave prior to that.

How often will you travel? If every day for a week, yes.

You can get some nice 2 for 1 offers if you're not doing Olympic stuff the whole time by buying it from a railway rather than Tube station. You will in either case need a passport-sized photograph for the associated photocard (I'm pretty sure LU reintroduced them, anyway).

Neil

I bought a 7 day zone 1/2 travelcard last month and didn't need a photocard.

I bought a 7 day zone 1/2 travelcard last month and didn't need a photocard.

You don't need one on an Oyster card. You do for a paper ticket. If you did not have one, your ticket was invalid.

Not for adult tickets inside the London fare zones, IIRC.

Not for adult tickets inside the London fare zones, IIRC.

Changed in May, you do now.

Changed in May, you do now.

Well, a tube employee worked the ticket machine for me at the Hammersmith&City entrance at Paddington, he set it up for me to get the ticket, and made no mention about the need for a photocard. There was also no mention of such a requirement on the machine screen.

However, I did load it onto my Oyster, it wasn't a paper ticket.

As mentioned above, you do need one for a paper ticket, but not for an Oyster card.

I will be visiting for 10 nights and do plan to travel every day. I amy look at the train option at the end of the trip since the tube may take more time out of my day than I care. Thanks for advice.

By that I meant "get a Travelcard from a railway station rather than from a Tube station", as you get extra offers.

It is *NOT* valid on Heathrow Express, nor on Heathrow Connect from LHR to Hayes inclusive.

Neil

Well, a tube employee worked the ticket machine for me at the Hammersmith&City entrance at Paddington, he set it up for me to get the ticket, and made no mention about the need for a photocard. There was also no mention of such a requirement on the machine screen.

There was a poster at Euston a while ago mentioning the requirement - I think it did apply to Oyster as well.

Neil

There was a poster at Euston a while ago mentioning the requirement - I think it did apply to Oyster as well.

Neil

That is not correct.

So as to avoid confusion, a weekly, monthly, annual, or other period adult Travelcard issued on an Oyster card does not require a photocard. Such a Travelcard issued as a paper ticket does. London Underground will only issue such tickets onto an Oyster card, and National Rail will mostly only issue such tickets on paper.