HadesNL

Always a must when i'm in London,
I blame chef Theo + his kitchen team for creating such tasty comforting food, that all effect of dieting + gastric reduction bypass are instantly negated
Also i am very delighted that Mother + her lady companion were treated like royalty during our dinner,
Dorina + Brigiola were all patience + charm combined to provide great hospitality and suggestions .....
+ allowed me to meet chef Theo in person and showed him i've added a couple of KG extra because of the irresistable food.


In spoiler you'll see what the dishes look from the menu so you are properly informed .....

We actually had much more but no#2 son joined us to meet his grandmother ....
Don't they feed him at all at university ?
He was an instant hoover .......

Anyway it was a delightful evening to entertain, talk, enjoy and have quality time together.... can still recommend !

HadesNL

As prices are on the steep side,
I've ordered some nibbles to show you how far your F&B vouchers can strech .....








They were good quality as my boarding school chum can reconfirm,
i do have to admit that the F&B voucher can be used to entertain without breaking the bank......


Or even rekindle the romance .....






And in honor of nicolas75

They were playing our song......








HadesNL

My good pal and friendly rival in newspaper journalism and investigative research: Nicolas,
has already extensively documented the very pleasent F&B offerings of the lounge.
He's done most of the work so that i could have a leisurely stay, big thank you

I'll just show you a quick overview of the breakfast and evening presentation.
Unfortunately no chance to try out the afternoon tea here upstairs because i already had an afternoon tea downstairs .....
Mothers can be most unforgiving to their kids, but fortunately they are all for spoiling their grandkids ...,
Meaning no second afternoon tea for me but my heir is allowed to take all left over scones to his dorm home ....

Breakfast
06,30 - 11.00

Spoiler for breakfast








And as soon as the clock strikes 17.55H
, mother's lady companion would exclaim "just in time for happy hour!! "
I do appreciate such enthusiasm







If you read
https://parklane.intercontinental.co...ercontinental/

You'll find the following statement:

Additional services

• Shower facilities, ideal for early arrivals.

and this is what i saw insitu in person, so you can get an idea:





Verdict:
Still a very comfortable place to spend some time while enjoying some quiet & calm.
The staff are very friendly and attentive, all lead by Esther. Wow, she has great diplomatic skills dealing with difficult guests, is orientated on details for keeping tables cleared, cleaned and set up and was observed retaining preferences of regular guests. Any inquiries / request aimed at her were executed in a swift + effective manner, an asset to running a succesful lounge and part of the refined Club Intercontinental experience.

And for those of us with the annual lounge pass, i can still recommend you come on over to ol' Blighty to get to experience it yourself !

HadesNL

Orginally booked Mayfair suite Hyde Park view and was upgraded cat+1 to Mayfair Prestige suite.
I paid about £745 for my orginal room which i thought was a fairprice for January as i booked at least a year before.

Room #388 is located on level 3 and is renovated.
It faces south towards picadilly and the Wellington arch.
You'll enjoy the sun from east to south to west and it could warm up quickly.
Fortunately there are 3 airconditioning units that be individually controlled : 2x living room and 1x bedroom.

Although located hext to the elevator shaft, i can report no extra noises and such.
The unique feature of this room is that it has 2 entrances ..,,.
Yes the ability to order in local crumpet,
Yes the ability for the harem to discretely go in/out
Yes the ability to go out through the wrong door on hotel slippers + bathrobe and find yourself locked out .... (waking up bleary eyed)
There's the main door as entrance and a second unmarked door which leads straight to a small antechamber to the bathroom ....

PS: second line of above = yours truly.... i had to bang on the door to have Mother rush out her chair to let me back in....
My son already laughed that i was overexposing myself ....
i do believe though i have jolly good ankles but it's mighty drafty down there... can't afford to stand in the hallway like a tart again ...,

No visual of me in the spoilers ..... only chaste photos of the room .....




happychic

I had such a wonderful trip visiting Scotland, but now it's time to reposition myself so I can fly home from London. What's the best way to transit to ICPL? Looking at Google Map the tube seems to be an option from Heathrow. If it matters by the time I collect my bag it will be around 3pm on a Saturday. I am not weak for a small petite woman, but I am traveling alone. I worry that there won't be lifts and such. I'm also not sure how bad the strikes will impact the Picadilly line. My return to Heathrow is not until tomorrow afternoon so I'm in no rush to get to the hotel.

Thank you in advance!

nicolas75

From LHR, the Picadilly Line is undoubtedly the simplest and cheapest option: nothing glamorous, a few risks of disruption, but Hyde Park Corner station is literally across the street from the InterContinental London Park Lane (after climbing a steep escalator and passing under an underground passage), all in less than an hour for less than £6.

HadesNL

In front of the hotel are always taxis standing by.

Why ?
Because it serves the transport needs of guests IC PL, the 4seasons & Hilton Parklane

I did LHR - hotel vv. by black cab ... expect about £ 100 upwards....
especially with the new Heathrow Airport drop off surcharge
https://www.heathrow.com/transport-a...rop-off-charge
Yes, you read that right !

Hotel concierge can arrange transport, more expensive but at least uncertainty avoided.

As Nicolas mentioned, the Picadilly line tube station is really close by.
Hyde Park Corner tube station has escalators up/down only from the station hall to the platforms.
Between the station hall and streetlevel it is a ramp or stairs only.

You mentioned going about as a solo female traveller .....
In any unlike event, there is an intercom to contact staff.
Fortunately this station still is staffed by a station master + cleaning crew.

Only a question for how long they can manage to hold out ....
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-66867721
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/lond...t-b970425.html


about elevators & lifts at the underground
Please refer to barrier free travelling at TFL website:
https://tfl.gov.uk/transport-accessi...on-this-page-2

& as such

https://content.tfl.gov.uk/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdf
does not mention Hyde Park Corner station,
meaning totally not possible for the impaired,
aka no lifts at all or any other provisions !

sukruthp

Hello experts,

Hope all are doing well. Wanted some help regarding an upcoming trip am making with my wife, two daughters (6 and 3) and my parents to London in April. I was going to book two rooms for us, and i absolutely love the location of the IC PL and was debating whether to book it through the Amex Hotel Collection or Virtuoso both of which have a Stay 3 Pay for 2 offer and offer free breakfast for two (Surprisingly the Amex plat Hotel collection is also offering this, i thought it was only FHR). I am also an ambassador and hence platinum One Rewards.

Any tips around which one to go with (Virtuoso might also get me club lounge access in which case i am guessing it makes it totally worth it?? Any tips on what rooms i should book (I absolutely detest shower curtains!!!)

Thank you so much in advance.

nicolas75

For a long time, I didn't really appreciate the club lounge: apart from the beautiful views and attentive service, I found the food on offer very basic.

Things have totally changed, and now it is quite simply one of the best club lounges in Europe.

So yes, go for lounge access!



The hotel has only begun to renovate some of its rooms.

The rooms below the Mayfair floor category are terribly dated.

The new rooms (Mayfair floor) are very pleasant.If you don’t book a Mayfair floor, you may not receive one (the hotel is quite stingy on upgrades).

HadesNL

A very good morning,

I can give you this much information about the shower curtain situation at present ....
Inspired by Leonard Cohen : "Shower curtains are taken serious by many, only to be taken joyous by a few "
from his song " Jazz Police"

https://parklane.intercontinental.com/stay/rooms/
Confirmed room types with shower curtain:
- cosy
- classic
- premium
* those are unrenovated rooms
* these are on every floor except 3 & 4

Evading the joyous shower curtain + humbling shower/bath step in combo:
If the room title & description has "Mayfair" in it = renovated bathroom = shower stall = no shower curtain
https://parklane.intercontinental.co...mayfair-floor/


It can make really night & day difference....
nicolas75 pokes me with a fork everytime I recount his experience,
As discovered before with his "premium" room , which was a bit of an anti-climax
He instantly perked up the next time by booking ..... "Mayfair" which was all at modern standards.

I do wish to remind you that the hotel is adamant about upgrading only within the Mayfair sub-class.
example: you cannot expect to be upgraded from "Premium" room to "Mayfair Premium" room or "Mayfair Jr. Suite"
UNLESS forking over an extra £100 quid

Rather the hotel wil upgrade rather from "Premium" room to "Jr" Suite
(so you stick to unrenovated junk upgrade path)
This hotel can be very stuborn about it, it can because of its ME clièntele for whom €$¥£ is no object.

I cannot advise about:
AMEX : personal hatred & grudge against the whole lot
Virtuoso : as i prefer to control bookings myself + email contact with the hotel to keep lines short
But, i heard from others that these miracle workers have intimate relations with the hotel and should be arrange all according to your needs....

Although it is not my job,
an experienced virtuoso travel agent should have visited & surveyed each hotel that they are selling and as such should have an archive of each visited hotel floorplans to advice the best rooms befitting their clients' needs. And should have enjoyed good relations with the hotel to guarantee you what you desire and booked& payed for.

1)
You wrote you are keen on having 2 rooms,
Occupancy 2 adults and 2 kids.

2)
As you wish to avoid the "infamous" shower curtain ....
You need to opt for the Mayfair Collection type of rooms and suites....
Renovated with all showerstalls ... confirmed by others here with no shower curtain,
These are located only on levels 3 & 4

See spoiler for floorplan levels 3 & 4









3)
Still not my job as virtuoso agent,
I find geology more rewarding and aesthetic pleasing,
The floorplan teaches us the following for your desired situation.....

I assume as your are travelling with kids you wish to have connecting rooms
Mayfair Collection rooms with connecting door are
Type:
M Cosy, 303 & 305 307 & 309 / 403 & 405 407 & 409 : these rooms ALWAYS face the innercourt atrium (bit gloomy)
M Classic , 370 & 372 / 470 & 472 : these rooms face the street at 1 Hamilton place (east sun orientated)
M Premium, 324 & 326 328 & 330 / 424 & 426 428 & 430 : these rooms face Apsley house & Parklane (west sun orientated)
There are a lot of those M Premium that connect with an assortment of suites
Examples:
320 & 332 306 & 310 & 312 332 & 336 & 338 / 420 & 432 406 & 410 & 412 432 & 436 & 438

4)
although still not my job as am i am not a Virtuoso TA, but i'll warn you anyway:
if the Virtuoso agent / hotel recommends you to save cost,
so as to book instead of 2 rooms each 2 occupancy,
to just a 1 bedroom suite for 4 occupancy
as these suites have collapsable sofabeds to suit your kids
this hotel has a tendency quirk to allocate you the
"Mayfair 1 bedroom suite" :
although befitting your needs,
please be advised these do NOT come with a great view
see above floorplan for 369, 367 / 469 , 467 : blah innercourt atrium view
see also 343, 344, 357, 354 / 434, 444, 457, 454 : slighlty better because at least a view to outside
these Mayfair 1 bedroom suites are a tad smaller in m2 though than the Mayfair 1 bedroom Hyde Park suite ( view on Hyde Park )

this hotel is shrewd that in order to get a 1 bedroom suite with a decent view outside
one must be forced to book the Mayfair 1 bedroom Hyde Park suite.

5)
but what do i know,
i am not affialiated with a travel agency,
i am not a luxury travel advisor ordained by the ancient g-ds
nor will i ever be or have the possibility to survey the building while staying on a TA rate to make my clients happy
* you could pose your questions to a virtuoso agent and see how creative & indepth their answering efforts will be
* as you might have guessed i am quite a cynic about that

As family vactions are most important,
and to avoid uncertainty, i would
A) first email the hotel your questions, see what they answer back [email protected]
B) contact the virtuoso TA / AMEX, see what they answer back

C) compare answers and approach both of them again to see how value / cost / possibilities can be leveraged
- the hotel might be willing to evade the TA commission by giving you what you want
- AMEX / Virtuoso might be desperate for your custom (harking commission) will force the hotel to give you what you want

D) and if one of the parties is throwing in club lounge access, that is indeed a good deal to be sealed asap
Ignore all my cynism....throw my Mr. Spock logic away..... grab it while you can !

And *cynic* cap off again ... putting back on my jolly jester cap of merry ...
For kids, try out : https://www.atlasobscura.com/things-...london-england
And ofcourse for kids, as it is closeby, it will be awsome to watch:
https://www.householddivision.org.uk/changing-the-guard
https://www.householddivision.org.uk...guard-schedule
Ask the concierge for updated times

Enjoy your holiday !

HadesNL

PS: for those of you that are worrying about my friendly rivalry with Nicolas,
it is all with mutual respect with a dash of eyerolling observance of our common enemy

Anyhow I'm going to treat him to a couple of drinks at Kimpton Rotterdam opening...
I owe it to him

nicolas75 all sources mention Kimpton opening 2022/2023 *cough*
But it will be at least projected for Q4 2025
They are still building the residential tower at Post Rotterdam which hosts the Kimpton, updates on progress:
https://barendrechtsdagblad.nl/Rotte...rdert-de-post-
https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threa...&sortby=oldest
Psst: Kimpton AMS might be able to put us on the opening guest list .... but need to ask back in 2025

nicolas75

Is this the same team that worked on the BER airport? 🤭

sukruthp

Thank you so much for your help!!

sukruthp

Oh my god how is this website free. What a detailed thoughtful wonderful reply to my questions. I am so grateful to you for taking out the time to answer all of this. This is super super helpful. Looks like you know this hotel too well. And alas, i wish these TAs are even one tenth as knowledgeable as you about things, it has become so transactional that i think good service in this industry is perhaps reserved for the rich/ultra rich only. You should open a luxury travel company and train folks in this (Just kidding, well maybe only half)

Thank you again so much. I will follow your advice. Do you also know the Cotswolds well (Shooting in the dark here)?

HadesNL

Thank you very much for your compliments,
FT: we are all here on a mission of mercy: glad to be of help!

Actually i do not have tenure at this hotel, my good friend & IC PL oracle Atacama40 is furniture here.
But as he is out on a family commitment, i thought to step in and take over.....
or admittingly i learned the secret technique of darkness from him .... ssst...
I am the personal TA for my family, i believe their fair share of pickyness is good experience to last me a lifetime ....

Unfortunately my knowledge on the Cotswalds is very limited:
- featured as cosy murder mystery location with Mrs Agatha Raisin : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Raisin_(TV_series)
- as tour option from 2 of my tour providers
https://www.rabbies.com/en/england-t...rs-from-london
https://www.premiumtours.co.uk/en/lu...age-in-britain
* I actually chose a pure Stonehenge, Avebury & Glastonbury itinerary

Others might be in a better position to advise ....
Enjoy your time and have a great stay !