Sheraton Heathrow, LHR London Heathrow Airport, UK [Master Thread]
#46
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,005
You will enjoy the Skyline a lot more that the Sheraton Heathrow.
The Skyline has better staff, service and rooms and is closer to the free bus stop.
The Skyline has better staff, service and rooms and is closer to the free bus stop.
#47
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by LH738:
1.)
2.) The bus comes regularly (more regularly than the Hoppa). Maybe all 20min average (depends also from peak/low times).
3.) I don't know why the bus is free. All public buses around Heathrow are free
</font>
1.)
2.) The bus comes regularly (more regularly than the Hoppa). Maybe all 20min average (depends also from peak/low times).
3.) I don't know why the bus is free. All public buses around Heathrow are free
</font>
The Hoppa is one of the most annoying aspects of staying at hotels located near LHR (except for the Hilton connected to T4).
BAA has made the hotels give up their own shuttle bus operation (to reduce traffic into LHR) in favor of this pooled service which provides marginal service at high fares.
Whereas hotel shuttles have an incentive to provide good service, the Hoppa has no such incentive nor do they seem to operate according to any set schedule, which is tough since their frequencies are not that great off hours.
Alas, SFO has copied some of this terrible idea by making hotels double up on their shuttle services with another hotel, or facing higher SFO roadway access. At least hotels near SFO do not charge for their shuttles.
The local buses around LHR are free because BAA is trying to encourage greater use of public transport to LHR as part of their traffic mitigation scheme, which is related to their efforts to build T5.
Since Free buses compete with Hoppa, the casual traveler is not likely to be aware of this bargain. Spread the word!
#48
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Baltimore - Hyatt Lifetime Diamond/Courtesy Card, UA 2M
Posts: 994
FYI, there is a really good Indian reataurant that will deliver to all of these sirport hotels. The Sheraton concierge has a menu.
SO, if you are only passing through, don't miss the opportunity to try the traditional English food.
------------------
United UGS, MM
Hyatt Lifetime Diamond
Starwood Platimun
SO, if you are only passing through, don't miss the opportunity to try the traditional English food.
------------------
United UGS, MM
Hyatt Lifetime Diamond
Starwood Platimun
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,343
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by divaof travel:
SO, if you are only passing through, don't miss the opportunity to try the traditional English food.
</font>
SO, if you are only passing through, don't miss the opportunity to try the traditional English food.
</font>
And if you have a little more time, get a cab to Southall and back. Some of the best, cheap Indian food outside India with a strong sub-continental cultural feel too!
#50
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Charlotte, NC
Programs: Lifetime Plat AA, Starwood Plat 100, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 585
I would normally recommend a taxi, but the last time I was there, arriving after 10pm...and having waited for the miserable Hotel Hoppa for 20 minutes +....I tried to take a taxi.....and had an IRATE and ARGUMENTATIVE driver refuse to take me to an airport hotel.
#51
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: AC SE, SPG Lifetime Plat, ACMM
Posts: 3,535
3 Choices:
1. Pay 3GBP and take the hotel Hoppa ( if you have lots of luggage)
2. Taxi--8-10 GBP with tip--use it after midnight as no more Hotel Hoppa or Free Bus at that time
3. The FREE Bus--really free--leaves from the bus station and from the drop off point near the Sheraton it's a very short walk. Every 20 mins if I recall correctly
1. Pay 3GBP and take the hotel Hoppa ( if you have lots of luggage)
2. Taxi--8-10 GBP with tip--use it after midnight as no more Hotel Hoppa or Free Bus at that time
3. The FREE Bus--really free--leaves from the bus station and from the drop off point near the Sheraton it's a very short walk. Every 20 mins if I recall correctly
#52
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Jim90068:
I would normally recommend a taxi, but the last time I was there, arriving after 10pm...and having waited for the miserable Hotel Hoppa for 20 minutes +....I tried to take a taxi.....and had an IRATE and ARGUMENTATIVE driver refuse to take me to an airport hotel.
</font>
I would normally recommend a taxi, but the last time I was there, arriving after 10pm...and having waited for the miserable Hotel Hoppa for 20 minutes +....I tried to take a taxi.....and had an IRATE and ARGUMENTATIVE driver refuse to take me to an airport hotel.
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Regarding the taxi, this alas, is a common problem at airports worldwide.
From the taxi driver's point of view: cabbies typically have to wait in a queue after dropping off a fare at the airport, before they can pick up a return fare. Sometimes this queue can require waiting hours.
So imagine their delight when a "short tripper" is all they get after waiting in queue.
You of course, are entitled to a ride irrespective of this situtation.
LGA solves this problem by having the dispatcher issue cabbies a "short trip return ticket" which is a scrip which essentially allows them to carry a short trip near the airport, then return to near the head of the line afterwards. This solves many problems.
LGA also solves this problem by not forcing hotels to participate in a lame brain Hoppa service.
#53
Join Date: May 2002
Location: AUS/SFO
Posts: 472
Sheraton Heathrow restaurant closing times?
Hi all,
I'll be staying over at Sheraton Heathrow (not Skyline). My flight (BA from TLV, Terminal 4) arrives at 8:40pm. Probably the best plan would be to head straight to the hotel and grab dinner there. However, I stayed at this hotel a couple of years ago, arrived at the hotel around 10pm (I think), and couldn't get any real food.
What's the food situation like? Is there anything around the hotel that will be open at that time? Am I better off eating at the airport? (which may be problematic as well, at that hour)
Thanks!
I'll be staying over at Sheraton Heathrow (not Skyline). My flight (BA from TLV, Terminal 4) arrives at 8:40pm. Probably the best plan would be to head straight to the hotel and grab dinner there. However, I stayed at this hotel a couple of years ago, arrived at the hotel around 10pm (I think), and couldn't get any real food.
What's the food situation like? Is there anything around the hotel that will be open at that time? Am I better off eating at the airport? (which may be problematic as well, at that hour)
Thanks!
#54
Company Representative - Starwood
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Austin, Texas
Programs: Marriott Employee Level
Posts: 31,593
The Garden Terrace (the all-day dining option for the Sheraton Heathrow) is open from 6 AM to 11 PM, seven days a week.
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 10-09-2003).]
Sincerely,
William R. Sanders
Customer Service Coordinator
Starwood Preferred Services
[email protected]
[This message has been edited by Starwood Lurker (edited 10-09-2003).]
#55
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
The best solution in LHR is to call a so-called minicab. Most are actually larger than regular taxis. Just go to the information booth and they will have a large list of 800 numbers to call. Try a few if you're interested in finding a cheap rate. The driver will come get you at the phone and walk you to his taxi.
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Texas, U.S.A.
Posts: 19,523
Use FlyerTalk's search function on 'LHR' and you'll come up with tons of reviews and comments.
See my post of March 14 in this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/006489.html
FYI if you didn't already know it, there are 2 different Sheratons at LHR.
See my post of March 14 in this thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum74/HTML/006489.html
FYI if you didn't already know it, there are 2 different Sheratons at LHR.
#58
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: Starwood Platinum, AA 2 mm EXP, Citibank Platinum...
Posts: 668
Anyone Care to Weigh in re: Heathrow?
Can the Heathrow be that bad?
I've stayed at the Skyline once, got a decent room and was bone-tired so slept OK. The room price was high and dinner was outrageous at 100 quid for two but hey, it's only money...
But the Sheraton Heathrow comes up a lot cheaper for a couple of weekend night layovers I'll need this winter.
The reviews here have always been mixed with a slight nod to the Skyline. Is the other all that bad? Any renovations lately? Plat's get good treatment?
All I want is a nights sleep and the 65 pound rate with breakfast seems OK.
Skyline sideline: we went on a cruise to South America for Christmas and one of the entertainers, a British pop soloist named "Petrika" listed among her credits several BBC shows and (I guess) well enough known London cabarets and The Sheraton Skyline. For the life of me I couldn't think where. In the big room with the pool?
I've stayed at the Skyline once, got a decent room and was bone-tired so slept OK. The room price was high and dinner was outrageous at 100 quid for two but hey, it's only money...
But the Sheraton Heathrow comes up a lot cheaper for a couple of weekend night layovers I'll need this winter.
The reviews here have always been mixed with a slight nod to the Skyline. Is the other all that bad? Any renovations lately? Plat's get good treatment?
All I want is a nights sleep and the 65 pound rate with breakfast seems OK.
Skyline sideline: we went on a cruise to South America for Christmas and one of the entertainers, a British pop soloist named "Petrika" listed among her credits several BBC shows and (I guess) well enough known London cabarets and The Sheraton Skyline. For the life of me I couldn't think where. In the big room with the pool?
#59
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
I've stayed precisely once at the Sheraton LHR (that makes me an expert). Checked in early (8 am) and was given a very miserable room (dingy, moldy, worn out and about equal to a motel 6). Called the desk to comment on the state of the room, they automatically moved me to a "removated" room -- same size, but an order of magnitude nicer. Freshly decorated, with much better furnishings, linen, etc. By no means luxurious, but comfortable. So the secret is to insist on getting a renovated room. Otherwise it is almost as good as the Skyline (but I think I will stay in London and not at LHR in the future, it still takes 30+ minutes to get from LHR to this hotel despite it being across the street from the future T5).
#60
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EXP, US CP, *W Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver, HH Gold
Posts: 449
I had an almost identical experience on a stay at the Skyline last month...definitely insist on a newer (even if smaller room). For either of the properties, finding the bus that runs along the LHR hotel corridor can be a total pain, especially when you're hazy and exhausted...definitely ask for detailed directions inside the terminal b/f you wander outside, or splurge and grab a cab.
No internet access in the room, but they do have a couple of high-speed public terminals across from the restaurant area...if you just need to check emails or use the internet on your trip, don't bother to lug your lap top.
No internet access in the room, but they do have a couple of high-speed public terminals across from the restaurant area...if you just need to check emails or use the internet on your trip, don't bother to lug your lap top.