ade99

Still had the old style products this week in the junior suites/luxury rooms.

In fact had a really bad experience with the hotel: I dont like internal rooms so rung up and booked fully flex room rates direct for two lux rooms (with club access) When we spoke to the hotel they said they would give us outside view rooms (the ones whereyou can see the aircraft take off and the pods to the business car park)

At check in got the platinum upgrade to two junior suites. One with the view we asked and one not. We asked reception and was told go and relax for a couple of hours and then there will be another room as what we requested but a junior suite and our cases would be moved.

Four hours later and we had no second room, had to look at four other rooms and none were a) luxury rooms with the view we had been gaurenteed on the phone b) junior suites as we had been upgraded with the requested view.

For £400 each room and at least four hours wasted we were not impressed. I don't know if anyone has stayed at the Sofitel LGW, but the staff seem a lot more aware of their rooms and not as harsh as at LHR. I know the LHR is a 5 star but the time we had wasted and the number of staff who admitted that there had been a mistake or 'was new to this hotel so dont know what rooms have what views' was not what we expected.

I think that next time we have a LHR departure we may well try the Hilton either T4 or new T5. I hope the Hilton T5 will make the sofitel up their game again.

MikeBOS

+1. The intense orange scent of the Hermes toiletries = instant headache for me. This is too bad; I had taken to bringing my own so I wouldn't have to deal with the Hermes scent...guess I'll have to go back to that.

Goldorak

I love the Hermès products

choosethedrew

The Hermes products have a much higher quality feel to them, for me. I found the Occitane products a bit 'thin'.

starflyergold

For unknown reasons I seem to have large quantities of both Hermès and L'Occitane products at my home.

Given the choice I actually prefer the old Sofitel staple: Roger & Gallet Jean Marie Farina. They don't stock it any longer but it was definitely my favourite.

choosethedrew

I go John Lewis especially to buy this. I'm 33 going on 73

TheShis

You can still find Roger & Gallet (the orange one) at Pullman executive rooms.

Goldorak

+1

flysas

hi guys

have got a night booked at the Sofitel at Heathrow comming up, i arrive at 1000am. has anyone got any experience as to how good they are at allowing an early check in?

many thanks in advance

ukresident

Three times out of four I have been able to check in early, most times around 11am. I think the likelihood of early check in is good considering the amount of rooms.

bmi goldenboy

I'd call in advance to let them know, much better chance as some days the hotel in completely full so rooms at that time will be at a premium.

stephem

I have used this place as a crash pad on the way through London or when I have meetings outside of London. It's the best hotel in the LHR area as far as I can tell, and I can make it off a T5 BA flight and to reception in about 30 minutes with fasttrack. The bar is decent and the nicer of the two restaurants is quite good.
Not sure thought that I get much of anything for my A-Club Gold status in terms of upgrade.

Non-NonRev

Sometimes, if you have booked the standard queen-bedded room, they will give a superior (king instead of queen, robe and slippers, L'Occitane products instead of Spa Therapy, etc).

chistery

Wasn't too impressed with my stay last night. No recognition of plat status at check in. Had to ask for an upgrade and drinks voucher. Told hotel was full then they found a room. No welcome gift.

There was a private function in the library bar so it was closed and there was a section cordoned off in the Sphere bar, so it was hard to find somewhere to sit.

stimpy

Those things can happen at any hotel. And if a clueless front desk agent doesn't give you your benefits (drink coupon, etc), you could perhaps stand up for yourself and insist on them. On occasion, I have had to do that with every hotel chain.