Premier Inn T4 vs Hilton Garden Inn T4 vs Thistle vs Sofitel?
Aug 13, 2023, 2:52 am
#91
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Cambridgeshire
Programs: Varies
Posts: 1,306
You don't have to be staying at the Thistle to use the pods.
If you are going to T5 go into the hotel reception and buy a pod ticket from the reception desk. Its officially £6 per person one way if you buy from reception but just buy one ticket even if there is a few of you.
You then follow the signs on the floor to the gate and key in the number to access the pods .
If you are coming back from T5 push the intercom button at the gate and tell the reception staff you need to enter the hotel and they let you in.
I often wait on the main road by the Thistle when my Wife flies into Heathrow and she gets the pod over to the Thistle as its easier and much less hassle.
If you are going to T5 go into the hotel reception and buy a pod ticket from the reception desk. Its officially £6 per person one way if you buy from reception but just buy one ticket even if there is a few of you.
You then follow the signs on the floor to the gate and key in the number to access the pods .
If you are coming back from T5 push the intercom button at the gate and tell the reception staff you need to enter the hotel and they let you in.
I often wait on the main road by the Thistle when my Wife flies into Heathrow and she gets the pod over to the Thistle as its easier and much less hassle.
Aug 13, 2023, 3:09 pm
#93
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
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Yes it works. Just to add there is no need to go to T4 and go down to the bus stands on the ground floor. There is a bus stop right outside the PI T4, Sheffield Way. Basically go down to the basement car park level, turn left on to the road, turn right and it is about 50m along. Saves you the long walk to T4.
Aug 13, 2023, 3:56 pm
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Yes it works. Just to add there is no need to go to T4 and go down to the bus stands on the ground floor. There is a bus stop right outside the PI T4, Sheffield Way. Basically go down to the basement car park level, turn left on to the road, turn right and it is about 50m along. Saves you the long walk to T4.
Aug 13, 2023, 5:33 pm
#95
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: BA Silver / Aegean
Posts: 293
An alternative off site idea - Egham / Windsor
Another theme is to Etsy at the Runnymede Hotel in Egham, and drive to Park & Stay T5 or the Pods.
Good food and nice River Thames view especially in the restaurant bar area.
Similarly another alternative theme might be Windsor, we don't stay there but we often stop with Brother/sister in Law place and have a great meal out entertaining them in recompense in Windsor Town before driving across to park in morning at T5/4/3 etc
Don't necessarily be Heathrow centric especially if you are driving your own vehicle to airport.....
Cheers
Good food and nice River Thames view especially in the restaurant bar area.
Similarly another alternative theme might be Windsor, we don't stay there but we often stop with Brother/sister in Law place and have a great meal out entertaining them in recompense in Windsor Town before driving across to park in morning at T5/4/3 etc
Don't necessarily be Heathrow centric especially if you are driving your own vehicle to airport.....
Cheers
Aug 14, 2023, 6:56 am
#96
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: London / Brighton
Programs: BAEC Gold / M-Life Gold / HH Diamond
Posts: 1,680
Too late for the OP, but I often stay overnight in the Moxy on Bath Road. Last night I paid £75, there's a bus stop literally outside the hotel and it's a short (10-15 min to T3, 20 min to T5) direct bus ride. Tesco local next door, and a Dominos and a decent kebab shop (Heathrow Kebab Centre - cash only) within 50m walk.
Others I've stayed at include:
Others I've stayed at include:
- The Thistle - extremely dated and the pods are a rip-off at £8!
- Ibis Styles - clean, modern, no frills hotel, closer to T5. Would stay there again
- Renaissance - OK, but another depressing sprawling mess of a hotel that whenever I've stayed there seems to be filled with angry people who've been put there by airlines
- Premier Inn T4 / Hilton T4 / Holiday Inn Express T4 - all good at their respsective price points, all connected to T4 by a covered walkway
- Aerotel T3 - extremely overpriced for what it provides, however, it is literally inside the terminal (entrance in arrivals) so it has that going for it
- Hilton Garden Inn T3 - OK but often almost in the same price bracket as the Sofitel
- Hilton Garden Inn Hatton Cross - great location, great hotel, as long as you can get it at a reasonable price.
- Sofittel - the perfect T5 hotel, but comes at a price!
Aug 14, 2023, 7:28 am
#97
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Mexico
Programs: BAEC Gold / SQ *A Gold / Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,608
Too late for the OP, but I often stay overnight in the Moxy on Bath Road. Last night I paid £75, there's a bus stop literally outside the hotel and it's a short (10-15 min to T3, 20 min to T5) direct bus ride. Tesco local next door, and a Dominos and a decent kebab shop (Heathrow Kebab Centre - cash only) within 50m walk.
Others I've stayed at include:
Others I've stayed at include:
- The Thistle - extremely dated and the pods are a rip-off at £8!
- Ibis Styles - clean, modern, no frills hotel, closer to T5. Would stay there again
- Renaissance - OK, but another depressing sprawling mess of a hotel that whenever I've stayed there seems to be filled with angry people who've been put there by airlines
- Premier Inn T4 / Hilton T4 / Holiday Inn Express T4 - all good at their respsective price points, all connected to T4 by a covered walkway
- Aerotel T3 - extremely overpriced for what it provides, however, it is literally inside the terminal (entrance in arrivals) so it has that going for it
- Hilton Garden Inn T3 - OK but often almost in the same price bracket as the Sofitel
- Hilton Garden Inn Hatton Cross - great location, great hotel, as long as you can get it at a reasonable price.
- Sofittel - the perfect T5 hotel, but comes at a price!
Aug 15, 2023, 9:35 am
#98
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: BAEC GGL/CR; Hilton Diamond; Mucci des Puccis
Posts: 5,698
I'm after more than that PUCCI GALORE
Aug 16, 2023, 6:56 am
#99
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,610
Was it my imagination when I thought read a long time ago (perhaps ten years) that the Hilton T4 used to have a free shuttle bus to T5?
Aug 16, 2023, 7:42 am
#100
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 64,100
Aug 16, 2023, 9:45 am
#101
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Wolverhampton
Programs: BA Silver, Hilton Diamond, Marriot Gold, Radisson Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 1,610
Sure that could be improved (do a mini bus like say Dublin Hilton airport, or hilariously SFO hilton bayside (which was a drama and a half around a 9pm the other weeks)), but overall, wasn't it that LHR or at least T5 didn't want hotel shuttle buses?
Aug 17, 2023, 12:23 pm
#102
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 83
Aug 17, 2023, 12:52 pm
#103
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
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I’m at the PI T4 this evening and that bus stop has a closed sign and is coned off. However, there is a small temporary bus stop at the point the cones start, which suggest the bus will stop in the road. But if I was going to use it in the early morning, which I’m not , I’d seek confirmation!
the buses stop at the temporary sign just before the normal stop.
Aug 17, 2023, 1:03 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 83
Wouldn’t want folk to give up and use the H*p*a or something 😀