rcmiller

Any recent experience with either Conrad St. James or Curio Trafalgar St. James granting early check-in and/or late check-out? This would be weekday check-in and check-out, so not a busy bank holiday weekend or anything like that.

The _Banking_Scot

Hi,

During my 2 stays there in July last year, my digital key was available just after noon (12pm). Was able to get a 1pm with no problem ( did not need a later one)

Regards

TBS

sfgiants13

Any lounges besides the conrad open yet? Wanted to do Hyatt but their rates besides the Hyatt place are triple what I can get even the conrad for. Canary Wharf I can get for £110 but it appears they’re not open yet.

It’s probably weird but relaxing is the lounge with a few drinks is something I look forward to after a long day do walking.

The _Banking_Scot

Hi,

Bankside certainly is open

The lounge at Park Lane is being refurbished so it is relocated to within the Podium restaurant.

Regards

TBS

sfgiants13

thanks I went ahead and booked a room at bankside for now. Any idea what the drink spread is at the moment? Couldn’t find anything in the main thread. Really only care if they have spirits since I’m not a huge beer or wine drinker. Food I’ll go out for unless the spread is spectacular which outside of Asia it’s usually not.

edit: disregard I found it a few pages up. Looks like they do have spirits

The _Banking_Scot

Hi

I found the Bankside lounge food to be very good for a uk lounge in these times with a reasonable selection of cold and hot snacks and dessert. It was better than the conrad which in July 2021 had 3 small canapes, a small meat/ham plate ( ie salami etc), a small cheese plate and crisps. Whilst not as good as the Asian hotels bsnkside good for a light meal.

Regards

Tbs

Also the Heathrow t4 lounge is open but they only had a few small canapes.

I think also some hotels may offer snacks in the bar in lieu of an open lounge ( ie canary wharf) details may be in the individual hotel posts in this forum


The park lane offering in the restaurant in lieu of the lounge were reasonable ie self service drinks and snacks in the evening and attendant service during the day ( you may have to wait a few minutes during the day for the attendant to bring your order) .it was better than the conrad but not quite as good as the dedicated Bankside lounge ( this was July 2021)

pauleeepaul

Normal around these parts

I didnt know the Park Lane lounge was closed with the restaurant serving as an alternative. That can result in a huge upgrade to the food and booze offerings (I'm thinking of you Hilton Rotterdam, circa 2010.)

pazza2000

...it can also result in the opposite, ie a “bento box” and a voucher for a single drink. Would be good to hear more feedback as considering a stay at the Hilton PL

brp

Definitely would love to hear as well as we have a few nights at PL booked for a May trip to London.

Cheers.

anabolism

Last summer, the Hilton Athens served a cheese and olive plate in their restaurant, literally a plate with three pieces of cheese and 5-6 olives, along with one drink. That was disappointing. However, the Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona offered a snack plate of the day and two drinks served at Puro Beach, their privately-managed pool deck. The day's snack ranged from inventive and delicious (hummus "lollipops") to stuff we didn't care for (chicken liver), but the drinks included cocktails and mocktails such as a banana smoothie, and it was much nicer relaxing safely outdoors sans shirt, sans shoes, than being in their crowded, noisy lounge.

Mister P.

Hi,
How would you rank the following hotels for a 4 (or 5) night stay in June? Looking for something near Hyde Park (swimming pool would be a plus but don't think any of these hotels have one).
a. Hilton London Hyde Park: 60,000 pts / night.
b. Conrad London St. James: 80,000 pts / night. (Not exactly Hyde Park).
c. The Biltmore Mayfair: 95,000 pts / night.

Happy to consider other options in other locations if it's a new property, has a pool or good chances to get an upgrade. Was also considering Hilton London Bankside but no standard reward points availability on those dates. Thanks in advance!

residentx

Conrad if you are going to need a lounge, Biltmore if you don't. Both are excellent hotels.

corporate-wage-slave

I think the relative pricing of those three is about right, bearing in mind there is a good chance of an upgraded room. I think the Biltmore is the only London Hilton group hotel that i haven't stayed at, but from what I can make out the room upgrades there can be good, albeit somewhat chintzy.

If you put particular value on a new hotel, that would be the Canopy at the other end of town by Tower Hill / Aldgate, though a number of older hotels have been refurbished during the pandemic.

Mister P.

Thanks cws! I see the Canopy has rooms available for 80,000 pts / night on those dates. Rooms look nice although pricing seems a bit on the steep side.

corporate-wage-slave

Agree. so if that had been in your original list I would have pointed out that was over priced. I think you can make a case for 50 to 65k, but if you really want to be in the West End then it's more 50k to fit in with the others. Lost Property Curio at St. Pauls opens in June 2022, allegedly, but from the limited photos online it seems quite a small hotel, but it will be brand new and is charging a realistic 68k on the random date I checked. Cash may be better value though. That's an iconic location, and if you are prepared to use the bus system it's well placed to wizz around London. The nearest Tube stations are a few minutes walk away. It's also well placed if arriving into London via Gatwick, due to the Thameslink rail station.