Marriott Bonvoy hotels in London, UK
Jan 10, 2019, 2:57 pm
#4006
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Bonvoy titanium
Posts: 537
That hotel is on my banned list
Jan 10, 2019, 6:51 pm
#4007
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Plat Premier
Posts: 20
Thanks to all on the forum for your help with our family trip to London in April. We decided we want to stay close to the city and we need a room with double beds (family of 4), so we've narrowed down on our choices to four hotels (using points). Ideally, we'd want a lounge, but breakfast for PP will work as well...and we want to be in a good neighborhood. So, we're considering the following options:
St. Ermins, Marriott Grosvenor Square, Marriott Marble Arch, and Bankside (new hotel)
If anyone has a recommendation out of these four, that would be most appreciated! Thanks!
St. Ermins, Marriott Grosvenor Square, Marriott Marble Arch, and Bankside (new hotel)
If anyone has a recommendation out of these four, that would be most appreciated! Thanks!
Jan 10, 2019, 8:22 pm
#4009
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,103
In the past couple of years have stayed at the following properties - just wanted to give a comparison for each.
Wellesley Knightsbridge (Luxury Collection):
Wellesley Knightsbridge (Luxury Collection):
- Positives: Great location for tourists and a brisk walk to my office. Stayed twice - once upgraded to a suite, the second time sold out so got a standard king room. The rooms are beautiful, with a full marble bathroom and Hermes toiletries even in the standard room (I was in a suite the first time and thought it might have been a suite-only thing, as I had that at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, but no it's in all rooms). The owner put a lot of money into the property, with the cigar room, a very upscale bar, etc.
- Negatives: I thought the standard room was very small, even for London, and probably wouldn't stay again when occupancy is so high and an upgrade is unlikely. I also thought the continental platinum breakfast was quite poor. The breads tasted stale, and the selection is very small. They're clearly staying within the strict definitions of the free breakfast and that's all. Overall, hotel probably not worth the premium to me once it goes up to Category 8. You also have to be careful not to get booked into the Queen Accessible room available on points, as it looks tiny and not up to the standard of the other rooms.
- Positives: Formerly quite the dog, was renovated in the past few years and it shows. Also good location. I loved the amount of space even in a non-suite room (honestly not sure if I had a upgraded room or a standard). Nice new bathrooms. Only briefly went into the lounge outside of a meal time, and thought it was OK but nothing particularly special.
- Negatives: None in particular. Would return here.
- Positives: I have stayed here several times, and I actually love that the hotel is old and has many different room types. They all are quite large and it's kind of fun having non-traditional rooms and not knowing exactly what you're going to get when you walk in (though there's a negative, see below). Location on Piccadilly is good if you're a tourist. Even if you're not, it's just off the main area, so isn't actually loud at all.
- Negatives: Hotel needs a renovation. Rooms are definitely looking tired. Lounge had a great afternoon tea but was mobbed most times I was there (very small and just above the lobby).
- Pros: None in particular. Bliss products?
- Negatives: My least favorite in London (and there are plenty of other W's I like). Tiny rooms, with the style that a few other W's have with the bathroom sink in the bedroom, and a tiny closet for a toilet and another for a shower. Hotel was constantly jammed with people at the bar and club and I had to show my room card to even get into the lobby.
Not the family rooms. I actually found GS rooms to be tiny. I'm not sure GS has family rooms. Marble Arch also has family rooms.
Cheers.
Jan 10, 2019, 9:27 pm
#4010
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Newton Centre, MA, USA
Programs: DL 2MM Gold, AA Plat Pro; Hilton Lifetime Diamond, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium (via SPG), IHG Plat
Posts: 2,192
Jan 11, 2019, 2:17 am
#4011
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Thanks to all on the forum for your help with our family trip to London in April. We decided we want to stay close to the city and we need a room with double beds (family of 4), so we've narrowed down on our choices to four hotels (using points). Ideally, we'd want a lounge, but breakfast for PP will work as well...and we want to be in a good neighborhood. So, we're considering the following options:
St. Ermins, Marriott Grosvenor Square, Marriott Marble Arch, and Bankside (new hotel)
If anyone has a recommendation out of these four, that would be most appreciated! Thanks!
St. Ermins, Marriott Grosvenor Square, Marriott Marble Arch, and Bankside (new hotel)
If anyone has a recommendation out of these four, that would be most appreciated! Thanks!
How many nights? I ask because another option is the Residence Inn London Bridge, which is cheaper, both on cash and points. It might be nice cooking some meals with food you buy at markets, like nearby Borough Market in Southwark.
Jan 11, 2019, 2:59 am
#4012
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
If you want a lounge and a room big enough for 4 people, you should stay at the J.W. Marriott Grosvenor House. Assuming you're using points. I If so, both the J.W. Marriott and the Marriott Grosvenor Square are category 7 award-redemption properties. So, if it's the same amount of points per night you might as well stay at the J.W. Marriott.
How many nights? I ask because another option is the Residence Inn London Bridge, which is cheaper, both on cash and points. It might be nice cooking some meals with food you buy at markets, like nearby Borough Market in Southwark.
How many nights? I ask because another option is the Residence Inn London Bridge, which is cheaper, both on cash and points. It might be nice cooking some meals with food you buy at markets, like nearby Borough Market in Southwark.
Jan 11, 2019, 5:58 am
#4013
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The JW GH sometimes counts how many people are accessing the lounge and the lounge desk attendant may ask for room details -- not always, not most of the time, but at least sometimes. And it seems to happen more often to families with children in tow than to others. The JW GH has a lot of rather large rooms that should easily be able to accommodate 2 adults + 2 pre-teen children or 2 adults + 1 or 2 teens.
Jan 11, 2019, 6:12 am
#4014
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At least one of the lounge attendants there has been quick enough to identify the shenanigans of shuffling visitors from a given room number. While it may work often, it's less likely to work during breakfast than at other times of the day. Just my experience from observations at this hotel's lounge on more than one trip when school is out for the weekend/season.
Jan 11, 2019, 6:24 am
#4015
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Posts: 6,334
At least one of the lounge attendants there has been quick enough to identify the shenanigans of shuffling visitors from a given room number. While it may work often, it's less likely to work during breakfast than at other times of the day. Just my experience from observations at this hotel's lounge on more than one trip when school is out for the weekend/season.
As far as I know, there is no rule about bringing multiple guests in and out. If I meet John and bring him in and then John leaves and Suzy comes, that's permissible. I've done it when I have business colleagues come over for a "free" coffee or "free" breakfast.
Jan 11, 2019, 12:29 pm
#4017
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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One of your perks as platinum premier is guaranteed room availability on a cash rate with 48 hours notice.
Jan 11, 2019, 12:33 pm
#4018
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Cheers.
Jan 11, 2019, 12:53 pm
#4019
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Bonvoy titanium
Posts: 537
It would be good to know when the experience w/ bed begs was - a decade ago, last year, last month, last week. I've stayed at the LHR many, many times & never encountered the problem. It's still on my list of places to stay if I have an early morning flight or doing a mileage run or need an inexpensive London hotel & am willing to take the tube into town.
Cheers.
Cheers.
I always lift up sheets and the pillow top if a bed has one. The first room was covered in bugs. Second room was fine. But the bugs plus what wasn’t a great experience as a whole will have me seeking accommodations elsewhere. I’d rather a Heathrow express trip and in town hotel than this hotel again
Last edited by Nuhusky; Jan 11, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Jan 11, 2019, 2:31 pm
#4020
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Plat Premier
Posts: 20