Olympic bargains galore as London's theatres and hotels slash rates
Jul 20, 2012, 10:57 am
#61
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I briefly thought about the business class fare bargains to London, but decided I didn't want to deal with the LHR immigration and customs lines.
Jul 20, 2012, 2:02 pm
#62
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cambridge, UK
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,368
Actually, LHR has been coping well this week. The media were all hanging around waiting for chaos but nothing happened. If anything it's flowing better than usual due to the extra staff on duty.
Jul 20, 2012, 10:40 pm
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,237
But yes, the hotels are borderline reasonable. I think even the Waldorf was something like US$250, but I refuse to stay at any Hilton properties...
Jul 23, 2012, 6:19 am
#64
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Home
Programs: Virgin FC, Qantas, Golden Circle, Sofitel, Hyatt, Starwood, Nectar, and my Tesco Club Card
Posts: 1,770
I'm seeing midweek Government Rates of £118 including breakfast + VAT at several Holiday Inn's (not expresses) in the Kensington and Regents Park area this week including Thursday. These are the standard prices. Couple of weeks I was struggling to get anything for less than £300 at the same hotels.
Jul 25, 2012, 11:14 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
This is looking quite feisty...
Malmaison on offer pretty much every night from now until the end of September via Secret Escapes for £125 or £135 B&B, incl. VAT.
If you're not an SE member there's a link in my blog (below) that will get you a further £15 credit for joining.
Malmaison on offer pretty much every night from now until the end of September via Secret Escapes for £125 or £135 B&B, incl. VAT.
If you're not an SE member there's a link in my blog (below) that will get you a further £15 credit for joining.
Jul 25, 2012, 5:21 pm
#66
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida USA
Programs: Marriott, SW, United
Posts: 193
I don't recall seeing this about the Chase Visa Lounge. It's on Pall Mall and open daily with no charge.
https://www.visaviplounge.com/chase/index.cfm
https://www.visaviplounge.com/chase/index.cfm
Jul 25, 2012, 9:19 pm
#67
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,062
Been following hotels religiously, finally pulled the trigger on Hotwire. 4* in Westminster for $158 plus taxes, got the Doubletree Westminster. There is a decent condo in Bayswater area for $130/nt plus taxes for my nights which betterbidding.com said was the grand plaza.
Jul 25, 2012, 11:13 pm
#68
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA bronze card, NHS Blood Donor silver card
Posts: 1,617
I don't recall seeing this about the Chase Visa Lounge. It's on Pall Mall and open daily with no charge.
https://www.visaviplounge.com/chase/index.cfm
https://www.visaviplounge.com/chase/index.cfm
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/u-k-i...-olympics.html
Jul 26, 2012, 3:21 am
#69
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Sitting down
Posts: 557
A person from one of the tourist promotion agencies (not sure which as I missed the intro) said this morning on BBC Breakfast that hotel occupancy levels in London this year are broadly similar to last year at around 80%. Prices too are now comparable for last minute bookings, but are still higher for more than a week away.
Jul 26, 2012, 6:47 am
#70
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,658
I've found London hotel prices for games dates to be BELOW what they have traditionally been for July/August bookings and with far better availability.
This has changed significantly in the last week or so. Prior to that, nearly everything was showing sold out or availability only at ridiculously high prices.
I just booked 2 nights at a Hilton property for £51 plus VAT. I've never seen it below £70 in the past and usually in the £120 range.
This has changed significantly in the last week or so. Prior to that, nearly everything was showing sold out or availability only at ridiculously high prices.
I just booked 2 nights at a Hilton property for £51 plus VAT. I've never seen it below £70 in the past and usually in the £120 range.
Jul 26, 2012, 1:08 pm
#72
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
Prepaid rates at the Hyatt Churchill for late August dropped from 320+VAT a night yesterday to 256+VAT today. Regular rates dropped too, but so far no special rates (senior, auto club, etc) seem to be available.
Jul 26, 2012, 3:40 pm
#73
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: somewhere north of London, UK
Programs: HH Gold, BA Silver, Accor Silver
Posts: 15,245
ps. I do not work for secret escapes.
Jul 30, 2012, 1:54 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Not Surprised--This Happens Every Olympics
There is always tons of excess last-minute hotel inventory just before the Olympics. Doesn't matter what city.
1) The normal tourist crowds unconnected with the Olympics defer their travel
2) Businesses move venues for meetings and conferences to other cities, or defer until after the Games.
3) Corporations that advance block-book rooms to entertain clients from around the world and for employee rewards, don't have the numbers of guests materialize and release them back (some sell directly to any takers)
The amount of Olympic-connected traffic generated, does not more than offset all the other business lost or foregone during this time. Those unconnected with the Olympics definitely aren't going to deal with the extra hassles and high costs to try to co-exist during this time.
The experienced Olympics-attendees learned this long ago, and generally don't start looking for a room in the host city until one month before the start of the Games, some even wait until only 2 weeks before. Those who advance-booked non-refundable rooms at very high cost are the losers, but it's of their own doing.
1) The normal tourist crowds unconnected with the Olympics defer their travel
2) Businesses move venues for meetings and conferences to other cities, or defer until after the Games.
3) Corporations that advance block-book rooms to entertain clients from around the world and for employee rewards, don't have the numbers of guests materialize and release them back (some sell directly to any takers)
The amount of Olympic-connected traffic generated, does not more than offset all the other business lost or foregone during this time. Those unconnected with the Olympics definitely aren't going to deal with the extra hassles and high costs to try to co-exist during this time.
The experienced Olympics-attendees learned this long ago, and generally don't start looking for a room in the host city until one month before the start of the Games, some even wait until only 2 weeks before. Those who advance-booked non-refundable rooms at very high cost are the losers, but it's of their own doing.