Here is my modus operandi for London: http://www.dolphinsquarehotel.co.uk I check to see what their lowest rates are. Then I go to Priceline. If I can get a 4* price (checking biddingfortravel.com, of course) less than the cost of a room at the Dolphin Square, in an area I like, I go for it. If not, I book the Dolphin Square - steps from the Pimlico Tube stop and close to the Tate Gallery and Victoria Station.

Kingsway Hall Question
 

Hi Bob:

Two questions: 1. What are the room sizes like at this hotel? Can one get a larger room on a priceline stay?

2. What is the best way to get from LHR to Kingsway??
Thanks
kelly786

Kelly,

Can't help on point one, but as for point two, the best thing to do (depending how much luggage you have) is take the Tube straight through to Holborn (approx 1hr). The exit is at the top of Kingsway (approx £4 per person)

Altrenatively if you've got lots of luggage look at taking the Heathrow Express (£13 p.p) then a taxi (around £10)

Hi Kelly:

Sorry...didn't see your query until today. The rooms that I have gotten at the Kingsway are a bit on the small-side by USA standards, but seem "luxurious" when I traveled alone and "cozy but OK in size" when I traveled there with my rambunctious daughter. The rooms are so nicely furnished and so quiet, I don't think that you'll have an issue with the room size unless you are staying there for more than a week.

You can see pictures of the rooms at http://www.kingswayhall.co.uk/

I have not asked about a room upgrade previously. I suspect that the desk staff will make an offer to you for this uponrequest at arrival, should they not be booked heavily during your stay.

As Swiss Tony has mentioned, you can take the tube (Piccadilly Line) all the way from Heathrow to the Holborn Stop, two short blocks from the Kingsway Hall hotel. I usually buy a Transport for London Travelcard before departing for London, and I usually get the Heathrow Express option---but the Express doesn't save that much time off of getting to the Holborn tube stop, since you must change trains at Paddington and then one other stop to get to Holborn. I just happen to like the Heathrow Express as part of my arrival into London.

Good luck!

I have not stayed at the Kingsway hall, but I have frequently about 6 blocks north of that area. I think that to be the best possible location for a London visit.

The rack rate for that place is £230+breakfast, which is over $400. Note the weekend rate with champagne

cordelli, thanks for that tip. I have been wondering about the Russell for a while. It looks nice from the pictures and its a great location. I will definately add it to my list of London options.

Depending on the time you can get rates in London all over the place at most hotels. Even through Expedia or the hotels own web page I have gotten the Crown Plaze near the palace for under 100 pounds a night, the Flemings Mayfair and the Holiday Inn (points!) Chelsea (or was it Kensington) for under 100 pounds. They are usually a lot more. Even the Swisshotel (used to be the Howard) has some real cheap rates at times. A few of the top places and very high end places like the Covent Garden seem to never have a big sale but most places do. But if really depends on the dates. Things can easily double from one weekend to the next at the same hotel. Thats the beauty of the internet, you can shop for the best for your dates and cover a wide range of hotels very quickly.

Does rate affect how hotels treat you?
 

I've been doing a bit of search for rates at a hotel and found a very good rate compared to other rates I've found elsewhere. But there's that the adage, "You get what you pay for". So my question is:

Does hotel treat everyone equally at a given room catagory? I don't want to book some very good deal only to be assigned a lousy room or be given attitudes at check-in.

Thanks!

I've never found it so in London. Much more depends on the staff and management of hotel.

My recommendations (and I don't usually Priceline London, so can't comment on that area) - Holiday Inn has been coming up with some reasonable prices recently. HI Regents Park has some nice rooms, and is fairly close to the British Museum, (I'm looking at £90 weekdays, £55 :eek: on weekends). Thistle Hotels can be nice or can be small, but can also give extremely good value rates - someone has already mentioned Royal Horseguards, but Victoria is right next to the Underground, the two Kensington Hotels are v nice hotels. At Thistle, it can be worthwhile paying for a room upgrade from the bog-basic, as bog-basic doesn't usually come with air-con, which can be a consideration for London in July. I've had good reports of Russell Hotel as well, but never managed to stay there. Strand Palace seems to be popular with Americans, but I'm not sure why. Unless you want small rooms in a noisy hotel, avoid.....

If early July, watch out, Wimbledon will be on.

I second this. Was pleasantly out of the way (not too far - one tube stop on the Victoria line) and the rooms are quite large - especially by London standards. but definitely use the tips on biddingfortravel.com.

Hotel for Group Meeting
 

Rather than start a new thread, I'll jump on here. I need a London hotel recommendation for some time in October to hold a group meeting. We figure there will be about 35 people. We need some place that is close to a variety of restaurants, etc for the evening while providing a decent guest & meeting room with good service during the day. Everyone will be traveling on business so as long as we stay away from high end hotels (Ritz, etc) price isn't a huge issue.

Thanks