Lodging Advice?

[smofbabe]

Stephen's leave has been signed off and it appears that we will have a couple of days in London after worldcon. So, I'm applying to the group mind to recommend a reasonably priced, relatively central (or easily accessible to public transport) hotel. I could do my usual time-consuming-but-very-effective Internet searching but I thought for once I might ask for advice first :-> All help greatly appreciated!

Comments

[marsgov.livejournal.com]

Vittie just returned from London, and she reports that England was in the grip of an unprecedented 95-100 degree (F) heat wave. The hotel she stayed at had only 40 rooms out of 550 with air conditioning. Bear this in mind as you make your reservations...

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip!

[timill]

So it'll be pouring rain when you're here...

Strangely, I've never stayed in Central London, so no recommendations.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

So it'll be pouring rain when you're here...

You know something we don't know?

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Haven't heard any crowing about the poor state of Australian cricket lately... Wonder why? :->

[timill]

I take it the rain failed to do its job...?

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Tried its best but Australia only needed 10.1 overs and won by 239 runs.

[calimac.livejournal.com]

I've had pretty good luck making my before-hand European hotel reservations through Best Western's web site. I've only done it for London once, some years ago, and got a tiny but adequate room for a fairly reasonable price (but no breakfast included) in Bayswater. I don't remember the hotel's name, but I think it was in Inverness Terrace.

One warning about staying in Bayswater: I believe the Queensway tube station is closed long-term for repairs, which cuts down one's transportation flexibility a bit.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I actually am very good at net research for stuff like this but thought I'd ask whether anyone had found places recently that they'd recommend personally.

[(Anonymous)]

Queensway is indeed closed until next year (I'm typing this from an Internet cafe in Charing Cross Road, so I noted it on the Tube maps today).

I'm not staying there yet, as this is a one-day stopover in London for me, but for mid-August I've got a reservation at the Dolphin Square which looks interesting; studio apartment type rooms, good pool and gym as its part of a larger complex, etc. Best part is that I hit them while researching when they had a 60 pounds/night rate for me solo, with one night at only 50. So I can't recommend from personal experience, but it certainly looks promising and there are possible significant bargains.

Tom Galloway

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for writing. You definitely got a good deal - rates showing now are much more expensive.

[calimac.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you are, but I for one like friends' endorsements before I use online services.

My experience with that hotel was merely adequate, not highly recommendable, nor was it particularly recent (6 years). For that reason I wouldn't have bothered to offer it if you'd gotten any better advice from others first. If nothing better turns up, though, at least it's something.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Sorry, didn't mean to sound like I wasn't grateful for your taking the time to respond.

[pmcmurray.livejournal.com]

You and Stephen are always welcome at Hotel McMurray...

This is pretty cheap and in a decent location http://www.premiertravelinn.com/pti/hotelInformation.do?hotelId=23881

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

You and Stephen are always welcome at Hotel McMurray...

Very sweet of you but this time I think we need to stay a little more centrally.

This is pretty cheap

Uh-oh: if 87 pounds a night is considered cheap, we're in a lot of trouble!

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

Ditto Plokta central -- though we're not here the weekend after Worldcon (not that this is necessarily a problem for staying).

[zsero.livejournal.com]

The little colony of kosher hotels near Golders Green and Brent Cross aren't all that central, but they're easily accessible to public transport. And you've already stayed at one of them, so you have some idea about them and the area.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

And you've already stayed at one of them

That's why I didn't think I'd better recommend one to Stephen :->

[jane-dennis.livejournal.com]

Have you considered using points? Both Marriott County Hall and Renaissance Chancery Court get many accolades, although I can't speak personally on either one. We have stayed at the Marriott at Grosvenor Square, which is a very nice hotel, but I gather is now very tough to find award rooms at. Still, it never hurts to try. There's also a Marriott near Marble Arch which by report is much more ordinary but also easier to redeem for. I'd think any one of these qualifies as "centrally located". There's also a Regent's Park Marriott, and one or more Courtyards.

You should be able to check them all out on Marriott's website. I believe you can even search for award availability (Scott usually does that sort of thing so I won't swear to it). You might just be able to pop out one or two nights.

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Am passing this on to Mr Marriott - thanks for the suggestion.

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

We've stayed in this hotel and really liked it. It's less than a block from Lancaster Gate tube stop. The rack rates are high, but some of the special breaks are pretty good, esp. the Welcome break. And it's a very friendly place.

MKK

[smofbabe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendation - it's a little rich for Australian exchange rates but definitely looks nice.