19,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 2, 2017 14:58:49 GMT
Anyone want share recommendations for overnight stays in either London or anywhere else?
I usually go with PremierInn in London because they're reliable in terms of what you get if not the cheapest. But just idly looking at London over various weekends in 2017 and I'm shocked at the hike in prices even for the non-flexible rate.
I think PremierInn can still be a good choice with reasonable prices in other cities but no longer London it seems.
Ive tried TravelInn before and found it to be a hugely depressing experience. IBIS are usually ok but again the prices are going up and up.
So, anyone got any good ideas?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 15:07:11 GMT
TravelInn? Do you mean Travelodge? My first port of call everywhere, because of their competitive pricing policy.
University halls are very good value when available outside termtime. I use LSE Vacations but I expect the others are similar?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 15:09:28 GMT
I usually stay at easyHotel Victoria. The room is super small and some don't even have windows, but hey, it's affordable.
Also last year I found a nice little B&B called The Ridgemount, on Gower St, near the British Museum. It's not expensive at all and the staff is super friendly.
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19,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 2, 2017 15:10:18 GMT
TravelInn? Do you mean Travelodge? My first port of call everywhere, because of their competitive pricing policy. University halls are very good value when available outside termtime. I use LSE Vacations but I expect the others are similar? Yes, you're right. I do mean them. Did they used to be TravelInn? I stayed in the one in Euston and it was like being in a prison cell. Basic taken to new lows. The staff were lovely though. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 15:12:01 GMT
Air BnB
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 15:25:50 GMT
I usually stay in either easyHotel Victoria, Victoria Inn or St Giles Hotel.
EasyHotel is probably the cheapest option of the 3, but all you get is a bed, bathroom and tv...not even a shelf to unpack your things.
Victoria Inn, just up the street from easyhotel, havent stayed there for a while, but it was decently priced last time I was there...I imagine the rates would have gone up like everywhere else though.
St Giles, pretty much located just off the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. Pretty good rooms, but can be quite pricey depending on the time of year.
I've never found Premier Inn to be very affordable in London, stayed in the one in Victoria not long after it opened, and the price was similar to the first 3 hotels I mentioned combined.
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2,701 posts
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Post by viserys on Jan 2, 2017 15:30:10 GMT
I haven't found a somewhat central AirBnB that's cheaper than a decent cheap hotel. I once stayed with a very nice lady near Kings Cross but overall I prefer hotels as I can't shake the feeling that I'm a guest in someone's house when I do AirBnB and are terrified of breaking something or making a mess.
My main go-to-hotel has always been the Travelodge in Covent Garden as I can walk back there from various theatres easily and take a break between whatever I do during the day and going to the theatre later. However, pricing has become a bit insane there, too, considering what you get for it.
There are still cheapish Travelodges a bit further outside but as a single lady traveller I'm wary of booking places in areas I don't know, especially if they aren't close to a tube station. Don't want to be out alone in the darkness in the late evening in iffy areas.
I've tried several hotels in the Kings Cross area (since I want to be close to the Eurostar for my Sunday morning departures). Really liked the Comfort Inn where I stayed last time. The room was tiny but nice and clean, breakfast was decent and there was free wifi (my main bugbear about Travelodge). I also liked the Days Inn in Paddington.
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653 posts
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Post by ptwest on Jan 2, 2017 15:34:13 GMT
I normally go to Premier Inn at either Waterloo or County hall, but my back up as mentioned above is always the St Giles Hotel on Tottenham Court road. The rooms are too small to swing a cat, but the location is fantastic and the price is usually good compared with other central locations.
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850 posts
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Post by stuartmcd on Jan 2, 2017 15:53:30 GMT
I tend to stay at The Hub when staying in London. Rooms are small but perfect for a stay where all you need is a bed and bathroom. It's owned by Premier Inn.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 16:15:37 GMT
Premier Inn or Travelodge are both great and can often have good rates at weekends in London.
Premier Inn the Hampstead one is farther out on the tube but the location is a stone's throw from said tube stop on a busy high street so never an issue with walking far in the dark alone (also single lady traveler often). Other Premier Inns I like are all of those in the Tower Bridge/City area- there's 3 in total I think in that area, all generally cheaper at weekends due to being mainly 'business' hotels.
Travelodge I also have stayed in a lot. I don't mind some of the further out ones in London as having lived there for a short time I feel fairly confident in most of the areas.
I also use Halls of residence, as Kings College Alumni I tend to use theirs as I know the areas well and they're very central. All basic, but many with breakfast and can get a £30-40 room often.
In Stratford my favourite hotel is the Q hotel on the road in. But that's if I'm feeling fancy! Otherwise their two Premier Inns are great.
If anyone is coming to Cardiff for a show, the Travelodge is within stumbling distance of the WMC, and is decent and the bus to town stops outside!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 16:32:29 GMT
If you can wait till the last minute, the Accor Happy Mondays offer will let you book rooms in central London for £40, £50 or £60 for the following two weekends , if you book on Monday or Tuesday Details here - www.headforpoints.com/2016/07/12/happy-mondays-accor-now-2-weeks/The selection varies but I've almost never not been able to get a room that way when I need one. Exception is peak weekends (e.g. Just before Xmas or when an event like the Marathon is on) |
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5,053 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Jan 2, 2017 16:48:54 GMT
Anyone want share recommendations for overnight stays in either London or anywhere else? I usually go with PremierInn in London because they're reliable in terms of what you get if not the cheapest. But just idly looking at London over various weekends in 2017 and I'm shocked at the hike in prices even for the non-flexible rate. I think PremierInn can still be a good choice with reasonable prices in other cities but no longer London it seems. Ive tried TravelInn before and found it to be a hugely depressing experience. IBIS are usually ok but again the prices are going up and up. So, anyone got any good ideas? Have you stayed in Premier Inn in Manchester? Especially when the Manchester clubs are at home, the price trebles. In September I paid north of £200. Getting fed up with Premier Inn, it is VERY samey, same colour, same picture etc, the breakfast is great though, except for the one in Birmingham that dispelled of the great buffet and went for a pretentious waiter service. As a change stayed in Holiday Inn in Oxford Road, Manchester which was very nice, but free breakfast is average though. Also stayed in Marriott in Bristol which was great but expensive, but so was everywhere else. However they wanted something like £20 for a breakfast, hello Wetherspoons, nearby. Look at Premier Inn at Sidcup, which is opposite the train station and you can be in Charing Cross in 35 minutes, also the one in Lewisham, near to the station and you will be in Charing Cross in 20 minutes. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 18:53:16 GMT
I usually stay in either easyHotel Victoria, Victoria Inn or St Giles Hotel. EasyHotel is probably the cheapest option of the 3, but all you get is a bed, bathroom and tv...not even a shelf to unpack your things. Victoria Inn, just up the street from easyhotel, havent stayed there for a while, but it was decently priced last time I was there...I imagine the rates would have gone up like everywhere else though. St Giles, pretty much located just off the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. Pretty good rooms, but can be quite pricey depending on the time of year. I've never found Premier Inn to be very affordable in London, stayed in the one in Victoria not long after it opened, and the price was similar to the first 3 hotels I mentioned combined. Were you staying there the night Rachel Tucker came back? Cause I was there hahaha. I've now tried every type of room. The small one with no window is definitely like a prison cell but I survived 8 days in there haha. I stayed once in the Premier Inn Victoria and I loved it, but it is not affordable anymore. Last time I checked the price was 199 pounds for a night, breakfast NOT included. Anyway, I start working for NH Hotel Group in Spain in two weeks, and there is one NH hotel in London. So I hope they can offer me employee rate next time. Oh, I'm gonna tell you something that happened to me a year ago. I booked a room in the Every Hotel Piccadilly, next to the Prince of Wales Theatre stage door. It is expensive but I wanted to treat myself for just one night. I arrived and they told me they had overbooked. So they sent me to a super posh, super expensive hotel (can't remember its name). Not only that, I got a free taxi, free breakfast, free minibar, and I got upgraded to a suite lol. |
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Post by kirstylovesmusicals on Jan 2, 2017 19:16:51 GMT
Check travelstay.com for cheap B and B hotels around London. I use it a fair bit when I need a cheap getaway
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 19:32:42 GMT
I usually stay in either easyHotel Victoria, Victoria Inn or St Giles Hotel. EasyHotel is probably the cheapest option of the 3, but all you get is a bed, bathroom and tv...not even a shelf to unpack your things. Victoria Inn, just up the street from easyhotel, havent stayed there for a while, but it was decently priced last time I was there...I imagine the rates would have gone up like everywhere else though. St Giles, pretty much located just off the corner of Tottenham Court Road and Oxford Street. Pretty good rooms, but can be quite pricey depending on the time of year. I've never found Premier Inn to be very affordable in London, stayed in the one in Victoria not long after it opened, and the price was similar to the first 3 hotels I mentioned combined. Were you staying there the night Rachel Tucker came back? Cause I was there hahaha. I've now tried every type of room. The small one with no window is definitely like a prison cell but I survived 8 days in there haha. Yeah I stayed at the easyHotel the night Rachel Tucker came back. |
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Post by viserys on Jan 2, 2017 20:01:57 GMT
I just looked at the Premier Inn Sidcup and the price breakdown was £87 - £53 - £90 for the three nights I wanted to book. So with this and train fare into London... I don't think it's any sort of alternative alas.
I paid £50 for the Premier Inn in Manchester for my upcoming trip.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Jan 2, 2017 20:34:04 GMT
There's a sale now on at easy hotels. Yes it's just like sleeping in a cupboard but I got a night in London in March for £19.99.
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1,351 posts
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Post by CG on the loose on Jan 2, 2017 21:50:37 GMT
I usually head home, last train permitting, but when I do stay over tend to use Travelodge (Vauxhall is often a slightly cheaper option, but within easy reach and literally on top of the tube and bus stations) or university rooms out of term-time. LSE Vacations has already been mentioned, and their halls are well located but often quite pricey now. This site covers all available options, for London and elsewhere: www.universityrooms.com/ |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2017 22:20:13 GMT
Before I moved to London I used to use the university halls that are all around Russell Square/Warren Street a fair bit, and some of the independent hotels in Cartwright Gardens, though they've been getting progressively more expensive...
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1,503 posts
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Post by foxa on Jan 2, 2017 23:28:57 GMT
I'm reading this with interest because sometimes friends of friends ask for hotel recommendations and it is really hard to find anything affordable. I sometimes send people to the Premier Inn/Putney Bridge. It looks drab from the outside, but is really well connected for transportation. You can catch the 22 bus to Piccadilly circus and it's a three minute walk to the Putney Bridge tube (District Line.) Also tonnes of restaurants/pubs nearby. Rooms start at £55. I just checked availability for a Friday later this month and they had rooms for £65, so, for London, not too bad.
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Post by meso77 on Jan 3, 2017 1:18:07 GMT
I think i've stayed in most of the Travelodges in London and I usually spend about 3 weeks a year visiting for theatre. My aim is usually about £30-40 a night and I usually dont go over £50 unless it's a Saturday night which is always a pain to get cheap. Of course with Travelodge you need to book well in advance, last minute they become far too expensive.
One trick to watch out for at Travelodge is to see if they are opening any new hotels, they usually have really cheap rates when it first goes on sale. I've just come back from my new years trip and got a room in the new one at Finsbury park for £40 on New Years Eve and six nights in total for less than £200. There's also a new one opening in Finchley so most of my next stays are booked there.
The one i've spent most time in recently is the new one at Raynes Park. Just over the road from the station and only about 15 mins on the train to Waterloo. Alas, it appears to have become more popular and the rates have crept upwards.
The only London one i'd avoid is the Wembley Travelodge (it's usually really, really cheap if there's nothing on at Wembley), it's not near a tube stop and you have to walk about 10 mins through a fairly dodgy area from Stonebridge Park. It's also a bit grotty. The Wembley High Road one is much better and one of my favourites, fairly new, and right next to Wembley Central so gives you plenty of transport options.
Other favourite which are sometimes cheap, Cricklewood, Bethnal Green, Farringdon and Balham.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 8:39:13 GMT
Good to know about the Wembley ones- I've considered them but never stayed (though I used to live not far from Wembley so at least know the area a bit)
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19,774 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Jan 3, 2017 9:25:51 GMT
On the news this morning about a crackdown on AirBnB in London over people letting property for more than the 90 days maximum allowed without planning permission to operate as a paid hotel/lodging.
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2,701 posts
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Post by viserys on Jan 3, 2017 9:31:04 GMT
On the news this morning about a crackdown on AirBnB in London over people letting property for more than the 90 days maximum allowed without planning permission to operate as a paid hotel/lodging. Good. I once stayed at a place near Brick Lane, a beautiful "normal" residential house in a quiet side street, in which all rooms (mine on the ground floor, two on the first floor, two more on the second floor) were let as AirBnB single rooms, people sharing the bathroom and the kitchen. While I enjoyed my stay there, I did think that it somehow wasn't right to use this house for AirBnB when it should be a nice house for a typical family with 1-2 children, exactly the kind of people who are priced out of Central London. On my second AirBnB stay in London I stayed in the nicely furnished spare room of a single lady's apartment, sharing only the bathroom with her, no other guests. I thought this was far more what AirBnB was originally intended for. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2017 9:49:18 GMT
Yes Airbnb is a tricky one. Never used it in this country, only in Europe (both times seemed to be a second property of a 'normal' person not a professional landlord)But there's defiantly a problem with people buying up properties and charging high hotel style rates for it and therefore adding to the problem of affordable living. When it's a spare room in someone's existing home that seems to be more the 'ethos' of what it was created for I agree. But again when travelling alone I'm a bit more wary of Airbnb as well.
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