yk

I've read some old threads here as well as the BAA Heathrow website regarding Hoppa Bus.

I am flying the day flight BOS-LHR on AA (Terminal 3). The next morning, I have to catch a BA flight from Terminal 1 to Barcelona. That flight leaves at 7:25am.

I have booked a room (thru Priceline) at the Holiday Inn M4 Jct 4 for $60. I guess I'll take the Hoppa bus from T3 to the hotel.

However, for the next morning, looks like the Hoppa doesn't start running until 5:30am, and I've read horror stories about the Hoppa saying that it can take up to 1 hour for the trip to the airport (as it makes numerous stops at other hotels). Is my only option the next morning taking a taxi? Are there other buses I can take at that hour? I would like to arrive at T1 2 hours before my flight.

yk

BTW, since my last post, I actually found the website for the National Express Hoppa bus:
http://www.nationalexpress.com/airpo...oppa.cfm?t=air

It looks like for my hotel I'll take H1 route, and the timetable shows that the first bus leaves the Holiday Inn at 5:10am and gets to T1 at 5:28am (it only makes 2 other stops - at Novotel and Crowne Plaza). So I guess I can give it a try.

If I want to take a taxi cab, I suppose I'll have to ask the hotel to book one in advance, given the time of day I'm traveling?

_jinx_

Ask the people at the hotel when you check in--they can advise you on the best option.

Jinx Hoover

yk

topping

janisj

topping for what? You answered part of your own question and jinx gave you good advice to just ask the hotel when you check in. I honestly don't see how a hoppa could take an hour - especially at 0530. There will not be very much traffic at that time, and each hoppa route only serves a limited number of hotels. Sure - if there was an accident on the approach road or something - but that would also affect taxis.

Every time I've used the hoppa (different routes) it has taken between 15 and 25 mins.

Gardyloo

The only concern I'd have is that the Hoppa is both pick-up and drop-off and sometimes can be full of arriving pax, thereby delaying things for people going to the airport rather than from. I've also had Hoppas come and go without picking up anybody because they were too full.

If there are two or more of you going, a taxi might get close to price-competitive too, or at least close enough that it's worth it to you to avoid the nuisance of the Hoppa.

The hotel concierge will probably try to up-sell you to a car service. Ask about costs.

Gardyloo

Meant to say, the only time I've been passed over by an early morning Hoppa was when it was snowing, in which case don't get too alarmed, because LHR pretty well comes to a halt then too, so you probably won't miss your plane.

yk

Thanks, Gardyloo.

I was topping this to see if anyone has other thoughts or suggestions; other than my own and jinx.

Anyway, I think I'll aim for the first Hoppa bus which is at 5:10am. I suppose not too many pax will be traveling at that hour. As I'm traveling alone, it'll be cheaper than than a taxi.

yk

I'm back from my trip. I ended up taking the Hoppa and everything went as planned. Despite the online schedule I found, it turns out that the first Hoppa runs at 4:30am! The next one is at 5:10am and after that every 10-15 minutes.

I took the 5:10am and they were quite a few pax along. It then stopped at 2 other hotels before heading into the airport. Since my stop is the last (T1), the entire trip took about 30 minutes.

I think during rush hour, there's a second Hoppa route that serves the HI M4 Jct4.

SDtravelers

YK - we will be taking the BOS-LHR as well in Sept. But on the return trip from MAD to LHR - Iberia we will be staying the night at LHR before returning to US next AM. We were planning to stay at the Hilton in T4. Sounds like from previous posts it might be cheeper and easier to stay at a hotel outside of the airport. I heard the taxis for two are expensive, we are from the US and you know that story about the $$ not worth much these days I will check out this Hoppa deal to see if it is better, just don't really care to drag luggage around. Any suggestions??

yk

SDtravelers-

Do you know which terminals at LHR you will be using on your trip?

Looks like your IB flight MAD-LHR will land in either T1 or T2.

Are you flying AA or BA back to BOS?

If it's AA, you'll depart from T3.

Doesn't make much sense to me to stay at a hotel in T4 for that reason.

How much is the Hilton T4? I didn't think taking the Hoppa was that bad. Both trips took no more than 30 mins (including wait time) and as far as luggage is concerned, all you need to do is lift it up on the bus.

I don't know how much a taxi will cost - maybe others can answer for you.

My total for the Holiday Inn was $78 ($60 priceline win plus tax/fees). That comes out to less than £39! I doubt one can find a better deal any other way.

Dukey

When I took a taxi from the Marriott over to one of the terminals about a year ago I think it cost at least $18.00 at the then current exchange rate.

Yes, the hotel can book one for you and in my case they offered to add it to my hotel bill.

I think if you have plenty of time, and at that early hour, I'd use the bus.

SDtravelers

YK - I would have replied to you sooner but forgot about my posting) Doesn't Fodors offer like trip advisor a email notification to postings?)

Arriving at LHR via IB- I think is T3? Don't really know if the new T5 will change things.

Our ret to US the next day is via AA from LHR to DFW -I believe it will be in T3 -10:30am.

Yes the Hilton is expensive the cheepest we found is thru BA Holidays $274 - including bkfst and txs.

We usually stay at the Marriotts but it looks expensive $250 + txs, no bkfst. Still looking around and see a good deal thru BA Holidays at the Crowne Plaza for $166 incl txs, full bkfst. We will probably do that one. I would like to see the offers for the new Sofitel at T5 has.

We saw the Holiday Inn but didn't see anything that cheep under $100- maybe it is the time of year we are travelling??

Any suggestions are appreciated.

SD

yk

SDtravelers

No, Fodors forums doesn't have an notification option.

I'm not sure what else I have to add. I think the Crowne Plaza is a pretty good deal. It is on the same Hoppa route as the Holiday Inn I stayed at.

The only way I got such a good deal at HI is thru Priceline. I doubt you can find anything that cheap. If you're not comfortable with Priceline, you can try Hotwire. Or even just check on Hotels.com and see.

frogoutofwater

The Hoppa is expensive and can take a while to get you to your hotel.

There are actually free local buses that run along the Bath Road and go by many of the major airport hotels. (I know they go by the Sheraton Skyline, where I've stayed a few times.)

When the local bus option has worked for my airport hotel location, I have taken the free local bus to my hotel and then splurged an an early morning taxi back to the airport (for a total cost of about the same amount I would have paid for two Hoppa tickets).

SDtravelers

Frog - I have heard the local bus does stop at the hotels. Is the Crown Plaza in the same area??

Thanks all for your halp,
SD

Gardyloo

The Crown Plaza is not on Bath Rd and is some distance from the Skyline/Marriott et al.

kenderina

According to BAA website, Iberia will be landing at T3 from September 18. Until then, they are in T2.

SDtravelers

Anyone hear anything on the new Sofitel Hotel in T5??

SD

adamhornets

Still waiting a date. The Sofitel website just says "summer".