okoshi2002

Due to an airline forced change in flights we now will spend an extra day in London on July 5 after disembarking a ship at Harwich before catching a flight home at 1030AM the next day from Heathrow.

The airline states they will offer a voucher for the hotel if we are willing to go to the airline counter the day of stay . I am imagining this must be a time consuming process .

If we had a choice (doubt) are there hotels we should consider among others ?

It does not sound like we should even consider a hotel in the city but stay near the airport -true ?

Thanks for your help ?

geetika

We did a cruise in and out of Southampton last July and had a 6.30am flight out of LHR the day after our return, we stayed at the Jury's Inn near T4. We actually had to stay an extra day in the end due to some trouble with the airline, but had no issues with the hotel, it suited our requirements. Hatton Cross Tube station is very close by and you have a direct line into town, though it takes 45 mins to an hour depending on where you need to go. That said, with a 10.30am flight I'd seriously consider staying in town, any day preferable to staying near Heathrow.

dutyfree

The Jury's Inn is a great hotel to stay at if you have to be at the LHR airport. It has the restaurant,coffee shop and newstand right onsite. You can also take a cab or walk 500 metres to a cute pub called THE GREEN MAN which is just on the other side of the highway.(check out tripadvisor.com for reviews).

Have you thought about staying at either the Holiday Inn Gloucester Road in Kensington or even the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury by Russell Square tube station for your last night?

It is a very easy 40-45 minute tube ride(Gloucester Road station is practically next door with elevator) nonstop on the Piccadilly line straight into Heathrow for around 6 pounds with an Oyster Card.
Gloucester Road has a plethora of restaurants,shops like Waitrose and Boots drugs,pubs,ATM's and is in walking distance or bus of Harrods, History museum, V and A museum,etc.Its a wonderful area and most airlines layover their crews in the area for safety,ease of getting to LHR and amenities.

Underhill

We stayed at the Novotel, which is the first stop on the Hoppa bus. The hotel was fine, and we were able to order in Indian food from a local restaurant.

janisj

OK - your ship is landing at Harwich which is completely across the country from Heathrow (w/ London in between them). Comments about Southampton etc really don't apply.

What time do you disembark? Probably in the morning - most cruises do. If it was me I'd take the train from Harwich to Liverpool Street station and a cab from there to a centrally located hotel. What is your budget? The next morning use justairports.com car service to drive you to LHR. (reason for the cab and justairports is I assume being on a cruise, you will have a fair amount of luggage).

You will have most of the day free in London and justairports can pick you up around 06:30 or 7AM.

You must pre-book the car service.

suec1

We spent our last night after a cruise at the Swan in Staines, very close to Heathrow. It was lovely - I could hardly believe that we were minutes away from a huge international airport - it was like being in the countryside (well almost!) It is situated on the Thames - they have a lovely outdoor patio where you can sit and watch the swans and the people rowing skulls. Also a path along the river nice for walking. If you are more ambitious it is close to Windsor Castle - you can take a bus to and fro. For one night, I'd much prefer staying there than trying to make it out to Heathrow from London.

I imagine they will offer you a souless airport hotel - the Swan is reasonable and so very pleasant - you may want to decide to make a reservation there for yourself.

janisj

>>We spent our last night after a cruise at the Swan in Staines,<<

It may be very nice - but is difficult for someone landing at <i>Harwich</i>. To get there by train would take three hours, three trains and a tube ride. To be driven directly there would cost an utter fortune - it is nearly 120 miles.

But of course, IF the cruise line will take you to LHR for free, you could take a cab to Staines, but that property likely isn't one of the voucher hotels.

I sounds like if you want to use the cruise line's hotel voucher you must appear at LHR. If you decide to do that - forget about seeing/doing anything in London. Assuming you can get a coach transfer from the ship by say 09:30 - you'll maybe be to LHR by 12:30 and by the time the hotel is sorted out and you check in could easily be 2PM or 2:30.

If it was me (and <B>IF</B> it fit in the budget) - I'd 'eat' the transfer/voucher and just spend the day in London, stay in London, and be driven to the airport (justairports and others will charge about £35 unless you have a TON of luggage)

If that would be a budget buster - then take the cruise's offer and stay where ever they put you.

suec1

janisj- I don't understand your posts re: Harwich. The cruise ends there, they fly out of Heathrow - one way or another, they must get from Harwich to Heathrow. Maybe they are using a cruise line transfer that goes to the airport. If that is true, then going back into London for the late afternoon, evening and having to be at the airport for a morning flight, well it wouldn't be my choice.

janisj

Read my posts again - I'm not suggesting they use the cruise line transfer to LHR unless <B>1)</B> they must for budget reasons and <B>2)</B> they don't want to see/do anything IN London.

okoshi2002

Thanks for the replies.

We will have spent a few days before cruise in the city therefore it would be OK not to return there for one more night.

We are inclined not to use the hotel voucher.

We may end up transferring to LHR with others via hired shuttle.

Is Jury's Inn or Swan in Staines convenient to Terminal 1 ?

Could we make a day trip to Windsor Castle easily from there ?

suec1

RE: Swan - not sure of distance to Terminal 1, I think we went out of T4 (on Delta)but we took a taxi from the Swan and it was cheap and quick. I bet if you email the hotel, they will respond - they were very nice folks. And we did not go to Windsor, we were having a nice day just walking along the Thames, but I think it is easily do-able by bus. I believe I found the info on the site London Tool Kit - google it if you have not already, tons of info!

janisj

>>Could we make a day trip to Windsor Castle easily from there ?<<

Another option - you could stay IN Windsor. Take the cruise line shuttle to LHR and then a cab to Windsor. It is only 7 miles from LHR. So instead of to a hotel in Staines or at LHR, checking in, and then making your way to Windsor (you'd be unlikely to get there before mid afternoon - at the earliest) you could be in Windsor by lunch time and have the whole afternoon there.

Everything from posh to Travelodge . . . Just a few:

http://www.sirchristopherwren.co.uk/
http://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/our...windsor-hotel/
http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/3...-Central-hotel
http://www.akkeronhotels.com/Hotels/...d-Garter-Hotel

okoshi2002

Thanks for all your good advice. It sounds like we could either stay near LHR and day- trip to Windsor or stay in Windsor and get to LHR easily in the AM. I appreciate your help. The Greenman sounds so intriguing may need to check it out ! Will also look at justairports . Thanks everybody.

bilboburgler

suec, I just love the idea of people rowing skulls (sculls) too horrific

KidsToLondon

Hey, if you have a choice of all the Heathrow hotels, then the Sofitel in Terminal 5 wins, hands down! The Hilton at T4 is pretty good too. Both of these are actually *at* the airport, along with a Yotel micro-hotel.

Everything else requires a shuttle bus ride away from the terminals, which isn't bad if you have time. The newish Premier Inn is a good budget choice among the near-airport hotels.

A side trip to Windsor/Eton is a great idea to take a break from the airport, but not wander too far away.

raincitygirl

Agree with KidstoLondon on the Sofitel in Terminal 5...big thumbs up!

janisj

Sure the Sofitel is good. But only if one is using T-5 . . . If using Terminals 1-4 its not very convenient. Same w/ the Hilton and Yotel, if you are using T-4 - otherwise off airport is actually closer.

okoshi2002

Thanks again.

okoshi2002

Our travel companion has a 730AM flight on American (terminal 1). Would a Hoppa bus H6 pick up at Holiday Inn Ariel at 439AM get our friend to LHR in time for his flight ?
Thanks.

janisj

Probably fine - he'd be at the terminal around 5AM. But the hotel can call a cab and it would be a very short journey if he doesn't want to wait for the Hoppa.