carolines

Hello there,

We will be taking two-day stopovers at both the beginning and end of our safari through Nairobi in February and wonder if anyone can recommend a nice hotel near to Heathrow? We are not looking for a budget hotel. We need a comfortable hotel where we can entertain friends driving in from the country to visit with us, with pleasant rooms and restaurants (but we don't want to have to pay for an expensive suite!) Also, preferably a hotel that is not on the flight path!! (or at least one that is soundproofed!) Can anyone recommend the Crowne Plaza or Hilton? Thank you so much!!

santharamhari

Hi! I hv used the heathrow hilton in the past. It is pretty decent. You can walk right to it from Terminal 4 thru the connecting tunnel. I recommend it. I'm sure it's on the flight path, but, i dont recall it being noisy. I have stayed there on a couple of occassions, just not recently.

Gardyloo

The Crown Plaza is located farther from the airport than the other Heathrow hotels - actually rather isolated and no bus service close by - you'd need to take the Hoppa Bus (£3 pp each trip) to the terminal then connect to public transportation there if you want to get into the city. But it's certainly comfortable enough, and the restaurant is pretty good.

Haven't stayed at the Hilton at T4. People say it's great if you're flying from T4 (BA longhaul) otherwise it's a serious schlep from the other terminals.

Faves are the Sheraton Skyline and Marriott (next to each other) on Bath Rd. Both come up pretty often (as does the Crowne Plaza) on Priceline, which is what I'd recommend for LHR hotels. Usually you can get one of the above (all 4 stars) for under US$80 vs. their non-PL rates of £150+. See recent results on www.biddingfortravel.com before bidding.

Otherwise, you might have a look at listings for Windsor. More interesting environs for a 2-night stay, that's for sure, and close enough to LHR to be convenient.

santharamhari

If you are flying with British Airways, then the Hilton is easily the most convenient. Even if your flight is from the other terminals, the Paddington express offers free transport between T4 and the other terminals prior to departing to Paddington station in the city.

However, if you are taking two day stopovers, how about considering a stay in central London? The paddington express will take you right into the heart of town. Easy and 20 mins (i guess you can take the service to make a day trip into the city).

I've known ppl who hv stayed at the crowne plaza as they were given a free over night one time by BA.......they found it inconvenient and a major hassle (they had lots of luggage). BTW, i was stuck at Heathrow during the BA strike in 2003 August, was not fun.....every hotel was full with all flights being cancelled/delayed and i finally ended up at the Paddington Hilton after waiting for over 10 hours at the BA lounge......needless to say, i had a further delay the next morning!!!

I still fly with BA although their service and attitude is downright awful!!! (lots of miles with them)...

Hari

matnikstym

if you have two days at beginning and end, i'd get a hotel in town rather than the airport. You'll probably be going in anyway. The Paddington Express is 14.5pounds each way, the tube was around 6.30pounds round trip.

Gardyloo

The Heathrow Express goes from T4 to the other terminals, but it's a long walk through tunnels from the HEX station to the other terminals, and with luggage quite a pain, since the luggage carts can't get onto the HEX platforms. After/before a long flight it's a major inconvenience. Unfortunately the Hoppa Bus (only hotel shuttle) doesn't stop at T4, and the cab drivers <i>really</i> don't like pickups from T4 just going to local hotels.

Which airline are you flying?

DonTopaz

I've stayed at the Hilton, and it's decent and as convenient as anything else, especially if you can stay there on points or get a good rate. It's a long walk though, even from T4. (You pass through a cold and grim passageway that keeps telling you how much closer is the hotel. For those who remember, it's not unlike the old road signs, &quot;Next Stuckey's, only 28 miles!&quot; ... followed a bit later by &quot;Next Stuckey's, only 26 miles!&quot;...)

I've also stayed at the Crowne Plaza, and it isn't as nice as the Hilton. Very noisy and smoky ground floor, rooms below average for a Crowne Plaza, but still a serviceable place for an overnight near the airport. As stated, the Hoppa is both a pain and expensive. Taxis are outrageous: a taxi from the CP to T4 was &pound;14!! (&pound;11 to T1, 2, or 3.)

I am rarely a fan of Priceline, but LHR is one of the few places where I find it a very good option.

carolines

Hello and thanks for the tips. We are flying into London on Air Canada arriving very early on a Saturday morning (terminal 3.)

We leave for Nairobi Sunday night at 11:00 pm on Kenya Airlines (terminal 4.) So really not sure which location would be best! We'e only staying over so long to get a good rest up before the overnight Nairobi flight and don't plan on going in to London at all, on either end of the trip. (Windsor, perhaps, with friends.) We'll forget the Crowne Plaza! Saw some unhappy reviews on the Hilton on Trip Advisor, (recent)...but then nothing is ever all bad, is it? Shall check on the Sheraton Skyline, thanks!

welltraveledbrit

I've stayed at the Sheraton and it's ok for an airport hotel, frankly I didn't see much more than the room. As suggested above we bid through Priceline and paid less than $100.

However, as I see it an airport hotel is an airport hotel...none of them are really any good. They're just more or less convenient. Generally over priced and certainly not somewhere you'd want to entertain friends or eat.

We stay at the airport on a stopover when we arrive late at night and/or have to leave very early the next morning. It sounds like you are talking about more than 24 hours from early Sat through Sunday night. Personally I'd go into London, or if that's not convenient for your friends why not stay in Windsor.

You could sleep in on Sunday morning, walk around town or the park. Have your freinds pick you up, take them out to a meal at a local or country pub and then have them drop you at the airport for your Sunday night trip.

carolines

You are no doubt right about the airport hotel restaurants...any recommendations on nice hotels in Windsor? Is it a very long cab ride from Heathrow? Thank-you!

DJE

I've read some good reviews on the Marriott at Heathrow and this will be our choice for an overnight stop. I stayed at the Crown Plaza a few years ago and was not impressed with this hotel so this time we will see what the Marriott is like.