Cotswolds, Oxford, Bath-need help with lodging?
 

We are going a bit mad trying to find lodging in a central local to visit Bath, Oxford, Blenheim and Cotswolds for three days at the end of May. Most reviews on TA have us scared, and we can not afford the manoir quat saisons! LOL!

Plan on bussing into Oxford if we aren't staying in town. Will have a car so parking is a concern. We are not familiar at all with the area or with driving in the U.K.

Fell in love with the Relais Buckland Manor, but the price is pushing it. Considered Cotswolds 88, but think Painswick may be too far out for day trips to Oxford and Bath?

Definitely want a place that is comfortable, cozy, and somewhat private. Something good for couples on a romantic trip in the price range of 150.00-300.00 GBP. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

I think the last week of May is school holiday in UK (half-term break?), so that could explain why your options are limited.

Have you checked the listings on Alastair Sawday?
http://www.sawdays.co.uk/

I can't help on hotels. But on "bussing into Oxford":

Oxford's has close to useless bus links with the Cotswolds. Apart from a nifty bus connection with Woodstock (for Blenheim) very little of its bus system is of any use to tourists staying in the countryside. Your options are either:

- to find somewhere in Kingham, Charlbury or Moreton in Marsh (pleasant Cotswold towns with an hourly train into Oxford, but essentially designed to be perfect for living in, rather than gawping at), or
- drive to Oxford, park at a Park & Ride, then bus in from the car park. The P&Rs are well signed from approach roads, and parking there's free, and I've never had a problem finding a space. Typically £2.20/person return ticket for the bus

Thanks for the suggestions! I should add that we are renting a car in Oxford to travel the countryside and get to Bath. We have booked two nights in Cheltenham (B&B "32") and looking to find our first night perhaps in Oxford. Curious about Malmaison but heard the rooms can be rather small and bland? Anyone with experience here?

After three days, return car in Oxford, then must find quickest/simplest way to get to Paris (using perhaps Eurostar).

Guessing we'll have to bus from Oxford to London Paddington and then tube it to Kings Cross/St Pancras.

Anyone have tips? How long will the whole trip from Oxford to Paris take?

The fastest way from central Oxford to Paris is usually the bus to Heathrow, then a plane (BA or AF). The cheapest is probably the bus to Luton airport, then a plane (check the Luton airport website for operators). The National Express website gives details of these buses

If you want to get a train to Paris, then train to Paddington, tube (with luggage, the Circle Line, though it's the least reliable tube line in London and often doesn't operate at weekends, when you need the cumbersome alternative, which involves steps, of Bakerloo Line to Oxford Circus and northbound Victoria Line to Kings Cross. With luggage, never, ever take the third option of the Hammersmith & City line) to Kings Cross, then Eurostar.

60 mins by train to Paddington: allow at least 45 mins for getting to the tube, buying a ticket, waiting, waiting again at Baker Street while it sits there having a rest and getting to the Eurostar checkin desk: min 30 mins checkin time and 135 mins train time. Min 4.5 hrs from Oxford railway station to the Gare du Nord. Slightly cheaper by bus to London (google Oxford Espress and Oxford Tube: the Oxford Espress Baker St stop's the handiest on either route for Kings Cross), though you need to add at least an hour for the Oxford-London bit, timings are much more subject to (potentially serious) traffic congestion getting out of Oxford and into London and getting to the tube station is a tiny bit of a palaver

Hi Bleu - If you are staying in Cheltenham, why not travel to Paris via Bristol instead of backtracking via Oxford to Heathrow? Much easier - and almost certainly cheaper.

Cheltenham is only 40 mins to Bristol (- Temple Meads) - from where there's a regular airport shuttle bus connection.

Easyjet fly Bristol-Paris CDG. Fares start at under £40
www.easyjet.com

You could base in Cheltenham for 3 days and avoid the inconvenience of changing hotel.

Just a thought ...

Steve

I agree - getting to Paris from Cheltenham/Bristol is probably the easiest. There are regular trains from Cheltenham to Bristol.

If you want to see the Cotswolds, though, do you want to stay in a hotel? Personally I haven't found Cheltenham to be particularly representative... it's a bit big!

We've used these people before who are good and have accommodation all across the Cotswolds.

http://www.jigsawholidays.co.uk/cots...d-cottages.php

This was the actual one we stayed in which was lovely:
http://www.jigsawholidays.co.uk/cots...rters-Cottage/