Do London hotels provide umbrellas for guests?
#1
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Do London hotels provide umbrellas for guests?
Another question from a soon-to-be London tourist! We are staying at the St. James Hotel and Club. I am wondering if they provide umbrellas for their guests, since it seems to shower and rain a lot in London. I tried contacting the hotel via e-mail with another question, but haven't received a response from them. Hmmm. Wonder if that's a bad sign! Thank you for any input.
#2
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Um, since you are going to a place with a lot of rain why ever would you not bring your own umbrella? (I never go to europe without a small folding one.)
Have never heard of a hotel supplying umbrellas - unless you buy them in a shop there (at a very high price).
Have never heard of a hotel supplying umbrellas - unless you buy them in a shop there (at a very high price).
#4
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Doormen at upscale hotels will have an umbrella to hold over guests they are ushering in or out of cabs.
A few upscale places may have one to lend guests for a day with surprise heavy rain - but they are certainly not prepared to equip all guests with umbrellas (they would need hundreds) every time it rains.
Do you expect them to have coats to give you if it gets chilly?
Rain is a normal event in almost all of europe - not a hurricane or blizzard you wouldn't be prepared for.
A few upscale places may have one to lend guests for a day with surprise heavy rain - but they are certainly not prepared to equip all guests with umbrellas (they would need hundreds) every time it rains.
Do you expect them to have coats to give you if it gets chilly?
Rain is a normal event in almost all of europe - not a hurricane or blizzard you wouldn't be prepared for.
#6
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Walking around London last early spring I saw the streets littered with lightweight collapsible umbrellas, blown inside out and otherwise abandoned. I waited and bought sturdy Fulton umbrellas for myself and my daughter at a Marylebone Road luggage shop. It's a UK company but apparently now made in China. I was happy to bring the non-folding one home with my carryon.
The transparent birdcage kind are less attractive but far more practical for navigating London's sidewalks. A posh hotel concierge would likely to stock those, I imagine.
The transparent birdcage kind are less attractive but far more practical for navigating London's sidewalks. A posh hotel concierge would likely to stock those, I imagine.
#8
Sure some are cheap/useless in a heavy wind. There are small umbrellas and then there are small umbrellas which actually work. I have several - Totes and other brands all extremely lightweight. I never carry a full sized umbrella at home (though I do have a few) and don't when traveling either.
#11
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There are lots of posh hotels that do hand out substantial umbrellas in cities where torrential rain is a real problem .
The issue doesn't arise in London, so free umbrellas are virtually unheard of.
The absolute epitome of a first world problem. Or, to be more precise, of a first world non-problem.
The issue doesn't arise in London, so free umbrellas are virtually unheard of.
The absolute epitome of a first world problem. Or, to be more precise, of a first world non-problem.
#12
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I don't know about London but when I travelled in November to Rome, Florence and Venice my hotels had umbrella as you exited the for guests to use. Limited amount were at the door for guests to take and return.
#13
And what if it is raining and they are all taken? Just silly IMO to rely on a hotel to provide one.
Some people don't like umbrellas -- using just a scarf or jacket hood, which is also an option. I prefer to not wear a head covering and always have an umbrella.
Some people don't like umbrellas -- using just a scarf or jacket hood, which is also an option. I prefer to not wear a head covering and always have an umbrella.
#17
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stokebailey is right about the "birdcage" umbrellas...never heard that term before, but it fits. Many folding umbrellas are useless in London, except on the drizzle-"soft" rainy days. These plastic ones are much better for most London rainy days, and your can see where you are going, unlike the usual ones.
Almost every small "convenience" store seems to carry them, and I bought one for 5 quid last fall then left it at the hotel when I checked out saying to pass it on to the next guest. They were happy to do so, they said.
But for the worse storms, have a good raincoast, with a hood, preferably waterproof, not just water resistant.
And yes, I have been to hotels which do have umbrellas to loan. Not unheard of,,,but you have to ask.
Almost every small "convenience" store seems to carry them, and I bought one for 5 quid last fall then left it at the hotel when I checked out saying to pass it on to the next guest. They were happy to do so, they said.
But for the worse storms, have a good raincoast, with a hood, preferably waterproof, not just water resistant.
And yes, I have been to hotels which do have umbrellas to loan. Not unheard of,,,but you have to ask.
#18
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I love Havana and Janis' answers.
Some people don't like umbrellas and some umbrellas don't like people.
Umbrellas don't like me, they make certain to be left in a corner, hide and keep a low profile so that they are pretty sure I forget them.
Hats... yes I've managed to keep the same hat for 2 seasons... before he ran away from me and joined his umbrella cousins.
More to the point, as Havanna states, it doesn't pour ALL day long and the bloody umbrella starts to be quite an encumbrance after a while...
Some people don't like umbrellas and some umbrellas don't like people.
Umbrellas don't like me, they make certain to be left in a corner, hide and keep a low profile so that they are pretty sure I forget them.
Hats... yes I've managed to keep the same hat for 2 seasons... before he ran away from me and joined his umbrella cousins.
More to the point, as Havanna states, it doesn't pour ALL day long and the bloody umbrella starts to be quite an encumbrance after a while...