What's your favourite Kensington-area hotel, considering rates, location, quality of service, etc.? Burns? Avonmore? Copthorne Tara? Others? And, why? Many Thanks. . . R.

This week it would be the Copthorne Tara since you can get a big discount there.... look at the hotel specials on londontown.com <BR>

My friend, Kelly, stayed at the Copthorne Tara and she said it was a dump. The room she and her lover stayed in was so small they had to go into the bathroom to change. She said it was in a good location, though, with a tube stop just up the street. And another good thing about it was that it was close to Notting Hill and you could just walk to the bars and restaurants there. I always stay at the Connaught when in London. It is very expensive, though, and I don't know if you want to spend the money. I never heard of the other hotels you list. I guess the Tara would be OK if you just want a place to lay your head. JG

Richard- we usually stay in the Knightsbridge area -about a block from Harrod's on a cul de sac called Beaufort Garden--there is a great little hotel there called the Claverly== <BR>they will even have a car waiting at the airport to drive you in to town-- <BR>(there is a charge for this but it's very reasonable and you don't have to wait in line to try to get a taxi)

The Pelham Hotel in South Kensington run by Tim and Kit Kemp. Right across from the tube stop, great neighborhood, quaint restaurant, excllent service and one of the most comfortable beds I've ever slept in.

I've stayed in several Kensington area hotels: Forum, K&K King George, Adelphi, Abcore, Burns, others. My favorite is the Burns for: <BR>1. Price (on hotel-assist.com the rates are under 100 lbs for two and includes full English breakfast. Rack rates are about 150) <BR>2. Rooms are really nice, clean and, though most are small, so are all the boutique-style hotels <BR>3. Location. Nice quiet street about 2 minutes from the Earl's Court tube station. <BR>4. Staff. They work their butts off, smile and are always available. <BR>Having said that, I've tried to get into the Montana a few times because their prices are also excellent and they have the same services (plus they are very near the Gloucester Road tube stop), but they're always booked. I will probably give them another try. I stopped in to check them out after they remodeled last year, but they were booked so I could only see the lobby, which was nothing special, but nice and clean. The gentleman at the front desk was very nice, also. <BR> <BR>

We really enjoyed the Millennium Bailey's Hotel, directly across the street from the Gloucester Road tube station. The room and bathroom were clean, modern and in very good condition. The desk staff was very friendly and helpful. And location was excellent. We got a great rate for our six-night stay last month, 70 GBP.

Richard, last year my husband and I stayed at The London Outpost of the Carnegie Club, 69 Cadogan Gardens, for our honeymoon. Lovely house/hotel. We paid 185 pounds per night. Three minute walk from Sloane Square tube station. The service was outstanding. The house manager made transport, tea, dinner and theatre reservations for us. Highly recommended. 300+ thread count sheets, bath robes in every room, fullsize bottles of Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries, a drinks tray in the room, pre-dinner drinks hosted by the house manager, made-to-order breakfast each morning. See website www.carnegieclub.co.uk/london-outpost/

DeeNLB: Your post about getting the Millennium Baileys for under 100 lbs is about the third I've seen lately. Please tell me how you did it. We've wanted to stay there because of it's great location but every time I check it's closer to 200 lbs per night (for two in one room). I'd love to know how to get in so inexpensively. Thanks!