Has anyone stayed at the Thistle Marble Arch? I'm thinking about making reservations there for May. Looks like a good location. Are the rooms nice, etc? Thank you, Mary Ann

I haven't stayed at the Thistle Marble Arch, but I have stayed at the Thistle Charing Cross. I can highly recommend that hotel. It was remodeled a couple years ago. Very nice, business-type hotel. The best thing about it is the location. Right by the Charing Cross Tube and Train Stations.

We stayed there last June and really enjoyed it. We had reserved a family room for four but when we arrived they were out of family rooms and gave us very nice adjoining rooms, one with a king bed and one with two doubles. The rooms were like a nice Hyatt in the US. A phone bathroom, heated towel rack, and nice modern furniture, furnishings, and plumbing. Great location across from Hyde Park and near nice shopping. We would stay there again. <BR><BR>We had been in Great Britain for two weeks mainly staying in lovely 4 and 5 star B&B's but it was nice to have modern luxury again. Plus having two rooms was great!

Sorry, the above post should have said "a phone in the bathroom". Editing skills are poor some days......

Hi Kitty,<BR>Thanks for the wonderful info. Do you remember if it had a refrigerator? Also, did you have breakfast there? Really appreciate your taking the time to answer my questions. Mary Ann

My husband and I stayed there in March 2000. The room had a queen bed, but it was very, very small by American standards. The bathroom was average by American standards. The room was on the 7th floor, down an incredibly long, dark hallway. At the main entrance you must take an escalator to the floor above, where the reception desk is located. We had too much luggage to negotiate it easily, so we had to use a bellman upon arrival and departure. Breakfast was not included in our package, and the hotel food was very expensive, as you might expect. We have been to London two other times and have had accomodations far superior to these for less money. The location is fine, but I would not stay there again because of the superior accomodations we have had elsewhere. The Thistle Marble Arch was included in an air/hotel package, and that is why we ended up there. (By the way, on the same trip we stayed at the Brighton Thistle Hotel and our accomodations and location were fabulous! We would definitely return to this hotel.) If you are not bound by an air/hotel package as we were, I would do a little surfing on some of the discount hotel sites and see what else is available in the same price range. Have a great trip!

Shelley's experience was very different from mine. I believe there must be different levels of rooms. We may have ended up on a special club level because our rooms were quite spacious and very nice. The hallways were not long and dark on our floor. Again, the decorations and space were very nice in the halls and the rooms. We had reserved an executive family room and were given two adjoining rooms. I don't know if our rooms were considred executive level or even a higher level. We paid 153gbp per night (again we lucked out and got two rooms for this one rate).<BR><BR>There was no refrigerator in the room. We did not eat breakfast in the hotel because we had gone to a nearby market and gotten pastries for breakfast. However, we did eat lunch in the lobby and it was expensive for sandwiches.<BR>

Kitty, I am glad your experience was better than mine. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to know that they had a club floor. My concern is that Mary Ann might repeat my experience, rather than yours. I hope, for her sake, that she doesn't. On our other two visits to London, we stayed at the Millinium Gloucester and Harrington Hall, both in South Kensington. Both of these hotels cost us less than the Thistle Marble Arch. Last June, our cab driver told us, as we were heading to Harrington Hall, that it was nicer than either of the other two hotels where we had stayed previously, and he was right! But London is fabulous, where ever one stays!

There is 2 of us and will be flying into Gatwick and be staying at this hotel. We will have two pcs of medium size roller luggage and a carry on. Will we have too much trouble because of the luggage with the Express to Victoria Station? Haven't decided if I will use london-transport service. Any idea cost of the taxi to the hotel?

Hi Kitty and Shelley,<BR>Thank you both for your comments. Since there will be four of us, maybe we'll request the 'family room' like Kitty - doubt if we'll be lucky enough to get two rooms, but it would be wonderful!<BR><BR>I wonder if the hotel had some renovation since Shelley was there? Although I guess no amount of wallpaper could make a tiny room big or a skinny hallway wide. Hmmmmm. Must be the floor level like you thought. <BR><BR>Our plans are to take the Airbus from Heathrow since I understand they have a stop right at Marble Arch (hopefully this is close since I'm not fond of lugging my luggage.) I am concerned about the escalador with the suitcases though. Thanks for the info.

Wife and I stayed at the Thistle Marble Arch May 2000. Previous trip we had stayed at the Cumberland which is nearly adjacent to the Thistle. At the time, Thistle had a tremendous promotion, 99 GBP, for a double room, including full English breakfast. We prefer the Oxford Street area for the shopping and readily available transportation. Our room had a minibar. I would definitely recommend this hotel. The hotel concierge (sp) is an American. Real helpful. As I recall, his name is Robert.

Hi Charlie,<BR>Thanks for the info. Did you have a problem with the escalador (sp) and your luggage and mentioned earlier? Mary Ann

Mary Ann,<BR>We didn't have a problem with luggage. We had arranged transportation from Gatwick to the hotel thru Globe. When you exit the hotel, turn left, go 2 blocks - excellent Italian restaurant. Can't remember the name. Around the corner at the Cumberland, the Carvery is great.

Charlie,<BR>Thanks for the wonderful info and recommendations....we'll give Robert your regards. Mary Ann

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