Heathrow express vs cab
 

I am flying to London (Heathrow) in July with my family (2 adults and 3 children. Which is easier, a cab or Heathrow express? To get to the train, do you have to lug your luggage along way? Are cabs for 5 people readily available? How expensive are cabs compared to price of Heathrow express? We are considering a hotel near Paddington Station (convenient to Heathrow express) or one in Victoria. Any suggestions on which area is nicer, more convenient for walking London attractions?
Thanks!

A cab i.e. black London taxi has 5 seats as standard, this will work out cheaper than the Heathrow Express, as for hotels don't worry about they're transport links to Heathrow. What is your budget? I'll advise you on these too.

Make sure you check into the cost of the taxi - it may be cheaper for your family.

But there is a third option which is using either the Airbus or Hotelink. Airbus stops at designated hotels whereas Hotelink will stop at your specific hotel.

Check out

http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/h...ere_frame.html

A2 bus service
a double decker bus runs to various stops in central London, close to major hotels. Journey time is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes and the cost is £8.00 single and £12.00 return.

Hotelink

Hotelink offers a door to door bus service between Heathrow and your London hotel.

There are Hotelink reception desks in the arrivals areas of Terminals 3 and 4 with representatives to meet passengers, escort you to minibuses and assist with your luggage. Passengers arriving at Terminal 1 or 2 should make their way to the airport information desk located in the arrivals area and look out for the uniformed staff holding Hotelink clipboards.

The service runs every 30 minutes from 06:00 to 14:00 and hourly from 14:00 to 22:00 hours. The bus only stops at hotels required by passengers. Ticket prices are £15.00 single and £30.00 return (if booked in advance by credit card) or £15.00 single and £26.00 return (if purchased on the day). Children under two years old can travel free.

Telephone +44 (0)1293 532244 or visit www.hotelink.co.uk

Hope this helps!

Try justairports.com. I found them to have the least expensive rates for travel to and from Heathrow. They were prompt and helpful when I used their services in March both to and from London. Less expensive than a cab. The most expensive option is the Heathrow express, especially for five people.

A cab will be very expensive, plus you may be stuck in traffic with the meter running. I would not take the Heathrow Express with 5 people. First of all it is not cheap, secondly you will be hauling luggage on and off the train. Not a fun way to start a trip. There are trolleys at Heathrow but you cannot take them on the train. You will also have to get your luggage from the train to a cab at Paddington.

I would suggest a car service. We have used Ray Skinner's service for quite some time and highly recommend him. We were in London 2 weeks ago and had Ray pick us up at Heathrow and take us back out. His website is www.london-transfers.com His rates are PER CAR (plus tip) not per person. If you contact him tell him how many people and approx. amount of luggage. He uses a Toyota Previa Van himself but can also arrange for pickups with larger vans too. As with any service they meet you as you exit immigration, look for a driver holding a sign with your name. Your luggages is wheeled across the street to a garage and you are driven to your hotel door. It is very convenient and civilized and a nice start to a trip, particularly if you have traveled a long distance and have jetlag. Services are not cheap, but they are cheaper then cabs. I would really recommend this when traveling with children - less stress and bother.

The immediate area around Paddington is not exactly beautiful :-). It's not unsafe (remember you are in a huge city tho) but it is not a place I would choose. The area around Victoria Sta. is nicer and closer to most of the central tourist sites.

I've also used Ray's London Transfers. For a party of 5 it will be cheaper than the Heathrow Express. And Ray will drop you off right at your hotel. He also helps with luggage.

And if you used Ray, you could stay in any area of London. You wouldn't have to concentrate on the areas near the major rail stations.

Here's another vote for Ray's. Getting off a redeye transatlantic flight, there's nothing nicer than emerging from customs/immigration to see a sign with your name on it, and a smiling gent who will shepherd you and yours into a private van and thence to the door of your hotel with no further muss or fuss. And as a bonus, it's possibly the most economical alternative for a group of 5, since (as mentioned above) it's per car, not per person (like the Heathrow Express) or per mile (like a taxi).

That hotelink looks like a good option...has anyone here actually used it? If they do leave every half hour, at 15 GBP per person (30 RT) taking y

That hotelink looks like a good option...has anyone here actually used it? If they do leave every half hour, at 15 GBP per person (30 RT) right to your hotel....that's pretty good. (It's 13 for the express train to Paddington, then you still have to get to your hotel).

No - HotelLink does not go directly to your hotel. It is similar to Supershuttle in the States. They try to get a full bus/van load for the same general neighborhood.

If you happen to be the last hotel on their route it could easily take 2 hours to get there.

Also, £15 per person for the OP's group of 5 makes it more expensive than a private service like Ray's, Swiss Cottage, etc.

My husband and I are traveling with our 10 month old son, flying into Heathrow. I know I can take a direct tube to Green Park, about 3 blocks from our hotel, but I don't we can manage even that with all the luggage, car seat and stroller.
Is there a big difference in price and quality between the car service of Just Airports and Ray Skinner? Does it make sense to take a car service while traveling with a small child? I don't want to be worn out before we even get to the hotel with a small child demanding my attention!

I think that with a small child and lots of luggage, a car service is the most stress-free way to go. You can compare the prices on the internet; when I did, I found the best price at justairports.com. The price for cash on their web site is much better than the price for credit cards, by the way. I can't compare service with other outfits, but the cars and drivers from justairports were fine.

What a great thread. I was just beginning to wonder about this myself for our trip in September, 4 adults and one toddler. We won't be travelling with a carseat, so I was just starting to wonder... should we just hop on the tube? We travel fairly light but may not want to do that right after the long flight.

To add to BAWCs' questions in the previous post, does anyone know if JustAirports or Ray Skinner can provide a carseat for you?

Thanks,
Kat

Here's another recommendation for JustAirports. Cheaper than Ray's, and they actually respond to booking requests. (Many complaints lately, from myself as well, about Ray's not responding to bookings, even though website promises within 24 hours.)

HotelLink vehicles are larger (with cramped seats) and your hotel could be last after many other stops and driving all about.

Just airports web site asks if they need to provide a car seat, so I assume they can provide one. We are actually bringing one, since we will be renting a car for the second week.

Here is another great site where you can compare prices:

<b>www.londontown.com</b>

Are the costs on the justairport.com per person or per car? They show a figure of 21 lbs. While the other sites seem to be around 65 lbs.

We used Justairports.com for 4 of us from Heathrow to So. Kens. and on the return. We paid cash (cheaper then credit card), for round trip in an Estate (minivan type vehicle). The were right on time. We couldn't have asked for an easier transfer. This was much more reasonable than a cab would have been.

Justairports price is per car not person.

What would you recommend for 2 persons? We are not backpackers, will have regular luggage just like most travelers.

Heathrow Express FYI: With a family rail card, your family of 5 would pay about &pound;33 one-way on the Heathrow Express.

Paddington vs. Victoria: Did anyone really respond to this question? I think Victoria is more central for walking to tourist attractions. Of course &quot;Victoria&quot; covers a wide area, but from the station itself, you can walk to Buckingham Palace, St. James's Park, etc. Paddington has good public transportation connections, but the area is not really walking distance to many tourist attractions.

David White
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