We are looking for a hotel which is convenient to the Heathrow bus station and Terminal 5 - something either on the Hoppa route or close by taxi. We've stayed in the Renaissance when flying out of other terminals, but aren't sure exactly how far it is from the new terminal - any suggestions?

There's nowhere that meets your brief, unless you've put it badly.

T5 is about 3-4 miles from the central bus station, which is in the middle of the T1-3 complex. There IS a Sofitel at T5, which is supposed to be opening at the same time as the terminal, and a Travelodge a few hundred yards from T5. And buses stop at T5, but it's not the central bus station - but then, maybe you don't need the central bus station.

Check where the bus will leave from <b> on the day you're travelling </b> . That will determine the handiest place to stay

We are hoping to travel by National Express to Terminal 5 and then stay overnight in a hotel - either the Sofitel or Travelodge, but there is a big difference in price, and then fly out early mornign from Terminal 5. I know the Sofitel will be more expensive, but probably more convient. The Travelodge will be much cheaper, less convenient and we will need to get a taxi from T5 to the hotel and back again, so it's just a matter of deciding which option. At the moment the Sofitel is winning purely on convenince.

The Hilton web site says that there will be shuttle service to and from Terminal 5 beginning this May.

The Hoppa will &quot;serve&quot; T5.

Gardyloo,

I sense that you are not a big fan of the Hoppa bus; what are the problems?

Now that I've discovered a left-luggage desk at Terminal 3 I think we'll leave the larger bags there and take the Heathrow Express to the Marriott.

Is this a different Marriott than the one on Bath Road? It wouldn't be possible to take the Heathrow Express there.

No, it's the one on the Bath road. So how would we get there???

I have stayed right by that Marriott several times at the Holiday Inn Ariel, and the solution I use is to take the free public buses. The standard public transit buses are free within a certain perimeter of Heathrow, and there are several which go to the hotels on Bath Road.

This method does involve a fair bit of schlepping to get outside to the buses. From what you have said about your knee, I'm not sure this would be a great solution.

On the other hand, I think you have to walk to get to a taxi, and you have to walk to get to the Hoppa bus, so maybe it's no worse. But I have not used those two solutions.

to get to the Marriott you can 1) take a taxi, 2) take the Hoppa, or 3) take a regular bus - which is free in the immediate area.