Hotel in London for Family of 4
Apr 2nd, 2000, 01:01 PM
#2
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Judy, <BR>Recognize that hotels in London are expensive and room sizes invariably small - you're not going to find anything reasonably priced on a par with American motels as far as spaciousness of rooms and baths is concerned. You might want to check out the Travel Inns in London - there are many threads on them on this site; simply do a text search. Another option is the London Guards hotel which I've recommended in the past and invariably gotten favorable responses from travelers upon their return. It's website is www.demon.co.uk/hotel-uk/guards.html
Apr 2nd, 2000, 02:01 PM
#3
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We're also a family of four visiting London later this month. We have reservations at the Ridgemount Hotel in Bloomsbury (a double bed and 2 singles)...cost just a bit over $100 USD. It's one of Frommer's recommended hotels..do a search in the forum here. I don't have their number handy.
Apr 3rd, 2000, 02:47 PM
#4
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If you're going to be a week or so in London, you might be comfortable in an apartment. There are one or two bedrooms, with convertible sofas or cots in the living area. For Mom and Dad, a room to retire to and keel over from exhaustion; for the kids, a room with a tv and a kitchen nearby (you can stock the fridge with sodas or whatever they drink, yogurt, etc.). If you've been touristing all day, and no one can face the thought of staying awake through dinner at a restaurant, you can get something at a grocer to make, or pick up takeaway and eat in the apartment. We did lunch one day like that; shopping in the morning, lunch and a nap in the apartment, then off to sightsee in the afternoon. <BR> <BR>If you do a search on this forum, you'll find several recommendations (I think lori just posted a site for an apartment she rented recently).
Apr 3rd, 2000, 03:11 PM
#5
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Hi Judy, <BR>I just started to post a reply and it went off into never never land! Elvira is right, you might want to consider an apartment for the 4 of you. Hotel rooms are really very small by our standards and unless you go for two rooms I can't imagine it being terribly comfortable. Check out Nick Price at Price Apartments, www.priceapts.co.uk - Nick owns several bldgs. on Balcombe Street near Regent's Park and Baker Street that he rents apartments in and acts as an agent for several other places. He just remodeled a two bedroom on Balcombe and it has 2 bathrooms which would be a real plus for 4 people! We've stayed in a studio on Balcombe and are going back next week. His apartments are not super luxury, but they are clean and comfortable and the location is great. We feel like Nick is a friend,he's very easy to work with - if you contact him tell him Lori & John recommended him. <BR>Your family might enjoy having more room than a hotel has to offer and I know having a kitchen is great - not for cooking meals but for snacks and doing breakfast - or as Elvira said bringing back some take out food when you are dead on your feet and can't face going out!! If you opt for a hotel I'd check out the Travel Inns that people keep mentioning on the Forum - they are more like American motels. We just like having an apartment tho, but there are down sides to it (not to us, but to some people) because there is no daily maid service and you get to pick up after yourself. This is not a big deal to us, we enjoy being in a "neighborhood" and stopping at the store, etc. Makes one feel less like a tourist! If you have any questions let me know and I can e-mail you personally.
Apr 3rd, 2000, 05:00 PM
#6
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Hi you may want to look at these Web sites <BR>http://www.London4Rent.com <BR>http://www.Vacationhomes.com <BR>http://www.vacationspot.com <BR>http://travelassist.com/tcd/curzon.html <BR>
Apr 4th, 2000, 09:40 AM
#7
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Judy, <BR> <BR>(Here is the answer I gave another family group planning a trip to London
<BR> <BR>We have had some sucess with chain hotels, like Holiday Inn and Hilton, both of which have several London properties. If there are still rooms available, Hilton had special "value" rates, requiring full pre-payment, at their London hotels this summer. In the past, we have stayed at the Hilton Regents Park (they offered connecting rooms). This summer, we are staying at the Hilton St. Ermine's near St. James's Park--our room rate was about £112 for a double. The Regent's Park location is a little to the north of central London, but close to some tourist spots; the St. Ermine's is walking distance to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. <BR> <BR>Similarly, we have stayed at the Holiday Inn Mayfair, also a central location. They allowed children in the same room as parents (not all London hotels do), but the rates are higher. I suspect you could get connecting rooms here. <BR> <BR>These hotels are air-conditioned. Even if it is not hot, the street noise in a big city like London can make air-conditioning very welcome. <BR> <BR>If you are on a budget, I suggest looking at the Travel Inn County Hall. It is just across the river from Big Ben. The Travel Inn is modern, it offers family rooms, it is NOT air-conditioned, and I have not personnally stayed there. Reports from other travelers vary, but the Travel Inn is generally seen as the best budget buy in downtown London. <BR> <BR>My general advice is to stay in as central a location as you can afford. There are many tourist-class hotels located in Bayswater, Paddington, Earls Court, etc. but they involve a commute by Tube (subway) to get to the main tourist sights. There is another cluster of lower priced hotels near Victoria Rail station--this neighborhood has some nice hotels and some turkeys, so choose carefully. In general, hotel standards in London are lower than in large US cities--a four-star hotel in New York may be a cut above a 4-star in London. Don't expect a price break though! <BR> <BR>Hope this is useful. <BR> <BR>David White <BR>www.KidsToLondon.com
<BR> <BR>We have had some sucess with chain hotels, like Holiday Inn and Hilton, both of which have several London properties. If there are still rooms available, Hilton had special "value" rates, requiring full pre-payment, at their London hotels this summer. In the past, we have stayed at the Hilton Regents Park (they offered connecting rooms). This summer, we are staying at the Hilton St. Ermine's near St. James's Park--our room rate was about £112 for a double. The Regent's Park location is a little to the north of central London, but close to some tourist spots; the St. Ermine's is walking distance to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. <BR> <BR>Similarly, we have stayed at the Holiday Inn Mayfair, also a central location. They allowed children in the same room as parents (not all London hotels do), but the rates are higher. I suspect you could get connecting rooms here. <BR> <BR>These hotels are air-conditioned. Even if it is not hot, the street noise in a big city like London can make air-conditioning very welcome. <BR> <BR>If you are on a budget, I suggest looking at the Travel Inn County Hall. It is just across the river from Big Ben. The Travel Inn is modern, it offers family rooms, it is NOT air-conditioned, and I have not personnally stayed there. Reports from other travelers vary, but the Travel Inn is generally seen as the best budget buy in downtown London. <BR> <BR>My general advice is to stay in as central a location as you can afford. There are many tourist-class hotels located in Bayswater, Paddington, Earls Court, etc. but they involve a commute by Tube (subway) to get to the main tourist sights. There is another cluster of lower priced hotels near Victoria Rail station--this neighborhood has some nice hotels and some turkeys, so choose carefully. In general, hotel standards in London are lower than in large US cities--a four-star hotel in New York may be a cut above a 4-star in London. Don't expect a price break though! <BR> <BR>Hope this is useful. <BR> <BR>David White <BR>www.KidsToLondon.com
Apr 4th, 2000, 07:18 PM
#8
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the only problem with staying at the travel inn is that if you have a child over 16 years old, you have to get two separate rooms. we had reservaations to stay there in february, but ended up cancelling them when they told us we needed separate rooms.
