Kensington Hotels
Jan 9th, 2004 | 11:54 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2004
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Kensington Hotels
I am traveling with a group to London in mid Feb and need assistance with a hotel choice in Kensington...has anyone ever heard of the Park International or Kensington Close? I am not finding much info on the web on either hotel. Both have reasonable rates, approx $74/person/night, but this seems cheaper than most I am finding, which leads me to believe they are of so so quality. I am a firm believer in you get what you pay for. We'd like to stay in the $200/night range (we'd have more than 1 person in a room to split the cost). Any suggestion on these hotels or others?
Jan 9th, 2004 | 12:13 PM
#2
Joined: Jan 2003
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Hi, have you tried using the little Search box above to find info on either hotel? You can also click on the top of this screen at Hotels, to find guest comments. Finally, tripadvisor.com has guest comments on many many hotels.
If you want triple or quad rooms for the equivalent of $200 per night, then I guess that means about 100-110 pounds given current rates.
I just came back from staying at the Arosfa hotel, on Gower Street, Bloomsbury area, Tube stop is Goodge St.
It is more a B&B than a hotel. I saw a triple room. There were three regular twin beds with a little space in between. The premises are spotlessly clean; the ensuite bathrooms are excruciatingly small, almost funny how small.Still, plenty of heat and hot water. TV with local stations, no hairdryers, no elevator.
A hot breakfast is provided every morning, it doesn't vary much but is useful and tastes good.
A Triple room was in the 70-something pound range, their quads (which I didn't see) are 90-something pounds.
The place is simple, pleasant, cheap, and good location, better than Kensington because you can walk to more attractions.
If you want triple or quad rooms for the equivalent of $200 per night, then I guess that means about 100-110 pounds given current rates.
I just came back from staying at the Arosfa hotel, on Gower Street, Bloomsbury area, Tube stop is Goodge St.
It is more a B&B than a hotel. I saw a triple room. There were three regular twin beds with a little space in between. The premises are spotlessly clean; the ensuite bathrooms are excruciatingly small, almost funny how small.Still, plenty of heat and hot water. TV with local stations, no hairdryers, no elevator.
A hot breakfast is provided every morning, it doesn't vary much but is useful and tastes good.
A Triple room was in the 70-something pound range, their quads (which I didn't see) are 90-something pounds.
The place is simple, pleasant, cheap, and good location, better than Kensington because you can walk to more attractions.
Jan 9th, 2004 | 12:47 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 297
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You may want to consider Priceline. Go to www.biddingfortravel.com and see the listings for London Hotels. They list bidding guidelines and winning bids as well as Hotel reviews.
Jan 9th, 2004 | 01:10 PM
#5
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 270
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FirstTimer,
Have a look at:
http://www.millenniumhotels.com/MCIL...orm&europe
The Millennium Gloucester and Bayley are both nice, well located hotels in S. Kensington. You can get lower, promotional rates on the Millennium web site. Some rates exclude VAT and breakfast, some others are inclusive of VAT. VAT does add a lot to your hotel rate in the UK.
Have a look at:
http://www.millenniumhotels.com/MCIL...orm&europe
The Millennium Gloucester and Bayley are both nice, well located hotels in S. Kensington. You can get lower, promotional rates on the Millennium web site. Some rates exclude VAT and breakfast, some others are inclusive of VAT. VAT does add a lot to your hotel rate in the UK.
Jan 9th, 2004 | 06:57 PM
#6
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 311
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hi firsttimer,
I can highly recommend and concur with surlok's recommendation an the two millenium hotels in south kensington.
I was at the gloucester millennium in october and it is a great hotel.
Both the Baileys and the Gloucester are great hotels by london standards and can be found at a very reasonable rate most of the time. A standard double or twin can usually be found at around 75-85 pds per room(not per person) before vat...with vat around 90 pounds or about $160 a night(per room not per person) at the going rising dollar per pd. the rooms are a nice size and the amenities are fine. the hotels are in great shape.
Now a standard does not include breakfast and I will tell you while they have a great breakfast buffet in the restaurant every morning..it was too high a price for me. we used a local diner for breakfast every morning and love it. (Dino's right across the rd from the hotel).
however, if you are traveling mid february you need to grab a reservation with them quick. they book up fast and ahead. I tried 3 months ahead at the bailey's and couldn't get in and chose the gloucester, but did not regret this one minute. (baileys is an older more historical hotel).
When I go back in march/april, I will be there again...you just can't beat it.
Both are in just about the most convenient location you could find in london. they are in s. kensington on gloucester rd (baileys is on gloucester, and gloucester is right behind it off of gloucester).
The gloucester tube station is right across the street. if you are at the baileys you walk out the door and across the street to the metro entrance. gloucester hotel is about 100 feet down the block.....so convenient.
the gloucester tube station is one of the best stations in london. you can catch 3 or 4 different lines from that station and as it is a great station in that all you have to do is walk directly down a flight of steps and you are on a double platform going either way (no underground football fields lengths to walk) the third line is accessable by a deep elevator lift and just as easy.
from that area you can take about 10 different buses throughout london. the number 49 bus goes up and down gloucester and about every 10 minutes if you don't like the metro.
3 or 4 museums are in that area.
as far as the neighborhood goes you can't get any more convienent and for a group of people it is an excellent choice...
boots pharmacy on the other side of metro station
2 convenient stores and a small grocery across the road from the hotel
small diner called Dino's great breakfast, lunch and dinner...very reasonable prices (full breakfast for about 6 pds, cont break 3 pds. lunch about 7 pds...great italian dinners for about 10-15pds...
10-15 different other restaurants all up and down gloucester rd.
full grocery about 10 blocks down cromwell and a laundromat.
finally...do not stay at the park international....a terrible budget hotel. it is in bad shape and not worth the saving.
there are about 10 different hotels in this area that are better and reasonable.
email me at [email protected] if you need any help with your plans.
erinb
I can highly recommend and concur with surlok's recommendation an the two millenium hotels in south kensington.
I was at the gloucester millennium in october and it is a great hotel.
Both the Baileys and the Gloucester are great hotels by london standards and can be found at a very reasonable rate most of the time. A standard double or twin can usually be found at around 75-85 pds per room(not per person) before vat...with vat around 90 pounds or about $160 a night(per room not per person) at the going rising dollar per pd. the rooms are a nice size and the amenities are fine. the hotels are in great shape.
Now a standard does not include breakfast and I will tell you while they have a great breakfast buffet in the restaurant every morning..it was too high a price for me. we used a local diner for breakfast every morning and love it. (Dino's right across the rd from the hotel).
however, if you are traveling mid february you need to grab a reservation with them quick. they book up fast and ahead. I tried 3 months ahead at the bailey's and couldn't get in and chose the gloucester, but did not regret this one minute. (baileys is an older more historical hotel).
When I go back in march/april, I will be there again...you just can't beat it.
Both are in just about the most convenient location you could find in london. they are in s. kensington on gloucester rd (baileys is on gloucester, and gloucester is right behind it off of gloucester).
The gloucester tube station is right across the street. if you are at the baileys you walk out the door and across the street to the metro entrance. gloucester hotel is about 100 feet down the block.....so convenient.
the gloucester tube station is one of the best stations in london. you can catch 3 or 4 different lines from that station and as it is a great station in that all you have to do is walk directly down a flight of steps and you are on a double platform going either way (no underground football fields lengths to walk) the third line is accessable by a deep elevator lift and just as easy.
from that area you can take about 10 different buses throughout london. the number 49 bus goes up and down gloucester and about every 10 minutes if you don't like the metro.
3 or 4 museums are in that area.
as far as the neighborhood goes you can't get any more convienent and for a group of people it is an excellent choice...
boots pharmacy on the other side of metro station
2 convenient stores and a small grocery across the road from the hotel
small diner called Dino's great breakfast, lunch and dinner...very reasonable prices (full breakfast for about 6 pds, cont break 3 pds. lunch about 7 pds...great italian dinners for about 10-15pds...
10-15 different other restaurants all up and down gloucester rd.
full grocery about 10 blocks down cromwell and a laundromat.
finally...do not stay at the park international....a terrible budget hotel. it is in bad shape and not worth the saving.
there are about 10 different hotels in this area that are better and reasonable.
email me at [email protected] if you need any help with your plans.
erinb
