London Calling - March for Spring Break
 

Now we are thinking of London for spring break - found decent airfare but definitely not a deal. Looking for a hotel deal.
I may priceline it - could use neighborhood advice.
Also trying to work something out with points or SPG vouchers.
If I priceline I will probably have to get 2 rooms because I cant be sure the room I get will sleep 4. So I may still look for a great hotel that sleeps 4 in one room - it may be cheaper to pay for it rather than priceline 2 rooms.
So which neighborhood is great for sightseeing tourists that want to be close to the tube.

Earls Court, South Kensington, Waterloo, Westminster, Covent Garden, Bloomsbury...

I'd suggest you get a proper map of London and find out where the things are you want to see - then work out where you want to be based

I think I found a good priced at the Crowne Plaza near Glouster Rd. Is that a good spot?

I am not familiar with the Hotel, but if it is across from Gloucester Tube Station, then it is in a good location. I have stayed near the Gloucester Station and because it is on the Piccadilly Line, it is convenient to most attractions in London.

You might also look at www.londontown.com. They offer hotel discounts and also have a hotel search feature which lets you specify number of rooms and people in the room (so can search for one room, 2 adults, 2 children). Use the show by map option and you will be able to see what's central and what's close to a tube station.

Also look at Kayak, usually use londontown but got a better rate on Kayak this time

For what it's worth, I travel with my 2 kids on a regular basis, and I often book through Priceline. I get the same results as you do (only guaranteeing a room for 2 adults), so I usually phone ahead and let them know who I'm traveling with. For some reason hotels always assume it's their fault for the confusion and grant you a bigger room without any extra charge.

I understand that this might be a little beyond your comfort zone, but I've never had a problem with getting a decent sized room — even when I don't call and just show up at check-in.

Good luck.

David Robert Hogg,
Publisher of My Little Nomads

http://www.parkplaza.com/london-hote...1-7ut/gbwestmi

Found this on londontown, although hotel offers same deal, average USD 215 a night (before taxes) and free wifi!!
Is this a good location? Got good reviews on tripadvisor.

That's a South Bank location. It's quite central for the main sights such as Westminster Abbey, Parliament, London Eye. And the South Bank along the river has a nice atmosphere and good views across to "classic" London.

You might search here or other forums as to whether people liked the Marriott County Hall as it is right nearby.

If you stay there a nice street with a number of casual restaurants not too far is The Cut. It runs east-west just to the south east of Waterloo station (which would also be your tube stop). Here's a list from a search of "the cut", restaurant and london. It might not be so current but it gives you an idea how many restaurants there are on a street that is only two or three blocks long. We enjoyed pizza at Paradiso and gastropub food at Anchor and Hope. Also for theater check out both the Old Vic and the Young Vic on the same street, might not all be suitable with kids but something might.

The Anchor & Hope
36 The Cut
Caffe Nero
65A-67 The Cut
Capital Kebab House
63 The Cut
Culture Grub
84 The Cut
The Cut Bar & Restaurant
Young Vic Theatre, 66 The Cut
DeliCate
82 The Cut
Freshcut Sandwich Bar
49 The Cut
Juice Stop Internet Cafe
80 The Cut
Livebait
45 The Cut
Meson Don Felipe
53 The Cut
The Old Vic Pit Bar
The Cut
Paradiso
61 The Cut
Pret a Manger
69-71 The Cut
Snacklite
1 The Cut
Southbank Tandoori
39 The Cut
Spice of India
65 The Cut
Tas
33 The Cut
The Windmill Tavern
86 The Cut

We stayed on South Bank right near that hotel and the location was great. Just a short walk across the bridge from Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Strand and more. And Belvedere Road with its restaurants is closer than The Cut, and the Southbank Centre and various waterside restaurants are close by.

Here's a list of Belvedere Road restaurants I copied from the same website as The Cut restaurants above. Giraffe and Pizza Express are particularly family friendly.


Bagel Street
3 Belvedere Road
Benugo Bar & Kitchen
BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road
Caffe Vergnano
Festival Walk, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road
Canteen
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road
Chez Gerard
White House, 9 Belvedere Road
Concrete
Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road
County Hall Bakery
Belvedere Road
Cucina
3 Belvedere Road
EAT Cafe
Festival Riverside, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road
Feng Sushi
Festival Terrace, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road
Giraffe
Units 1 and 2, Riverside Level 1, Royal Festival Hall Belvedere Road
Las Iguanas
Unit 14, Festival Walk, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road
Locale
3B Belvedere Road
Neds Noodle Bar
3e Belvedere Road
Le Pain Quotidien
Units 12 and 13, Festival Walk, Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road
Ping Pong
Festival Terrace, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road
Pizza Express
The White House, 9 Belvedere Road
The Riverfront Bar and Kitchen
BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road
Riverside Terrace Cafe
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road
Skylon
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road
Starbucks
3c Belvedere Road
Strada
Festival Riverside, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre Belvedere Road
Subway
Unit 3A/B Belvedere Road
Troia Restaurant
3F Belvedere Road
Wagamama
Unit 7, Riverside Level 1, Royal Festival Hall Belvedere Road
Yo! Sushi
3B Belvedere Road
Yo! Sushi
Festival Riverside, Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road

That website is for the geographic area of Southbank where the post code starts with SE1: http://www.london-se1.co.uk/

They have another location near Waterloo - is that better?
http://www.parkplaza.com/london-hote...1-7ry/gbcounty
It actually got a higher TA score.

I realize now they are pretty much the same location!! Looks good to me!! Thanks!!!

LittleNomads - eeek - huge risk, not comfortable. A lot of hotels cant even accommodate 4 in one room in Europe. DO you do that overseas?

I found a rental property for the end of March that sleeps 4 (2 1/2 baths) just a few blocks from Earls Court station (Circle, District, Piccadilly lines) on VRBO.com - the amount quoted was in Dollars and cost me under $1,400 for 6 nights + insurance. It has a washer/dryer and small kitchen and a park behind the building. The info. on the website states that it is near Gloucester tube sta. but it is actually closer to Earls Court.