yk

Using Oyster PAYG, a tube ride is £1.50. Bus ride is 90p.

Can't remember what the price is these days if you buy a single ticket. Vaguely I recall £4 for tube and £2 for bus.

So, if you have an Oyster PAYG, and on your arrival day, say you use the tube 2 times and bus once. Your Oyster will be deducted £3.90. If you take the tube 3 times and bus once, it'll cap at £4.80.

111op

Ah, that's the trick. I didn't realize that it's much lower if you do a single ride on Oyster.

I thought it's always the same price as if you buy a single ride separately. Thanks.

I guess I've spent more than 5 minutes understanding how Oyster works.

jkbritt

look at laterooms.com

John b.

111op

By the way, as far as I can tell, there are no rooms at all listed for LSE right now for next Friday.

I guess moral is as always, book early, if you're interested!

Sarvowinner

I stayed at the Hilton Islington last year - very bland hotel, but spacious rooms. Loved the area. Five minutes to the tube and lots of very reasonable restaurants and bars. Quite lively area.

I just booked the Holiday Inn London - Regent's Park for December 10-12th thru Hotwire for $129 per night. I bid up to $125 on PL and the guys at betterbidding pointed out this hotel on Hotwire. Very close to tube.

111op

I have booked the Hotwire 2.5* Southbank for $81.15 total for one night.

As expected it's indeed the HI Express.

How do I know breakfast is included? The confirm doesn't say so. Thanks again!

111op

By the way, LSE has been showing availability for a double on and off (it's available right now for the night I'm looking for). After the singles were booked, I never saw availability again.

yk

AFAIK, all HI Express include free breakfast, no matter which route you book. I don't think it's a proper breakfast you'd get at a real hotel, but rather like La Quinta-style. It'd be great if you report back and let us know.

yk

Actually, when you book the 2.5* Southwark hotel via Hotwire, there should be a "teacup" symbol next to it. The teacup symbol indicates complimentary breakfast.

111op

Yes, I confirm that there was breakfast. No eggs that I recall, but you get the usual assortment, with fruits and milk and tea and coffee, etc. Not bad.

The room was nice also, just what you'd expect for a HI hotel. I was on the 4th floor and could see Tate Modern out of my window. Some bathroom fixtures by Grohe, in case anyone cares. The knob you turn to control the temperature for the shower had numerical markings.

As a plus I met some friends in Greenwich yesterday (my last day of the trip) and went to Borough Market as they suggested before I took the train. BM was really fascinating and very enjoyable.

So the Southwark location worked out very well for me.

yk

Does the room have an in-room safe? How about tea kettle?

111op

I don't think there was an in-room safe.

I can't remember if there was a kettle or a dryer, but I remember seeing packets of tea or coffee, so I imagine there's probably a kettle.