London Hotel - Savoy vs. . ..
 

There are good rates for the Savoy on Expedia for June but posts here (none recent) report hotel had gone downhill. This would be too bad as I've always wanted to stay there and love the location. Any recent stays? <BR><BR>Also, Meridian Waldorf has good rates but I understand is undergoing renovations.<BR><BR>Langham Hilton is another hotel with good rates. The Jolly St Ermins is another less expensive option.<BR><BR>Other hotels I should consider? Package deals on travel sites seem to be best deals but don't give Claridge's, Connaught, or Dorchester as options. Best ways to book these hotels if I should consider them?<BR><BR>Thanks! <BR><BR><BR>

My best friend stayed at the Savoy at the beginning of this year, and I visited her in her room. The foyer is still beautiful and glittering. Her room was perfectly horrible. The carpet looked dirty, the prints on the walls were tasteless. The decor was charmless and old-fashioned and ugly. It all looked seriously in need of renovation/modernisation/redecoration - anything! Breakfast - no great shakes - was a bloody fortune. I ate a small croissant and she was charged something like &pound;15 for viennoiserie. I'd say steer clear.<BR><BR>Unfortunately, I can't give you any alternative recommendations. My best male friend stayed at the Covent Garden hotel and liked it a lot, but I don't think they do any good rate packages at all. <BR><BR>Also, the Savoy is NOT a good location. It's near to Covent Garden, but on a street which is busy by day and unpleasant at night. It's nicely close to the river, but because it's in a predominantly officey area, much of it closes at 6pm and at weekends. I'd recommend exploring a prettier part of town that you can make your own, a villagey part like Notting Hill, for instance, which is still close to town, but in the middle of unexpected and non-touristy things.

We stayed at the Savoy last spring and enjoyed it very much. I thought our room was beautiful and we had great fun exploring the hotel. But maybe my expectations aren't all that high. I am usually happy in much less posh accomodations, so the Savoy was a treat.

It may be that some rooms have been renovated and some are yet to be. But the location and public rooms of the Savoy are absolutely wonderful. The River Terrace dining room, being walking distance to many theatres, right on the river, the terrific service - it is a wonderful experience.<BR><BR>If I got there and my room looked tatty I'd simply ask for a better one. Unless they were absolutely full (not likely) you would probably have no problem.

Admittedly I am responding to this to bring it back to the top as much as anything. The outside of a hotel can be like the book which shouldn't be judged by the cover. I think the reason you haven't gotten a lot of responses to this is because I SUSPECT a lot of the folks who are constantly on this site cannot or choose not to afford to stay in so-called higher end places like The Savoy (let' see if that comment brings them out of the woodwork). I have to say that the comment about it not being a good location re Covent Garden is totally subjective and obviously based on one person's opinion as to what is &quot;good.&quot; Take that one for what it is worth.

The comment about it not being a good location was based on it being in an area that's very concentrated in large offices. They close at 5pm. Many shops around them cater to those offices - like quick sandwich bars - and they also close at 5pm. The Strand is a loud, busy road, and it's simply not the nicest place to stay. Of course it's subjective. Aren't most things, when you're talking about travel, and good location? I gave my reasons. The Covent Garden Hotel, not very far away, is on a small, quiet street close to intimate restaurants.

What is a &quot;good rate&quot; anyway? I have been able to get 5* hotels for under $100 per night Vat included in June. Choose an area and bid on priceline. Happy bidding. Take the money you save and eat well and often.

Thank you for replies which put me off the Savoy a bit. I'll look around a bit.

My husband &amp; I just got back from the Savoy in London after booking one of those great rates on Expedia. The first room they showed us was desperately in need of a makeover. Carpet was stained &amp; pulling up in places &amp; the fixtures were installed sometime in the 1970's. But what really put me over the edge was the dust. There was dust on every surface in the room...you could write your name in it. We asked for another room &amp; all they had was one for an additional 50 pounds a night. The more expensive room was lovely &amp; had been redone recently, so we decided to take it. However, we ended up being near an elevator shaft which woke us up several times a night. I can't even describe the sound...some high pitched squeal every time the elevator landed. We probably should have complained &amp; moved again, but we didn't want to pack &amp; unpack one more time. The service in the hotel was excellent, however, and the common areas are impressive (although not as grand as I expected). With so many great hotel choices in London, I don't think we will be staying there again. We had stayed before at the Renaissance Chancery Court on High Holburn &amp; found it to be wonderful. The tube stop was right outside the hotel which was nice. The Savoy isn't far from a number of tube stops, but they are several minutes away on foot.

FYI- www.luxurylink.com offers pretty good packages on the Savoy, Claridge's and the Connaught, you may want to check it out, as well as many other 5* london accomodations.

Ripley-

I was very pleased to read your remarks about the Renaissance Chancery Court as we are scheduled to stay there in October. I now am looking up the hotels you suggested in Rome and Florence where my kids are going in October. Where do you suggest in Venice?

DMG, in Venice, we have stayed at the Panada Hotel several times. It's best advantage is the location...very close to Piazza San Marco (just one street off the square). The rooms are very small, but clean &amp; decently appointed. Our last trip to Venice, we rented an apartment through Views on Venice which we enjoyed quite a bit, however next time, I think we'll splurge on one of the fancier hotels in town. I'm sure this board has its favorites. In Florence, we have stayed at the Antica Torre Tornabuoni (large rooms)&amp; the Relais Uffizi (fabulous location). We enjoyed our stay at both hotels, but might try the Hermitage Hotel or the Hotel Lungarno next time. In Rome, we've stayed recently at the Albergo del Senato &amp; loved everything about the place!

ReneeS,

I HAD to respond to your post as I am an ardent, die-hard, Savoy fan. Please understand, I do not mean to discount any of the unfortunate experiences already posted. I am sorry to hear that the hotel is anything less than wonderful. As mentioned, I do believe renovation is ongoing but I fully agree, no one should be expected to stay in accomodations that fail to meet Savoy standards.

With that said, I encourage you to consider the hotel. While the location after hours isn't prime, I am assuming you will take a cab anyway (recommended) and if you manage to get a river room, the views are amazing.

I strongly encourage you to go to the Savoy website and book online. They have a guaranteed lowest room rate for rooms booked via their site. I took part in the study last fall to renovate their web site and I believe this new feature is part of the &quot;renovation.&quot; Anyway, its worth considering.

As well, I have emailed their Central Reservations and found them helpful and prompt to reply. I would not hesitate to make clear your concerns and request that your room meet expectations for a deluxe establishment.

At any rate, I hope you have fun and if you should consider another hotel, I urge you to consider the other Savoy properties, which, without exception, are considered among the city's best hotels (The Connaught, Claridges, The Berkeley).

Vaya con Dios!

I would not stay at the Savoy because of its location. As others have pointed out; after offices close it's not very nice. Lots of people sleeping in doorways too. But a choice of hotel is very personal. I lived in London for years, and visit several times a year now, always staying in hotels. My favorite is the Capital Hotel in Basil Street, Knightsbridge. Extremely nice staff, beautiful English hotel, and just yards from Harrods.

I had a bad experience in the Savoy. My room was exactly like the one Macneil described: Horrible. I also don't like its entrance at the end of a narrow street and the service was also bad. I wrote a review on Epinions about it. You can check it.
I have also stayed at the Dorchester and I highly recommend it. I have also a review on it in epinions.com.

And bootman4u isn't probably a regular on this forum as he hasn't noticed most people on this forum can afford and want to spend money &quot; at higher end places like the Savoy&quot; . But to those I would recommend to splurge your money on other good horels, not the Savoy. There are better 3 star options than this decadent hotel.