indiboo

I am posting on behalf of friends who are traveling to Europe for the first time. They will be in London for 4 days/3 nights and are looking for a hotel costing between $100 - $200 (dollars) per night in the area of Chelsea, Kensington or Knightsbridge. I understand that these are among the most desireable areas to stay and that June is high season, so what I am asking for may not exist, but I thought if anyone would know, it would be the Fodorites Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

jenifer

priceline, priceline, priceline!

For London, I think it can't be beat for anyone willing to have flexibility with their hotel choice.

See www.biddingfortravel.com and www.betterbidding.com for got tips on bidding and to learn what other winning bids are for that time frame.

In April 2003 we stayed 5 nights at the Thistle Kensington Palace for $60/night (total after taxes and fees) through priecline. It was a very pleasant hotel and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I'm sure June prices are a bit higher, but you will most likely be able to find a good deal through priceline if you do a little homework first.

bettyk

I have nothing against Priceline, but those people who recommend it should also warn that the reservations are NON REFUNDABLE. Once made, you cannot get your money back, so you want to be sure you won't get sick, etc., unless you have travel insurance to reimburse you.

PJKeay

My parents recently stayed at the Marriot in Kensington for £100 a night, including breakfast. They described it as a very good 4 star hotel. It only reopened after a complete refit / rebuild last year so everything sparkles.

There are several Marriots in in London so make sure you get the right one you want.

The costs for hotels are generally quite a bit cheaper at the weekend than during the week.

jody

Check Londontown.com, I just saw Millenium Baileys or Millenium Kensington , in a GREAT are, for 100 GBP per night. They are around the corner from Glouscester Rd tube and in a lively area of cafes, and shops. walking distance to V&A, Natural history Mus, Harrods, etc

Also try lastminute.com..I saw som good deals there last week.

The Bailey is usuanllt 250 GBP per night so you know it's a deal;!

historytraveler

My choices would be Durrant's or The Westland. The best website is probably www. tripadvisor.com. You'll find good rates at some of the most popular hotels. You can also scan the list for ratings and comments from people who have actually stayed in the hotel.

djkbooks

Priceline offers trip insurance on hotel rooms for $5/night. Best to print and read the policy first to be sure it covers your needs.

ingrid

Marriott has a special for 3 nights including breakfast. The code is E88 via their website. For the Marriott in Kensington, this comes to 234.00 GBP for 3 nights in June.

paulahart

We stayed at the Copthorne Tara in Kensington from March 24 - 31. We got the room through Priceline for only $75 a night and it was perfect. It is only a block from High St. Kensington Tube station. I highly recommend the hotel to anyone looking for an inexpensive place to stay.

Lennyb

Paulahart - I'm glad to hear that you were pleased with the Tara Copthorne. We are booked there for the first three nights of our trip in mid-May (also through Priceline, although not quite the bargain you got). Do you have any specific comments/observations about the place?

kgw

I love the Claverley Hotel. It is right around the corner from Harrod's on a quiet street. I have stayed there on my last three London trips.

mikemo

We are staying at the Rembrandt Sarova in Knightsbridge for 2 nights in July. It is highly recommended by my son's fiance', a Brit chef with 2 restaurants in London and two in Manhattan. Current rates about $180. US.

elaine

Search here and at tripadvisor.com for comments (some of them mine) on the Claverley on Beaufort Gardens, 3 blocks from Harrods (Knightsbridge.)

It is more a b & b than hotel. There is an elevator to most rooms. It was looking a little worn around the edges a couple of years ago, but absolutely clean and pleasant, great breakfast provided. It might just squeak into your price range, not sure of current rates.

Elizabeth

I second the recommendation of Priceline, I have found very satisfactory 4* places there for around $100 a night. If someone wants to do the work of learning how to work the site. I enjoy it myself.

I like the site travel-assist.com. Through them I booked a room at the Rembrandt in South Kensington which I completeley loved. It is charming and well-located. Right now there are rooms on there for 119 pounds; this will include breakfast which is always a good idea , more so in Londin which is so expensive.


Also tell them to check British and Virgin for specials, I think there are some packages available, and these are the best deals.

Booking a special: write down the list of hotels offered, then look them all up on Tripadvisor & go for the least bothersome. I stayed at the St Giles, an amazingly ugly building in a great location, was perfectly happy.

gourmet2go

this may not sound very British, but Holiday Inn often has great rates, and there are a lot of them around. Worth checking. Make sure you see all their rates on the web.

ALW

We stayed at the Sloane Square Moat House for, I think, 79 pounds/night. It was perfectly fine. The staff varied between fantastically helpful and absolutely useless, but the location was great, the rooms were clean, and it was the first place the Beatles stayed when they came to London

HTH!

paulahart

Lenny, after reading some not-so-very nice reports about the Copthorne Tara, I was a little skeptical but since it was soooo cheap I figured I would just suck it up.

It isn't a 4 star by American standards at all - it would probably be on par with a Holiday Inn. The room wasn't huge but it was big enough for a large bureau, a desk, a small table, 2 armchairs, a double bed and a night table. It was very clean and the heating controls worked well. There was even a little refridgerator where we kept some snacks.

My only problem with the room was the bathroom - it was too darn dark in there!! Other than that, the hotel was just fine.