I don't know why this is taking so long to find the "right" hotel. I don't ask for much but I expect at a $300-$400/night room to have a/c and at least 2 double beds. But I find in London that is not the case. The Dolphin Square wants to charge some $350+ for no air but will include a FAN! If I use Priceline I could wind up with a non-a/c hotel or 2 single beds (2 adults & 2 kids). Any recommendations or suggestions would be appreciated. As an early question too, how far "out of the way" is the Conrad Hilton (Chelsea Harbour) from say the London Eye?

Marriott hotels should have what you want.

You could also consider getting two 4* or 5* hotel rooms on Priceline for that cost. But I'm not sure you could count that all 4* hotels on Priceline would have A/C. However, it's possible you could come in under your limit even with two 5* rooms.

Check out the Covent Garden Hotel.

ricky-

Looking at my map, Conrad Hilton is about 4 miles from the London Eye. You asked about the Conrad Hilton before, and I think the consensus was that the hotel is far from the tube station, making it inconvenient for sightseeing unless you plan to taking the cab to/from the tube.

Hopefully someone else will come up with a better option for you. But do you really need A/C for London?

I pasted your old thread here:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34475659

Good luck!

To correct my message - I know you can't count on 4* hotel rooms won on Priceline in London to have air conditioning - since the Dolphin Square is often won on Priceline and it does not have A/C.

When are you going? Most of the year a/c is not at all needed in London. They do have the odd heat wave like late last summer - but that is very unusual. Is there some reason a/s is so important to you? (I don't think I have ever stayed in a London hotel or flat that had a/c and have never missed it)

Few hotels in Europe even Marriotts I am afraid) have "double double" rooms, that is, rooms with two double beds. Room sizes are smaller in European hotels to begin with, which makes double double difficult, and that configuration is not as in demand as in the US. Your best bet is chains, but I think you will not find many with double doubles.

Except for the last 2 summers, you normally would not need AC in the UK, which is why you don't find it in most hotels; again true of a large part of Europe, esp Switzerland where I live.

The Metropole Hilton has double/double beds(deluxe or club family rooms)
the Olympia Hilton has some family rooms or quads
and,
some of the Marriotts.

We stayed at the Churchhill Inter-Continental a few years ago and while I don't know if they have two doubles as there was only two of us I do know that they have a/c.

Second the Marriott hotel. However, my brother in law and his family recently spent some time in the new South Kensington Marriott. Rooms definitely had two double beds, but they only allowed ONE child in the room (their 2 yo daughter). They had to get a second room for their 13 yo son. So even if you find a room with 2 doubles and a/c make sure they will allow BOTH kids to stay in the room with you.

The Chancery Court Marriot has AC and double beds. It is in Holburn and right next to a tube stop. You're within a 5-minute walk to Covent Garden.

Its actually the Renaissance Chancery Court. A lovely hotel and a fairly good location, although a bit dead at night. I have stayed there several times and have never had a room with double beds, so not all the rooms have two double beds. You would have to ask for this.

Try the Crowne Plaza St. James. All rooms have A/C and there are 200 plus rooms with double beds. It is located 0.3 miles from Buckingham Palace on Buckingham Gate Road. I never have stayed there but will be there in a couple of weeks. I stayed the last time at the Thistle Westminster but it was December so i really don't know if it had it. Access the website for the Crowne Plaza Hotel chain and that will get you to the London hotel. It looks nice, Here's hoping!!

With regard to you question on the Conrad Hilton, their website says it is 3 miles from Waterloo Station, which is almost directly behind the London Eye, so it would be a long walk (but nice along the river the entire way). The website also says they are a 5 minute walk from the Earls Court Tube station, so that is convenient as well.

You also have the option of using river taxis or public ferries to get around via the Thames, which should save a lot of time via going by taxi and would afford great views of the city. The kids would probably also enjoy a ride on the river. There is a pier at Chelsea Harbour, and I not certain of what boats are available from here. Take a look at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/river, or contact the Conrad which should be able to provide details.

The hotel looks very nice and as it is an all-suite would solve your two double bed problem.

The site is www.crowneplaza.com

I defy anyone to walk (or run a full clip for that matter) from the Conrad to Earls Court tube station.

it is more than 2 miles by road - maybe 1.5 miles as the crow flies.

That is why you can so often get really good rates there - you have to take a cab to get almost anywhere.

In addition to the Renaissance Chancery Court, the Marriott County Hall also has rooms with two double beds. Both have convenient tube access - Holborn for Chancery Court and Waterloo or Westminster for County Hall.

Thanks so much for all of these responses. First, I am going in July. Being from the Fort Lauderdale area, there is no such thing as "no air" in a car or in a building. Look at these posts, you would think a hotel chain (i.e. Embassy suites)would blow away the "compatition"! Yes, I did book the Conrad Hilton but am looking into other options. Marriott County Hall is booked as per tripadvisor. Thanks for your continued help.