christabir

Get on everyone's e-mail lists. I got an offer from British Airways that sounds in your price range, but it was in the off season - I believe it was Jan-March. Round trip air from JFK and hotel (but a 2 star hotel) for 6 days for under $500!! I coulnd't go at the time, but it was a great deal. (If you register at British Airways, they cut another $25 off your fare, too). London is just about the most expensive place on the planet these days - 2 dollars=1 pound. Don't count on anything inexpensive any more. And Europe in the fall is the "best" time to go, thus even pricier.

janisj

Often in the Fall airlines spring huge sales for travel in the winter months. Sometimes the fares are REALLY low - but only during the sale periods.

I've flown from the west coast to London for as little as $290 including fees - but that was a couple of years ago and this year the best I could get was the $411 I mentioned. Sign up for the e-mail alerts from all the transatlantic carriers and when they break a sale you will be among the first to hear about it.

And w/ the new increase in UK departure taxes, don't expect fares to be lower than in the past.

Viajero2

I agree w/outwest wholeheartedly. My first time in London was in the month of June; hated it: crowded, noisy, horrible. I could not get out of London fast enough. Fast forward 7 years, February travel: LOVED IT!! We lucked out in terms of great weather. No lines, no crowds, more attentive staff everywhere, no problems with lingering at restaurants. It went so well that I would only consider going to London during wintertime-late Fall.

tudorprincess

My first trip to London was July/Aug. and the weather was beautiful but long lines and crowds everywhere. We've since only gone in Nov/Feb/Mar.
As long as you can deal with possible wind/rain/sleet/snow the savings is worth it to me. We had 64 degrees last week in London!

yk

If you can take your vacation this <b>May</b>, AA.com has a Europe fare sale right now. As long as your dates are flexible, you can fly JFK-LHR for $508 all-in per person ($349 base price + $159 tax/fees). This is priced for midweek departure and return.

So, $508 x 2 = $1016 for airfare. That will leave you with $184 for 6 nights of hotel. Good luck.

You can also look at AA vacations to see if they have any &quot;deals.&quot;

isabel

London is expensive but YES you can do it. I just checked kayak.com and put in JFK to LHR for mid October and got a low price of $547 on AirIndia. Then I checked Craven Gardens Hotel, where I have personally stayed and would most definitly stay again, and in October the cost for a double for six nights comes to 460 pounds or about $900. So there you go - $1200.

People are right that it's expensive once you get there, but if you are willing to eat take out from Marks and Spencer, and ethnic food (Wagamama is great) it can be done. And very worthwhile. By the way, Craven Gardens includes a nice breakfast.

Go for it.

yk

isabel-

This is what the OP wrote in her first post:

&lt; For flight and hotel for 6 nights, I do not want to spend more than $1200 <b>total</b> for two people. &gt;

This is just not possible, IMO.

janisj

My guess w/ a Feb flight and using PL for a 3 star it <i>could</i> be done for about $1100-1200.

That's for a 7 day trip w/ 6 nights in London and a fare good fare sale . I'm guessing about $55-60 a night for a 3 star. But it is hard to tell since very few 3 star bids are ever reported.

europebound

&gt;I guess it is a bit disconcerting that it would need to be explained the HUMONGOUS difference between traveling to London in Feb vs. Sept? &lt;

I really don't see the need for your snotty response. I have never traveled to Europe before. All I was saying is that my friends traveled to London in Feb. I'm sorry but I didn't know there was such a huge difference. Now I know. Point taken. No need to be rude about it.

isabel

europebound - I agree some of the responses above are pretty rude. They are also pretty wrong. Any comment on what I found for you for $1200?

isabel

yk - why are you still saying it's not possible when I have just given specific information how -as of today - it IS possible?

jewela

Europebound:

You're right....rudeness is not acceptable. Not everyone is a well seasoned European traveler. If that were the case, this forum would not be necessary.
If budget travel is what you are looking for, then Nov/Feb/March is the best time. Last month BA had flights advertised at $149.00 each way (before taxes I believe)....which is a good deal. But even in Feb. $1200.00 for 2 people is a bit of a stretch. Try some of the web sites that have been suggested. And check out some of the new &quot;Pod hotels&quot; that are popping up around London. They are very basic, but the price may be exactly what you are looking for. Feb. in London is great. Just bring an umbrella, warm coat, and a good attitude. Even though the days are shorter, you can see/do nearly as much since the long lines are gone.
BTW I've had very good luck using hotelsclick.com for rooms.....very good prices, but the best deals tend to go fast.

JA

rkkwan

isabel - You says $900 for hotel and $547 for each ticket. For two people, that's about $2,000, not $1,200 as the OP budgeted.

Unless you mean $547 for TWO roundtrip tickets to London.

yk

isabel-

I don't get it. Plane tickets on Air India = $547 per person. $547 x 2 = $1094.

$1094 + $900 hotel = $1994

OP wants to do this trip for $1200 <b>total</b>.

lightGreenie

i cant help with costs coming to london from us... but if it was me generally weather here is much better in spetember.... esp early sept if you can.... feb is a dodgy month and you could face snow.... prob my first choice would be sept.... oct ok if you like colder weather but walking round london with tons of people in cold and wet is not the best!!!

Plus do prepare yourself for high costs of spending when here... nothing in london comes cheap!!

janisj

My post above IS for <b>two</b> - not per person
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Author: janisj
Date: 03/22/2007, 12:39 pm
My guess w/ a Feb flight and using PL for a 3 star it could be done for about $1100-1200.

That's for a 7 day trip w/ 6 nights in London and a good fare sale. I'm guessing about $55-60 a night for a 3 star. But it is hard to tell since very few 3 star bids are ever reported.

yk

I understood your post, janis. If the OP is lucky enough to get a $400 ticket in Feb, she will have $400 left for 6 nights of hotel. That comes out to $67/night for hotel, or, &pound;34/night. Even Priceline won't have such a deal, especially if you add in ~$15 taxes/fees added on per night.

I suppose the OP can stay at the cheapest room (no window) at EasyHotel for &pound;25/night. Looks like even the University dorm rooms charge &pound;40-50/night!

janisj

I said for a 3 star - I often get 4 stars for $70 - $80, so guesstimated what a 3 star would get.

But also as I said - since hardly anyone ever reports bidding on 3 stars it is hard to tell what is reasonable.

WillTravel

There's no linear step progression in terms of price with lower star levels. It might be a little bit cheaper than a 4*, but I wouldn't expect a $55 Priceline deal on a centrally located London 3*. (I did get a $55 bid for a London 2* in 2003, and it was a nice new hotel, and of course there's no way of predicting what hotels might do with their Priceline rates.)

Viajero2

RE: &lt;&lt;I often get 4 stars for $70 - $80,...&gt;&gt; yeah, right, a 4 star hotel in London around Sept for $70. Sure; that would be per person, as typically hotels are quoted on the UK, right? Otherwise, that hotel must be closer to Manchester than to London.....