We are looking for a London flat or reasonable hotel (100 to 150 U.S. per day) that has air-conditioning. Any suggestions out there? Roberta J.

Air Conditioning is VERY rare in Britain except at the most expensive hotels. Why - because it is not needed - it just does not get that warm. I have been to Britain about 10 times and never felt the need for air conditioning. Unless there is a real heat wave (most unusual) you would really not find it necessary.

Try one of the universities - most in the UK rent out their student accommodation over the vacations. This may not sound ideal, but actually the rooms are usually very nice and the prices very reasonable. Most are now furnishing their accommodation to suit the (mainly American) commercial market rather than for the students themselves. Check out www.venuemasters.co.uk - this is an organisation that deals with all the unis and colleges in the UK.

Almost all four star and many three star hotels have air conditioning, esp if they have recently been refurbished. You can get a double in a four-star from around GBP100/$145 weekdays, cheaper at weekends. Furnished flats with air-con would be a rarity at similar price range. Provided you can open windows and not facing inner courtyard, you should be ok during average English summer.

I've stayed in a lot of really cheap student housing and have never known one to have air-conditioning. But as Elspeth notes, universities have found the business of renting rooms so lucrative that they are expanding facilities for rental to visitors, and some of these new (and somewhat more expensive) places are indeed air conditioned. Look, for example, at some of the rooms available from Imperial College in South Kensington--click "Accomodation" at their website, http://www.ad.ic.ac.uk/conferences/ . I notice there that Swallow International Hotel (60 pounds per night) and Harrington Hall (84 ppn) both have a/c, and other rather nice amenities. <BR> <BR> Do you need a/c? Well, "need" is subjective. Summer nights (and a good many days) are often fairly cool in London, but nevertheless I've sometimes been pretty miserable on hot nights in airless B&B and dorm rooms and have even resorted to buying an electric fan. All else being equal I'd say, hey, it's your vacation--you might as well be comfortable. <BR> <BR>Q.P.

You may want to look at <BR>www.London4Rent.com

hi roberta, <BR> <BR>i know you are not backpacking, but this hint may come in useful for you. <BR> <BR>we used a good website for a trip to Europe I planned for 4 of us from oz back in the october 2000. It is called <BR>nethotels. <BR> <BR>http://london.nethotels.com/english <BR> <BR>It lists over 850 hotels, b&b's and in london. You can select the specific areas that you are looking for. <BR> <BR>You are able to view the properties <BR>and rooms. Prices are listed and information given on how to contact them. If you do not find anything from these 850, they also feature a LOCAL telephone call center in london. <BR> <BR>Hope this helps. <BR> <BR>This is also a FREE SERVICE from them. <BR> <BR>happy travels <BR> <BR>nudge

Roberta, <BR> <BR>Finding an air-conditioned hotel in London is a challenge. If you visit in the summer though, you’ll probably want air conditioning. Not because London is normally hot—it isn’t, especially compared to many areas in North America. The reason for air conditioning is noise control. London is a very busy city and if your hotel room is anywhere near a major street, a nightclub, a taxi stand, a theater, or a trash dumpster you’ll want to be able to keep the windows closed. <BR> <BR>Although you MAY find special rates at chain hotels like Hilton, Holiday Inn, etc. that have air conditioned properties in central London, I expect that they will stretch your budget beyond $150 per day. <BR> <BR>One possibility that I've heard some good things about is the Sanctuary House Hotel, centrally located near Westminster Abbey, with rooms around £100 per night (with a/c). For info: <BR> <BR> http://www.fullers.co.uk <BR> <BR>I hope this is helpful. <BR> <BR>David White <BR>http://www.KidsToLondon.com