The George Hotel or The Caesar Hotel - Please!!!!
Aug 10th, 2011, 02:04 PM
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The George Hotel or The Caesar Hotel - Please!!!!
I've booked my accommodation in Amsterdam, but I'm having a heck of a time with London. The prices are really astounding!
We'll be there for 7 nights.
The George is in Bloomsbury, Russel Sq. tube, so I like the location, but I'm gathering the hotel is tired and a bit rough around the edges, and less than 100L/night with breakfast.
The Caesar is near Paddington tube, and is about 130/night with no breakfast. It certainly looks like a nicer place to stay.
To confuse things even more, I found an apartment for 900pounds near Elm Park Gardens in Chelsea.
We're in our 50's, and aren't looking for a "hostel" type experience, and location is key.
Lots of folks recommend Priceline or Hotwire, but I don't have the Priceline gene, because I cannot get the hang of it, even going on the sites that explain it, just confuses me.
I'm actually thinking of just chucking London and maybe trying Barcelona. I think it's the sticker shock that I'm having trouble getting over. Paris, Rome - no problem finding places in the centre for around 120 Euro per night - for that price I'm looking at a dump in London.
Sorry to rant - I've been at this for the last 8 hours today, never mind yesterday and the day before.
Any thoughts or ideas that might help my chrystalize my fuzzy thinking?
We'll be there for 7 nights.
The George is in Bloomsbury, Russel Sq. tube, so I like the location, but I'm gathering the hotel is tired and a bit rough around the edges, and less than 100L/night with breakfast.
The Caesar is near Paddington tube, and is about 130/night with no breakfast. It certainly looks like a nicer place to stay.
To confuse things even more, I found an apartment for 900pounds near Elm Park Gardens in Chelsea.
We're in our 50's, and aren't looking for a "hostel" type experience, and location is key.
Lots of folks recommend Priceline or Hotwire, but I don't have the Priceline gene, because I cannot get the hang of it, even going on the sites that explain it, just confuses me.
I'm actually thinking of just chucking London and maybe trying Barcelona. I think it's the sticker shock that I'm having trouble getting over. Paris, Rome - no problem finding places in the centre for around 120 Euro per night - for that price I'm looking at a dump in London.
Sorry to rant - I've been at this for the last 8 hours today, never mind yesterday and the day before.
Any thoughts or ideas that might help my chrystalize my fuzzy thinking?
Aug 10th, 2011, 03:03 PM
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<i>Sorry to rant - I've been at this for the last 8 hours today, never mind yesterday and the day before</b>
Markland...I hate to see someone agonzing over trip plans. In over 60 years of travel(1946-2010) I never allowed that to happen. I wanted nothing to take away from the eventual journey. This doesn't help you at all...just wanted to share my experience for what it's worth, if anything.
We used the George several years back...sure it's a bit run down at the edges, but a very friendly, clean and comfortable place, ideally located on the tranquil, pretty Cartwright Circle. I think we paid around £60 at the time. I imagine it's around £80-90 now.
The neighborhood, only three short blocks to the Russell tube, is "real"...three pubs (one of them- Lord Balfour- somewhat upscale and yet reasonable), a laundromat, some Chinese takeouts, and down the street, the new-ish Brunswick shopping mall, one of the better burger chains, GBK. Russell Station is right there.
If you want to bus-it, the frequent #7 is at the opposite corner to the tube, and it runs along Oxford Street all the way to Hyde Park. British Museum is also close by. Your choice...just my opinion. Walking back to the George at night, there are many peole walking, and the well-lit neighborhood, seems quite safe. Don't know what else to tell you, Markland.
Happy travels....and try cooling it now!
stu tower
Markland...I hate to see someone agonzing over trip plans. In over 60 years of travel(1946-2010) I never allowed that to happen. I wanted nothing to take away from the eventual journey. This doesn't help you at all...just wanted to share my experience for what it's worth, if anything.
We used the George several years back...sure it's a bit run down at the edges, but a very friendly, clean and comfortable place, ideally located on the tranquil, pretty Cartwright Circle. I think we paid around £60 at the time. I imagine it's around £80-90 now.
The neighborhood, only three short blocks to the Russell tube, is "real"...three pubs (one of them- Lord Balfour- somewhat upscale and yet reasonable), a laundromat, some Chinese takeouts, and down the street, the new-ish Brunswick shopping mall, one of the better burger chains, GBK. Russell Station is right there.
If you want to bus-it, the frequent #7 is at the opposite corner to the tube, and it runs along Oxford Street all the way to Hyde Park. British Museum is also close by. Your choice...just my opinion. Walking back to the George at night, there are many peole walking, and the well-lit neighborhood, seems quite safe. Don't know what else to tell you, Markland.
Happy travels....and try cooling it now!
stu tower
Aug 10th, 2011, 06:04 PM
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My first thought was that you should try again to figure out how Priceline bidding works. My second thought, though, was that it may not work well for you because you want seven nights. The longer the stay, the more likely it is that there will be at least one night during the period that the hotel has strong bookings and would be unwilling to give away a room at half price.
There are fans here of apartment booking, so I am sure some will come along with suggestions.
FWIW, here is my recent Priceline experience.
In 2009 and 2010, I used Priceline bidding for 3 bookings. All were in South Kensington. The price paid per night were US$112.50, $116 and $126. Since you bid on a before tax and fee basis, the winning bids would have been about 20% less, i.e. something like $90, $95 and $100. In the case of the last one, I'm sure I could have gotten it cheaper if I had spent a couple more nights playing the bid/rebid game. But I got bored and took one of the counter offers.
There are fans here of apartment booking, so I am sure some will come along with suggestions.
FWIW, here is my recent Priceline experience.
In 2009 and 2010, I used Priceline bidding for 3 bookings. All were in South Kensington. The price paid per night were US$112.50, $116 and $126. Since you bid on a before tax and fee basis, the winning bids would have been about 20% less, i.e. something like $90, $95 and $100. In the case of the last one, I'm sure I could have gotten it cheaper if I had spent a couple more nights playing the bid/rebid game. But I got bored and took one of the counter offers.
Aug 10th, 2011, 08:23 PM
#4
If those were my only two options, I'd personally stay in a 'semi-tired' property in Bloomsbury over a nicer place in Paddington. No question.
But for a full week --IMO an apartment is 100000% better than most any hotel. London hotel rooms-- especially budget ones -- tend to be very small and I wouldn't stay in one for more than 2 or 3 nights.
If it fits your budget -- Elm Park Gardens is a nice/very upscale area. Bit of a walk to the S. Kens tube station but MUCH nicer than Paddington.
But for a full week --IMO an apartment is 100000% better than most any hotel. London hotel rooms-- especially budget ones -- tend to be very small and I wouldn't stay in one for more than 2 or 3 nights.
If it fits your budget -- Elm Park Gardens is a nice/very upscale area. Bit of a walk to the S. Kens tube station but MUCH nicer than Paddington.
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