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-   -   Thistle Marble Arch (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/thistle-marble-arch-600697/)

may808 Mar 19th, 2006 11:58 PM

Thistle Marble Arch
 
Based on a lot of good reviews from tripadvisor & Biddingfortravel.com I noticed alot of people got this hotel through Priceline at great rates. I was wondering if anyone has stayed there can tell me if there rooms have air conditioning. I will be traveling in July and I want to make sure the hotel I choose will have ac just incase the weather gets too warm.

WillTravel Mar 20th, 2006 12:04 AM

If you look at the official description here, you will see it is ambiguous:
http://tinyurl.com/89qe3

It sounds to me like some of the rooms are A/C, but quite likely not all of them.

Even with a low bid on Priceline in the Bloomsbury zone, getting this hotel is hardly certain. The Novotel Euston has frequently popped up in the same zone for low rates also. Some other hotel might decide to compete also at this price point.

may808 Mar 22nd, 2006 01:43 AM

Thanks for the advice. I guess I'm just a little weary about taking my chances. Also does anyone know if you book a room through priceline, are you able to contact the hotel to confirm the type of room assignment you would like or are you just stuck with what they give you?

WillTravel Mar 22nd, 2006 01:50 AM

You can contact the hotel, and they might or might not give it to you, depending on their policies and their availability.

With Thistle Marble Arch, they seem to have a paid upgrade program, which is a pretty good deal (20 pounds to upgrade to a higher-quality room with an included breakfast). I've already heard of this on check-in, but don't know if you can get this in advance. The Thistle Marble Arch is huge, and I think it's fairly likely they would try to accommodate your requests in advance.

Of course as I mentioned, you can't know for sure you'll win the Thistle Marble Arch. I think the likely other 4* candidates in this zone do have A/C, though, although you can check the web site.

ben_haines_london Mar 22nd, 2006 02:41 AM

Marble Arch is a bit away from many sights and even from some shops. Thistle have hotels at Charing Cross and Trafalgar Square, near many sights, and a few stops along the underground line from many others.

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

raz1024 Mar 22nd, 2006 04:02 AM

We went on priceline and got Novotel Euston...

GreenDragon Mar 22nd, 2006 05:10 AM

I have had good luck in emailing the hotel after a successful Priceline bid and requesting what I wanted -- usually a King sized bed or two doubles, depending on what my purposes were! -- and having it be fine when I checked in.

WillTravel Mar 22nd, 2006 07:50 AM

But two doubles is pretty unlikely in London. On the other hand, I've always gotten two twins on request.

GreenDragon Mar 22nd, 2006 10:01 AM

True -- doubles are more prevalent in the US. But I've used Priceline for both US and UK :P

Robespierre Mar 22nd, 2006 10:06 AM

Marble Arch is close to many attractions, and it's an ideal hub for bus travel because twenty-one lines to all over London stop there. If you don't attempt it during rush hour, you can be in Westminster in ten minutes. Tube takes a little longer.

Here's where you can go:

Piccadilly Circus
Trafalgar Square
Whitehall (Cabinet War Rooms etc.)
Downing Street
Westminster Cathedral
Westminster Abbey
Harrod's
Royal Albert Hall
Victoria & West End
Natural History and Science Museums
Victoria & Albert Museum
London Eye
London Aquarium
Imperial War Museum
Cuming Museum
St. Paul's Cathedral
Tower of London
British Museum (Great Russell Street)
London Zoo
Madame Tussaud's
London Planetareum

<b>...without changing buses!</b> That's right. Every one of the above monuments and points of interest is a straight shot from Marble Arch. Here's the map: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/buses/spiders/pdf/marble-arch.pdf

firstmmo Apr 11th, 2006 08:17 PM

Just got Thistle Marble Arch for July for PL of $91/night. Are planning on using the buses a lot as well as the Tube every day. Looks like most of the bus lines originate from this area.

I was a bit wary of getting this hotel too, but in the end, because I needed two rooms and can't pay more than $200/night for both, I took the leap and tried PL.


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