First, wondering what hotel to stay in next week in London. Since it was last minute, I was thinking of hotels that discount as time comes close. Hiltons and Radissons often do. Which Hiltons in London are worth my time. Also, is the Radisson Mayfair nice (i.e. worth the little extra money). It goes to my second questions because many Rad. Mayfair rooms say early check in permitted. Any other suggestions?

Second, I am taking an overnight flight. Am I going to have problems checking in in the am. I land at either 8 or 9 am (depending on BA flight) and would be getting to the hotel before noon. Don't feel like being half asleep (from NY) on their couch while I wait. The hiltons do not seem too friendly in this regard (won't even confirm nonsmoking)

Thanks.

I can only speak for one hotel in London, but we came in from an early morning flight from NY one year. We went to the hotel (Cumberland at Marble Arch)and while we couldn't check in yet, they did take our baggage at about 9:30 or 10 am. We then wandered around Oxford Street and found a nice little place for breakfast. (This was on a Sunday and not too many places were open.) It was easy to fill up a couple of hours until we could check in. We always seem to get a second wind and have never taken naps on our first day after an overnight flight.

Check Londonnights.com or Londontown.com ...I'm finding 4 stars for 90GBP includes VAT and breakfast.


Whether you can check-in early depends if the person who had your room has checked out and it has been cleaned.

Every place will hold your luggage and will have restroom facilities available. Go have some breakfast orlunch, inhale some exhaust fumes then go back later and get your room.Get some sunlight or at least some light and it will help dissipate your jetlag.

If you can check in early is controlled by the number of rooms the hotel has free. They're not going to leave you in the lobby if they have rooms empty. If you must have a room at 9am the only way is to reserve a room the night before. However, any hotel will take your luggage - and many (any that include free breakfast with the room) will give you breakfast to occupy you while you wait - just ask if there's any place for breakfast and they'll offer.

Sorry - one more note - typically you have the best chance of getting a room early in a much bigger hotel (300 rooms is a much better choice than 50) - just because of the better chance that they were not sold out the night before. But no guarantee.

We stayed at the Rad Mayfair a couple of years ago when it was the Intercontinental Mayfair. The hotel was adequate, the room was bigger than most, with a King size bed. We got to the hotel at about 9 a.m. and they had a room available. Our rate included breakfast, which they allowed us to order in our room....anything we wanted from the menu.

We were in London this past Thanksgiving weekend and stayed at the Rad Marlborough in Bloomsbury. Room at Marlborough was about the same size as Mayfair but we couldn't get an early check-in. We liked the Bloomsbury location better as there were more restaurants and pubs in the immediate area and we were almost at the door of the British Museum. If you stay at the Marlborough ask for a room that is not above their restaurant, which has a disco and gets loud at night if the music is on.

Have fun!
Pat.

We stayed at the Radisson Marlborough in the summer. On booking we requested an early check in and were told that if a room was available on the day we could have it. A room was ready for us about half an hour after we arrived at 9:00 a.m. We left our cases and went across the road for breakfast while we waited. You probably have a better chance of getting an early check in if you request it ahead of time and if you stay in a moderate to large hotel.