boxinglisa

I am considering car service from Heathrow to The Copthorne Tara in Kensington.

What is the cost of a Taxi to this area?

Is car service a better option? We each have one big bag and two smaller carry-ons.

Thank, Lisa

Patrick

In my experience a car service can be as much as half off the price of a taxi. I use Swiss Cottage Cars at 011-44-207-431-2700. They have a website, but those rates seem to be higher than if you call.

You can also check www.justairports.com and book on the internet, but you'll save money if you pay in cash when you get there.

Do a search here for "London car service" and you'll find many more recommendations, most of them more expensive that these two suggestions, but still less than a taxi.

Katie2

We were in London in June and used Ray Skinner www.london-transfers.com

His charge was approx. 38 pounds for 2 people with 2 large suitcases and 2 carry ons.

Definitely worth being picked up from the airport rather than taking the tube.

janis

Definitely a car service - it will be cheaper and they'll meet you in the arrivals hall and help with your luggage.

A taxi will cost about £50, give or take, plus tip.

rj007

38 GBP is what I paid for a RT ticket from London to Rome. I wouldn't pay 38 GBP for one car ride in London.

Patrick

I fail to see what one has to do with the other, rj007. Are you saying someone met you and took you from London to Rome in a private plane and delivered you to your door?

Sure public transportation is cheaper, and it may be hard to justify the two prices. But a person has a choice. Get on a bus or the tube with others, hauling your own luggage and facing crowds, or splurge a little and go in comfort. It's not for everyone, but then neither are nice hotels or good restaurants.

That said, it has been pretty well established that Ray Skinner, while very popular, is far from the least expensive of the car services.

rj007

Patrick

The point I was making is that I feel no car ride in London is worth 38 GBP. I"ll stick with the tube for a few GBP and it does drop me off a 3 min walk from my B&B or a 1 min ride from my B&B host. You're right - you do have a choice. As I mentioned to you earlier, I use the money I save towards a theatre ticket.

Bob

jsmith

Another alternative is Hotelink which is about half the cost of the Ray Skinner limo service.

The following is copied from a section of the Heathrow website:

"Hotelink offers a door to door bus service between Heathrow and your London hotel.

There are Hotelink reception desks in the arrivals areas of Terminals 3 and 4 with representatives to meet passengers, escort you to minibuses and assist with your luggage. Passengers arriving at Terminal 1 or 2 should make their way to the airport information desk located in the arrivals area and look out for the uniformed staff holding Hotelink clipboards.

The service runs every 30 minutes from 06:00 to 14:00 and hourly from 14:00 to 22:00 hours. The bus only stops at hotels required by passengers. Ticket prices are £15.00 single and £30.00 return (if booked in advance by credit card) or £15.00 single and £26.00 return (if purchased on the day). Children under two years old can travel free.

Telephone +44 (0)1293 532244 or visit www.hotelink.co.uk"

We booked Hotelink thru BA for our November trip and paid $38 each way. It was $34 in March 2003. Prices were for 2. Check with your airline if you decide to go this route because their price may have been established before the recent decline of the dollar.

You can get more info about other choices at the Heathrow website:

http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/h...ere_frame.html

Patrick

I think there seems to be some major math problems here. Ray Skinner charges 38 pounds for the car, not per person, so if you paid 38 pounds one way for two people into London via HotelLink, I feel to see the savings.
In other words they are the SAME price, aren't they? I'd much rather have someone meet me and take me to my own hotel or flat directly, than to share a bus with people going to a variety of hotels.

On the other hand, Hotel Link would be a savings for single travelers.

jsmith

Oh, Patrick, read my post again. It was 38 DOLLARS for two. Isn't that about half of 38 pounds?

Patrick

Duh. I wondered why it was such a deal when normally it is 30 pounds for two singles and you paid 38.
I promise to read more carefully next time.

jody

So what's wrong with the Express at 26 GBP and a 10 GBP taxi for 2 people ..no bother with reserving and looking for your driver , no shuttle worries and time wasted. The train only takes 15 minutes..get tied up in traffic and you'll be a lot longer..even if you are not on the meter.

taggie

Lisa - how many people are in your group? 3 people, each with a large case and 2 smaller bags could be too tight a fit for an average car in London.
Car service is a better deal than a cab. However, make sure you tell the car service how many people and how much stuff there will be so they can book a large enough vehicle.
Cars in the UK are much smaller on average than cars in the US.

Patrick

I love it when people say "no bother looking for your driver". I wonder which is easier to the average person -- exiting customs and taking a quick glance at the dozen or so drivers standing there to find the one that has your name on a sign in big letters -- or trying to find the directions and then walking the mile or so to the entrance to the express, buying your tickets, and finding your way? I fail to imagine how it is a "bother" to look for your driver standing there.

And regarding the express and taxi idea, don't forget, when that express lets out at Paddington, you may find yourself in a 20 minute or longer line for the taxis (I know from experience), then depending on where your hotel is, you will likely have the longest part of the car ride getting to it. Normally the comibination of waiting and then taking the express, waiting for a taxi, and then taking the taxi to your final destination will total a considerably longer time than a car which takes you directly there.

ron

Patrick makes a valid argument; too bad he exaggerates to support his point. Anytime I have arrived at LHR T3, there are not a dozen or so drivers holding up name cards, there are several dozen (half a gross or more). And if it is indeed a mile or so to the HEX station, some magic must happen in London that I can all-of-a-sudden walk a mile in 10 minutes.

MFNYC

We used Justairports.com to arrange car service, from heathrow to so. kens. We paid 58DBP cash (credit card is a bit more) for rountrip transportation in an 'estate' vehicle (mini-van for family of 4). The were at the airport exactly where & when they said they would be and picked us up for the return trip a few minutes early. I think one way via taxi is more than this roundtrip.

Patty

The Express + taxi costs more than a private car service when there's 2 or passengers. We used justairports.com and it was 43 GBP roundtrip for the two of us.

Patty

That should read "2 or more".

Patrick

I'll admit to being guilty of a little exaggeration (although it sure seemed like a mile to me after a long, long flight), but I'm no more guilty of exaggeration than the person who suggests it only takes 15 minutes to take the Express -- that 15 minute ride on the actual train is probably less than one-fourth of the total time it takes from customs at the airport to your hotel (depending exactly where it is, of course).

jody

The train ride is 15 minutes from Heathrow..All I know is our plane landed at 7 Am and we were checking into the Rembrandt on Thurloe Pl at 8:30! We did have priority baggage claim and used the Green Lane at Customs. You can pay for your ticket on the train , so there is no waiting to buy a ticket at the counter.There was also a very short line for taxis at Paddington and there were plenty of cabs on line.

We've done car service at least 6 or 7 times but with an early morning arrival, the traffic into London can be endless and 1 wreck and you'll wish you'd brought a snack.