Where to stay - first time to London
Jun 7th, 2009 | 09:38 AM
#22
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 0
If you do decide to walk, use a website like this, which will calculate a specific route and give you walking times depending on your fitness levels. I often do this when bits of the tube network are shut.
http://www.walkit.com/
http://www.walkit.com/
Jun 7th, 2009 | 10:15 AM
#23
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 75,009
Likes: 50
as I explained on your other thread - it will be very difficult to avoid road construction anywhere in the central areas since they are replacing miles and miles of Victorian water mains.
The Smith St flat is not far from Sloan Sq tube/Chelsea Hospital - in Chelsea, not South Kensington.
re the decision of a flat vs. a hotel: IMO for a couple of nights any hotel can be OK. But for a longer stay, those four walls get awfully small awfully fast. A flat gives you room to spread out, a kitchen - not necessarily for real cooking, though that is possible - but for late night snacks, quick bites on the run, exactly what you want for breakfast (w/o having to get dressed and go out) etc. A washer/dryer means you can pack a LOT less stuff. There are just so many advantages to a flat. A separate living room so one can stay up late reading or watching telly while the other can go to bed.
Now, if one gets a huge hotel bargain on priceline that is great, but it doesn't increase the size of the room, or get you a kitchen.
I do both - I've PL'd a lot and also usually rent flats - depending on the length of my stay.
The Smith St flat is not far from Sloan Sq tube/Chelsea Hospital - in Chelsea, not South Kensington.
re the decision of a flat vs. a hotel: IMO for a couple of nights any hotel can be OK. But for a longer stay, those four walls get awfully small awfully fast. A flat gives you room to spread out, a kitchen - not necessarily for real cooking, though that is possible - but for late night snacks, quick bites on the run, exactly what you want for breakfast (w/o having to get dressed and go out) etc. A washer/dryer means you can pack a LOT less stuff. There are just so many advantages to a flat. A separate living room so one can stay up late reading or watching telly while the other can go to bed.
Now, if one gets a huge hotel bargain on priceline that is great, but it doesn't increase the size of the room, or get you a kitchen.
I do both - I've PL'd a lot and also usually rent flats - depending on the length of my stay.
Jun 7th, 2009 | 12:20 PM
#24
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Thanks for the link to http://www.walkit.com/ ! Great site.
I am reconsidering my fear of Priceline - mostly because now that I received responses for my requests to websites regarding flats, it seems few flats remain available for our dates - although I'm still waiting on one and have my fingers crossed. So may I ask one more ? of those who know London & Priceline for a recommendation for zones? I'll only bid 4* or higher.
I am reconsidering my fear of Priceline - mostly because now that I received responses for my requests to websites regarding flats, it seems few flats remain available for our dates - although I'm still waiting on one and have my fingers crossed. So may I ask one more ? of those who know London & Priceline for a recommendation for zones? I'll only bid 4* or higher.
Jun 7th, 2009 | 12:47 PM
#25
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 0
It sounds like Priceline might NOT be the best thing for you for this trip. If you're like me, the hotel (even though a person doesn't spend a lot of time in it) is a big part of the trip and I like to be in nice surroundings.
Take a look at the Rembrandt in South Kensington/Knightsbridge. It's my preference in London. Great location across from the V&A, close to tube, lots of bus routes, resturants, museums, Harrods, etc and if you get the Executive or go up to the Grand room you'll have plenty of room.
I've stayed at the Sumner (not that convenient a location IMO) and most recently the Grosvenor House (got it on Priceline) and didn't like them nearly as much.
Some of the 4* Priceline hotels in South Kensington are a bit scruffy IMO. Take a look at biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com for tips and reviews and news about what others have bid and won.
Mayfair might be the best area for you to look at as the hotels will mostly be pretty good at the 4* level. But getting more than 3 nights in a row can be a challenge in high season.
Take a look at the Rembrandt in South Kensington/Knightsbridge. It's my preference in London. Great location across from the V&A, close to tube, lots of bus routes, resturants, museums, Harrods, etc and if you get the Executive or go up to the Grand room you'll have plenty of room.
I've stayed at the Sumner (not that convenient a location IMO) and most recently the Grosvenor House (got it on Priceline) and didn't like them nearly as much.
Some of the 4* Priceline hotels in South Kensington are a bit scruffy IMO. Take a look at biddingfortravel.com and betterbidding.com for tips and reviews and news about what others have bid and won.
Mayfair might be the best area for you to look at as the hotels will mostly be pretty good at the 4* level. But getting more than 3 nights in a row can be a challenge in high season.
Jun 7th, 2009 | 03:27 PM
#26
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
I agree with taggie - The Rembrandt gets my vote. I've stayed there 10 times in the past 10 years and only one time had a bad room. And...that was only for one night as we spent a week there, left to travel to Scotland and then came back for a night before coming home. If they hadn't been completely booked, they would have moved us to a different room. Good breakfast in the dining room that has always been included in the price of the room. The location is great.
