yk's Trip Report - London, Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge in 6 days
Jun 1st, 2008, 02:34 PM
#42
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WillTravel-
Yes, I did select "1 person" on hotwire, and my initial impression of my room at the HI was that I got a single room. HOWEVER, when I look at other "travelers' photos" on tripadvisor, the pics of those rooms look essentially the same as mine. Also, when I go to HI Regents Park own website and do a dummy booking for one person, there is no choice for single room - just standard room or double room (both says a maximum of 2 persons). So I assume the HI Regents Park doesn't have single rooms.
Yes, I did select "1 person" on hotwire, and my initial impression of my room at the HI was that I got a single room. HOWEVER, when I look at other "travelers' photos" on tripadvisor, the pics of those rooms look essentially the same as mine. Also, when I go to HI Regents Park own website and do a dummy booking for one person, there is no choice for single room - just standard room or double room (both says a maximum of 2 persons). So I assume the HI Regents Park doesn't have single rooms.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 10:48 AM
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<b>Day 5
Stonehenge, Wilton House</b>
I woke up to another cloudy day, but at least no rain. In fact, the weather held up for the rest of the day and I even caught a glimpse of sun for a few seconds!
I have pre-arranged with Susan, the B&B owner, to have breakfast at 8:15am. Breakfast was scrumptious - I'll describe it in detail in the review later on.
Today is Tuesday, and there is a farmer's market held in the central square every other Tuesday. I arrived around 9am, planning to browse for 15 mins or so and then go to the bus station for the 9:40am bus to Stonehenge. Well, it turns out I screwed up (my only mistake this trip) as I had read the bus schedule incorrectly. 9:40am is the first bus to Stonehenge for the summer months, which doesn't start until June. For the low season, the first bus leaves at 10:10am.
In the past, the local bus company, Wilts & Dorset, operates a regular bus (#3) to Stonehenge. However, the line was discontinuted in March 2008. Instead, W&D replaced it with a touristy HOHO bus called <b>The Stonehenge Tour</b>. I felt the price they charge (£11 for the bus ride) is really highway robbery. However, that is the only way to get there by public transport. The next best option is to take a local bus to Amesbury and then walk 2-3 miles to Stonehenge!
http://www.thestonehengetour.info/index.shtml
Anyway, I bought the Stonehenge tour (£17.50 including admission) and got on the bus. There were only 9 pax on this first bus of the day.
Along the route, it has recorded commentary describing surrounding scenes as well as history of Stonehenge. The bus was supposed to arrive at Stonehenge around 10:30 but we hit a major traffic snarl neary Amesbury (thanks to the brilliant rotaries) so we arrived 20 minutes late. The positive side of the Stonehenge tour is the bus driver takes us to the admission gate and we get to jump the queue.
The admission includes a free audioguide which I think is a must - in order to know what you're looking at. It wasn't too crowded which was nice.
I arrived with low expectations, based on other reports I've read (plus the fact one can only see the stones from afar), and my brother actually told me not to bother. But in the end, I was glad I went and thought it was worth the trouble. However, I didn't get any "mystical feeling" when I was there. The surrounding landscape is very pretty too.
The audioguide is about 30 minutes long. The next Stonehenge bus leaves at 11:40am so I kind of had to hurry along - during the low season the bus only runs 1x/hr so I definitely did not want to miss it. I think I'd like to spend another 10 minutes there longer but it was adequate.
But of course, the bus was stuck in traffic again so it didn't arrive until almost 12noon. If I had known I would have stayed in Stonehenge longer, rather than sitting on a bench at the bus stop.
There are plans to construct a new visitors' center and car park at Stonehenge. The grand plan is to move everything a good 2 miles away from it, and bury the motorway underground in a tunnel, in order to "restore" the original setting of Stonehenge with just fields around. And they'll build a train line between the car park/visitors center and Stonehenge. Not sure when this will finish.
The Stonehenge bus takes a different route on the way back along <u>A360</u>. We passed by numerous burial mounds, and the A360 is much more scenic. Along the route, I even spotted a pheasant!
The bus stops at <b>Old Sarum</b> on both directions. I had thought about visiting, but wasn't sure if I would have enough time. On the bus there was a family of 4 and they were also contemplating the same. I chatted with the dad and he had been to Old Sarum years ago. They decided against going this time because he doesn't think there's enough to see to keep his kids interested. Basically it was a thriving town for centuries but the town people moved to Salisbury in the 1200s. When they moved, they took all the building stones with them to Salisbury, so all that's remained in Old Sarum is just the foundations of previous abbeys and castle. Quoting the dad, "One has to use a lot of imagination" at Old Sarum.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/s...show=nav.16426
Anyway, I got back into town around 12:30pm. I stopped by <b>St Thomas Church</b> in town which has a famous Doom Painting (which I learnt from the Stonehenge bus tour commentary). Then I had a quick lunch at a coffee/sandwich shop on Butcher Row. A cappuccino and a tomato/mozzarella/mushroom panini was £6.30.
After lunch, I took the 1:30p bus to <b>Wilton House</b>. Bus Route #60/60A/61 all go there and the bus stop is on New Canal Street (just outside M&S). During the day it runs every 15 minutes. Fare was £2.20 1-way, £3.40 r/t - you pay the driver. The bus ride takes 15 minutes and stops right outside the main entrance to Wilton House.
http://www.wiltonhouse.co.uk/
Wilton House is the home of the <u>Earls of Pembroke</u> for the last 5 centuries. Originally it was the site of an Abbey in Wilton, but with Henry VIII's reformation and dissolution of the monasteries, the land was taken by the Crown and Henry VIII gave it to William Herbert who was later made the 1st Earl of Pembroke.
The Wilton House is a true gem, and I encourage everyone to visit if they find themselves in Salisbury. I was lucky enough to coincide my visit with their Tuesday guided tour at 2:30pm.
When I arrived, I first went to the <u>Old Riding School</u> where it now has displays as well as an excellent 20-min movie (made by the late 17th Earl) which gives a comprehensive history of the Herbert family. After the movie, there is Tudor Kitchen and old Laundry Room displays.
At 2:30p I met up with the guided tour (only 3 people on the tour). The docent is so good and there's so much to see. She talked 1 mile/minute in order to cram everything in the one-hour tour. We mainly visited the State Rooms, and she told us history of the house, and pointed out paintings (many van Dycks), furniture (Chippendale, William Kent & Charles Boulle) and such. I highly recommend the tour (additional £4).
If you are visiting on a day without a guided tour, I recommend buying the official house guide (£2.50) and tour the house using the guide. Otherwise, one will be at a lost as to what to look for while visiting.
After the tour, I returned to the house entrance and re-toured the house again because I really wanted to take my time to look at everything. In addition to the antiques, there are many photos displayed throughout the rooms of the Herbert family.
I also have read that the Wilton House has paintings by Brueghel - it turns out that all 3 are by the sons of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The most famous one, <i>Winter Scene with Birdtrap</i>, is a copy done by the Brueghel the Younger. Apart from some great Flemish paintings (it has one by Hugo van der Goes), and one by Rembrandt (portrait of his mother), it has plenty of Van Dycks. The best one is one of the family portrait of the 4th Earl.
After the house, I spent about 45 minutes walking the grounds. It is very beautiful, as the house is situated right next to River Nadder, and there is a Palladian-style bridge built over it. The gardens consist of a Rose garden, a Japanese-style water garden.
I was done just around 5pm, and Susan was leaving too, so she gave me a ride back to the B&B. Of course with her working there, I continued to ask her more about the history of the house and the family etc. I did not realize the famous <u>Wilton Diptych</u> at the National Gallery was named such because it originally belonged to the Wilton House. It was sold in order to pay death duties.
The current earl, the 18th Earl of Pembroke, took over from his father who died in 2003. He just turned 30 in May, and is single and very good-looking. Apparently, he lives in Wilton House and is seen a lot walking the grounds with his dog. So for those of you single women out there, this is your chance to become part of English aristocracy! Unfortunately, I didn't see him during my visit.
The Wilton House is featured in many films, including Sense and Sensibility and Madness of King George. The most recent movie filmed there is <i>Young Victoria</i> (starring Emily Blunt and Miranda Richardson) - I think it's due out this year. When I was visiting Hampton Court Palace last September, they were filming Young Victoria in the palace gardens. So I'll be seeing the movie when it comes out.
I took a short nap after returning to the B&B, then went out just before 6pm for dinner at <u>The Lemon Tree</u>. It is recommended by several people here, but my dinner was a bit disappointing.
First, there was only 1 person working in the restaurant who served as the host as well as the waiter for 6-7 tables. He wasn't the most friendly, I suppose he was just overwhelmed. Second, I guess I picked the wrong dish to order. I was tempted by "Pancakes with spinach and ricotta". It turned out to be a crepe filled with spinach and ricotta, and baked in a cheese & mustard sauce. It was so greasy and heavy that I was full by just looking at it! Anyway, dinner was £12.
The Lemon Tree
92 Crane Street
Salisbury
Wilstshire
SP1 2QD
Tel: 01722 333471
http://www.thelemontree.co.uk/
I then headed to the <b>Salisbury Cathedral</b> for the 7:30pm symphony concert. It is part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival and performed by the London Philharmonic Symphony + London Philyharmonic Choir. The programme consists of
Elgar <i>Introduction and Allegro</i>
Poulenc <i>Gloria</i>
Britten <i>Spring Symphony</i>
I bought the cheapest ticket so I sat way in the back. Given the size of the cathedral, I didn't think the acoustics was that good, but overall the concert was quite nice. Funny thing was the folks sitting next to me were also at The Lemon Tree! What coincidence, considering there are over 500 seats at the concert.
Stonehenge, Wilton House</b>
I woke up to another cloudy day, but at least no rain. In fact, the weather held up for the rest of the day and I even caught a glimpse of sun for a few seconds!
I have pre-arranged with Susan, the B&B owner, to have breakfast at 8:15am. Breakfast was scrumptious - I'll describe it in detail in the review later on.
Today is Tuesday, and there is a farmer's market held in the central square every other Tuesday. I arrived around 9am, planning to browse for 15 mins or so and then go to the bus station for the 9:40am bus to Stonehenge. Well, it turns out I screwed up (my only mistake this trip) as I had read the bus schedule incorrectly. 9:40am is the first bus to Stonehenge for the summer months, which doesn't start until June. For the low season, the first bus leaves at 10:10am.
In the past, the local bus company, Wilts & Dorset, operates a regular bus (#3) to Stonehenge. However, the line was discontinuted in March 2008. Instead, W&D replaced it with a touristy HOHO bus called <b>The Stonehenge Tour</b>. I felt the price they charge (£11 for the bus ride) is really highway robbery. However, that is the only way to get there by public transport. The next best option is to take a local bus to Amesbury and then walk 2-3 miles to Stonehenge!
http://www.thestonehengetour.info/index.shtml
Anyway, I bought the Stonehenge tour (£17.50 including admission) and got on the bus. There were only 9 pax on this first bus of the day.
Along the route, it has recorded commentary describing surrounding scenes as well as history of Stonehenge. The bus was supposed to arrive at Stonehenge around 10:30 but we hit a major traffic snarl neary Amesbury (thanks to the brilliant rotaries) so we arrived 20 minutes late. The positive side of the Stonehenge tour is the bus driver takes us to the admission gate and we get to jump the queue.
The admission includes a free audioguide which I think is a must - in order to know what you're looking at. It wasn't too crowded which was nice.
I arrived with low expectations, based on other reports I've read (plus the fact one can only see the stones from afar), and my brother actually told me not to bother. But in the end, I was glad I went and thought it was worth the trouble. However, I didn't get any "mystical feeling" when I was there. The surrounding landscape is very pretty too.
The audioguide is about 30 minutes long. The next Stonehenge bus leaves at 11:40am so I kind of had to hurry along - during the low season the bus only runs 1x/hr so I definitely did not want to miss it. I think I'd like to spend another 10 minutes there longer but it was adequate.
But of course, the bus was stuck in traffic again so it didn't arrive until almost 12noon. If I had known I would have stayed in Stonehenge longer, rather than sitting on a bench at the bus stop.
There are plans to construct a new visitors' center and car park at Stonehenge. The grand plan is to move everything a good 2 miles away from it, and bury the motorway underground in a tunnel, in order to "restore" the original setting of Stonehenge with just fields around. And they'll build a train line between the car park/visitors center and Stonehenge. Not sure when this will finish.
The Stonehenge bus takes a different route on the way back along <u>A360</u>. We passed by numerous burial mounds, and the A360 is much more scenic. Along the route, I even spotted a pheasant!
The bus stops at <b>Old Sarum</b> on both directions. I had thought about visiting, but wasn't sure if I would have enough time. On the bus there was a family of 4 and they were also contemplating the same. I chatted with the dad and he had been to Old Sarum years ago. They decided against going this time because he doesn't think there's enough to see to keep his kids interested. Basically it was a thriving town for centuries but the town people moved to Salisbury in the 1200s. When they moved, they took all the building stones with them to Salisbury, so all that's remained in Old Sarum is just the foundations of previous abbeys and castle. Quoting the dad, "One has to use a lot of imagination" at Old Sarum.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/s...show=nav.16426
Anyway, I got back into town around 12:30pm. I stopped by <b>St Thomas Church</b> in town which has a famous Doom Painting (which I learnt from the Stonehenge bus tour commentary). Then I had a quick lunch at a coffee/sandwich shop on Butcher Row. A cappuccino and a tomato/mozzarella/mushroom panini was £6.30.
After lunch, I took the 1:30p bus to <b>Wilton House</b>. Bus Route #60/60A/61 all go there and the bus stop is on New Canal Street (just outside M&S). During the day it runs every 15 minutes. Fare was £2.20 1-way, £3.40 r/t - you pay the driver. The bus ride takes 15 minutes and stops right outside the main entrance to Wilton House.
http://www.wiltonhouse.co.uk/
Wilton House is the home of the <u>Earls of Pembroke</u> for the last 5 centuries. Originally it was the site of an Abbey in Wilton, but with Henry VIII's reformation and dissolution of the monasteries, the land was taken by the Crown and Henry VIII gave it to William Herbert who was later made the 1st Earl of Pembroke.
The Wilton House is a true gem, and I encourage everyone to visit if they find themselves in Salisbury. I was lucky enough to coincide my visit with their Tuesday guided tour at 2:30pm.
When I arrived, I first went to the <u>Old Riding School</u> where it now has displays as well as an excellent 20-min movie (made by the late 17th Earl) which gives a comprehensive history of the Herbert family. After the movie, there is Tudor Kitchen and old Laundry Room displays.
At 2:30p I met up with the guided tour (only 3 people on the tour). The docent is so good and there's so much to see. She talked 1 mile/minute in order to cram everything in the one-hour tour. We mainly visited the State Rooms, and she told us history of the house, and pointed out paintings (many van Dycks), furniture (Chippendale, William Kent & Charles Boulle) and such. I highly recommend the tour (additional £4).
If you are visiting on a day without a guided tour, I recommend buying the official house guide (£2.50) and tour the house using the guide. Otherwise, one will be at a lost as to what to look for while visiting.
After the tour, I returned to the house entrance and re-toured the house again because I really wanted to take my time to look at everything. In addition to the antiques, there are many photos displayed throughout the rooms of the Herbert family.
I also have read that the Wilton House has paintings by Brueghel - it turns out that all 3 are by the sons of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The most famous one, <i>Winter Scene with Birdtrap</i>, is a copy done by the Brueghel the Younger. Apart from some great Flemish paintings (it has one by Hugo van der Goes), and one by Rembrandt (portrait of his mother), it has plenty of Van Dycks. The best one is one of the family portrait of the 4th Earl.
After the house, I spent about 45 minutes walking the grounds. It is very beautiful, as the house is situated right next to River Nadder, and there is a Palladian-style bridge built over it. The gardens consist of a Rose garden, a Japanese-style water garden.
I was done just around 5pm, and Susan was leaving too, so she gave me a ride back to the B&B. Of course with her working there, I continued to ask her more about the history of the house and the family etc. I did not realize the famous <u>Wilton Diptych</u> at the National Gallery was named such because it originally belonged to the Wilton House. It was sold in order to pay death duties.
The current earl, the 18th Earl of Pembroke, took over from his father who died in 2003. He just turned 30 in May, and is single and very good-looking. Apparently, he lives in Wilton House and is seen a lot walking the grounds with his dog. So for those of you single women out there, this is your chance to become part of English aristocracy! Unfortunately, I didn't see him during my visit.
The Wilton House is featured in many films, including Sense and Sensibility and Madness of King George. The most recent movie filmed there is <i>Young Victoria</i> (starring Emily Blunt and Miranda Richardson) - I think it's due out this year. When I was visiting Hampton Court Palace last September, they were filming Young Victoria in the palace gardens. So I'll be seeing the movie when it comes out.
I took a short nap after returning to the B&B, then went out just before 6pm for dinner at <u>The Lemon Tree</u>. It is recommended by several people here, but my dinner was a bit disappointing.
First, there was only 1 person working in the restaurant who served as the host as well as the waiter for 6-7 tables. He wasn't the most friendly, I suppose he was just overwhelmed. Second, I guess I picked the wrong dish to order. I was tempted by "Pancakes with spinach and ricotta". It turned out to be a crepe filled with spinach and ricotta, and baked in a cheese & mustard sauce. It was so greasy and heavy that I was full by just looking at it! Anyway, dinner was £12.
The Lemon Tree
92 Crane Street
Salisbury
Wilstshire
SP1 2QD
Tel: 01722 333471
http://www.thelemontree.co.uk/
I then headed to the <b>Salisbury Cathedral</b> for the 7:30pm symphony concert. It is part of the Salisbury International Arts Festival and performed by the London Philharmonic Symphony + London Philyharmonic Choir. The programme consists of
Elgar <i>Introduction and Allegro</i>
Poulenc <i>Gloria</i>
Britten <i>Spring Symphony</i>
I bought the cheapest ticket so I sat way in the back. Given the size of the cathedral, I didn't think the acoustics was that good, but overall the concert was quite nice. Funny thing was the folks sitting next to me were also at The Lemon Tree! What coincidence, considering there are over 500 seats at the concert.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 11:03 AM
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<b>Day 6
Salisbury, then Home</b>
After another wonderful and hearty breakfast, I set out just before 10. I first went to the Marks & Spencer in town to get some orange-chocolate biscuits for DH (he's addicted to the Harrod's version, but I told him he has to settle for M&S because they're 75% cheaper!).
I arrived at the <b>Salisbury Cathedral</b> just around 10:30am. This year the cathedral celebrates its 750th anniversary - imagine that!
The cathedral offers <u>free guided tours</u> throughout the day - and the day I visited there're tours every 1/2 hour or so. I caught up with the 10:30am tour though I missed the first 5 minutes of it.
I cannot recommend the tour enough!!! Even though there are leaflets on the Cathedral and one can wander on your own, I learned so much more by taking the tour. Our guide is very knowledgable, and apart from giving us the history, pointing out the obvious (various famous tombs, effigies, the oldest clock, choir stalls, spire etc), she went over many many things that are not listed in the leaflets and most likely not even in the best guide books.
For example, in one of the side chapels, she pointed out a badge on the ceiling. One half is decorated with the Tudor Rose (symbol for Henry VIII), the other half is decorated with pomegranates which is the symbol for Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII. Very few of these survived because after the reformation, people were sent out to destroy any traces of her & anything Catholic. In the same chapel, a sculpture of the virgin mary was destroyed, so it is quite a miracle that the ceiling badge escaped!
The guided tour lasted for 1 hour, and it does not include the Chapter House. The <b>Chapter House</b> is most famous for its copy of the <u>Magna Carta</u>. This is the best preserved one of the 4 existing. Unforunately, the original wax seal was destroyed before WWII. It was broken into pieces when it was moved to a safe place. Regardless, it was a beautiful piece of work and history. Also in the Charter House is a medieval frieze depicting scenes from the Old Testament. (The Cathedral staff in the Chapter House can answer any questions - they know everything!)
The cathedral also offers Tower Tours which last 2 hours. Unfortunately I did not have time for it. But Fodorite noe847 had taken it before and I believe she recommended it.
I returned to the B&B at 12, picked up my luggage and headed for the train station. I needed to catch the 12:45pm train. It had started to rain, so I was gonna to take the bus to the train station. The bus line called "PulseLine" goes to the train station, and the stop is on New Canal Street, which is still a 10-min walk from the B&B. Basically by taking the bus, it cuts the journey by half. When I got to the bus stop, the LED display showed all the buses were delayed and the next one wasn't due for another 20 minutes! As the rain sort of died down some, I went ahead and walked the remaining journey.
My trip from Salisbury to Heathrow is a bit complicated. First I need to take a train from Salisbury to Woking. Then at Woking, I change for the National Express Coach which stops at the Heathrow Central Bus Station (it also stops in T4 & T5). This is called a "RailAir ticket" so one only needs to buy one ticket which covers both journeys. The entire trip takes 2 hours.
I probably didn't have to leave Salisbury so early, but as I was worried about possibility of train delays, bus delays, cancellations, traffic jam etc, I decided it's better safe than sorry.
Of course everything went smoothly and on time. At Woking, it was very easy to find the National Express Coach - right outside the train station. There was a total of 6 pax on this coach.
The bus route from Woking to Heathrow goes pass <u>Runnymede</u>, which kind of makes my trip a full circle, as Runnymede was where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215.
The bus first stopped at T5, so I had a good look at this new terminal, then it stopped at the Central Bus Station (it didn't go to T4 as no one on the bus was heading there).
Check-in and security didn't take much time at all. I still had 3 more hours before the flight was due to depart. I had a sandwich at EAT before going to the Admirals Club.
My return flight was fine. I was able to reserve seat 31H, which is exit row with unlimited legroom. First meal was lasagna or chicken, and the lasagna was edible. Second meal was again the pizza, which I've had on every single TATL return flight on AA. The pizza is truly disgusting every single time. I guess this is the only thing AA can do consistently. b-(
I watched a few movies on the way back. The selection was the same as the outbound, so pickings were slim as I've watched the interesting ones on the outbound already. One of the movies I watch on the return was "Northanger Abbey" based on the Jane Austen novel. I was bored to tears, though I kept watching because many scenes were shot in Bath.
The flight arrived 20 minutes early, and initially I was going to take the T back to Riverside. However, DH alerted me that there was an accident on the T Green Line earlier and the line was shut down (with shuttle bus service instead), so he kindly drove to the airport to pick me up.
<b>My Tips On Salisbury</b>
- Salisbury is a nice cute town. Well worth a visit. There are plenty of other interesting sights to see (eg Mompesson House, Rifles Museum etc) which I didn't have time.
- Please do not miss Wilton House. It is truly a gem.
- The Salisbury "English mini-guide brochure", which is available at the bus station (and probably tourist center) has a number of discount coupons for various sights. One of them is £2-off to Wilton House, other discounts include the Mompesson House, Old Sarum, and the Cathedral Tower Tours.
- Make sure you take the free guided tour of the Salisbury Cathedral.
- If you buy the HOHO Stonehenge bus tour, to get from Old Sarum back into Salisbury, you can take ANY local bus, not just the HOHO bus.
Salisbury, then Home</b>
After another wonderful and hearty breakfast, I set out just before 10. I first went to the Marks & Spencer in town to get some orange-chocolate biscuits for DH (he's addicted to the Harrod's version, but I told him he has to settle for M&S because they're 75% cheaper!).
I arrived at the <b>Salisbury Cathedral</b> just around 10:30am. This year the cathedral celebrates its 750th anniversary - imagine that!
The cathedral offers <u>free guided tours</u> throughout the day - and the day I visited there're tours every 1/2 hour or so. I caught up with the 10:30am tour though I missed the first 5 minutes of it.
I cannot recommend the tour enough!!! Even though there are leaflets on the Cathedral and one can wander on your own, I learned so much more by taking the tour. Our guide is very knowledgable, and apart from giving us the history, pointing out the obvious (various famous tombs, effigies, the oldest clock, choir stalls, spire etc), she went over many many things that are not listed in the leaflets and most likely not even in the best guide books.
For example, in one of the side chapels, she pointed out a badge on the ceiling. One half is decorated with the Tudor Rose (symbol for Henry VIII), the other half is decorated with pomegranates which is the symbol for Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII. Very few of these survived because after the reformation, people were sent out to destroy any traces of her & anything Catholic. In the same chapel, a sculpture of the virgin mary was destroyed, so it is quite a miracle that the ceiling badge escaped!
The guided tour lasted for 1 hour, and it does not include the Chapter House. The <b>Chapter House</b> is most famous for its copy of the <u>Magna Carta</u>. This is the best preserved one of the 4 existing. Unforunately, the original wax seal was destroyed before WWII. It was broken into pieces when it was moved to a safe place. Regardless, it was a beautiful piece of work and history. Also in the Charter House is a medieval frieze depicting scenes from the Old Testament. (The Cathedral staff in the Chapter House can answer any questions - they know everything!)
The cathedral also offers Tower Tours which last 2 hours. Unfortunately I did not have time for it. But Fodorite noe847 had taken it before and I believe she recommended it.
I returned to the B&B at 12, picked up my luggage and headed for the train station. I needed to catch the 12:45pm train. It had started to rain, so I was gonna to take the bus to the train station. The bus line called "PulseLine" goes to the train station, and the stop is on New Canal Street, which is still a 10-min walk from the B&B. Basically by taking the bus, it cuts the journey by half. When I got to the bus stop, the LED display showed all the buses were delayed and the next one wasn't due for another 20 minutes! As the rain sort of died down some, I went ahead and walked the remaining journey.
My trip from Salisbury to Heathrow is a bit complicated. First I need to take a train from Salisbury to Woking. Then at Woking, I change for the National Express Coach which stops at the Heathrow Central Bus Station (it also stops in T4 & T5). This is called a "RailAir ticket" so one only needs to buy one ticket which covers both journeys. The entire trip takes 2 hours.
I probably didn't have to leave Salisbury so early, but as I was worried about possibility of train delays, bus delays, cancellations, traffic jam etc, I decided it's better safe than sorry.
Of course everything went smoothly and on time. At Woking, it was very easy to find the National Express Coach - right outside the train station. There was a total of 6 pax on this coach.
The bus route from Woking to Heathrow goes pass <u>Runnymede</u>, which kind of makes my trip a full circle, as Runnymede was where King John signed the Magna Carta in 1215.
The bus first stopped at T5, so I had a good look at this new terminal, then it stopped at the Central Bus Station (it didn't go to T4 as no one on the bus was heading there).
Check-in and security didn't take much time at all. I still had 3 more hours before the flight was due to depart. I had a sandwich at EAT before going to the Admirals Club.
My return flight was fine. I was able to reserve seat 31H, which is exit row with unlimited legroom. First meal was lasagna or chicken, and the lasagna was edible. Second meal was again the pizza, which I've had on every single TATL return flight on AA. The pizza is truly disgusting every single time. I guess this is the only thing AA can do consistently. b-(
I watched a few movies on the way back. The selection was the same as the outbound, so pickings were slim as I've watched the interesting ones on the outbound already. One of the movies I watch on the return was "Northanger Abbey" based on the Jane Austen novel. I was bored to tears, though I kept watching because many scenes were shot in Bath.
The flight arrived 20 minutes early, and initially I was going to take the T back to Riverside. However, DH alerted me that there was an accident on the T Green Line earlier and the line was shut down (with shuttle bus service instead), so he kindly drove to the airport to pick me up.
<b>My Tips On Salisbury</b>
- Salisbury is a nice cute town. Well worth a visit. There are plenty of other interesting sights to see (eg Mompesson House, Rifles Museum etc) which I didn't have time.
- Please do not miss Wilton House. It is truly a gem.
- The Salisbury "English mini-guide brochure", which is available at the bus station (and probably tourist center) has a number of discount coupons for various sights. One of them is £2-off to Wilton House, other discounts include the Mompesson House, Old Sarum, and the Cathedral Tower Tours.
- Make sure you take the free guided tour of the Salisbury Cathedral.
- If you buy the HOHO Stonehenge bus tour, to get from Old Sarum back into Salisbury, you can take ANY local bus, not just the HOHO bus.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 12:30 PM
#46
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<b>Hotel Review
Thistle Heathrow</b>
Again, I decided to stay at Heathrow on my first night upon arrival was to save money, as I wasn't to find a good rate for London for 4 nights.
3 months ago I needed to stay at Heathrow for one night. I got the Holiday Inn M4 Jct 4 (3*) thru Priceline. It was a fine stay despite bad reviews on Tripadvisor.
This time, my bid for 4* was rejected, so I went down to 3*, thinking that I'd get the HI again. Instead, I got the Thistle for $80 bid, $102 after taxes/fees.
The reviews over on tripadvisor were horrible, but I thought to myself, that's the same for the HI which turned out okay, so it couldn't be that bad.
Well, it really was that bad. My review here is essentially the same as the TA review I posted.
<u>PROS:</u>
Accessible to/from Heathrow by the free local bus; no need to pay £4 each way for the Hoppa
Bedroom itself is clean, but there is a stain on the bed cover. Room smelled okay, no traces of cigarette smoke as other reviews have noted
Relatively quiet in the night, but gets noisy by 5am when other guests get up to catch their early flights.
<u>CONS:</u>
Hotel is difficult to find from the local bus stop - in fact, you cannot see the hotel (nor is there a sign) from the main road where the local bus runs.
My room is on the ground level, but because of the layout of the hotel, to get to my room I have to:
1) walk UP a flight of stairs (no elevator)
2) walk along 2 hallways
3) walk DOWN a flight of stairs
The signs for the room numbers were incorrect. There was a sign to direct me to go down the stairs (after the 2nd hallway) to my room. And halfway down the stairs, there is another sign telling me to go back UP the same stairs that I had just gone down. Not funny when carrying my suitcase up/down after a long flight!
Bathroom has lots of black spots on the ceiling (likely mold). There is no ventilation fan in the bathroom so I'm not surprised there's mold.
The toilet in the bathroom doesn't flush well. Out of 10 flushes only 1 flushed completely.
Room is small with no space to put suitcase. No shelving space in bathroom to put toiletries.
No tea or coffee making facilites in the room.
**<b>How to get to the hotel from Heathrow using the free local bus?</b>**
From the Heathrow Central bus station (at T1/2/3), catch the # 75 or 76. The stop to get off is just after the McDonalds/Petrol station on your left hand side. After you get off, walk back towards the McDonalds but just for about 20 yards. There is a narrow public foot path to the Right. Take the foot path, when you get to the next road, you'll see the Thistle in front of you. It should not take more than 3 minutes to walk there.
When I took the bus, I didn't realize the foot path takes me to the hotel (as I said, there's no sign as to where the hotel is when you get off the bus), so I took the long route to McDonalds and asked for directions.
To return to the airport, again, take the foot path back to the main road. Cross the main road with care - lots of traffic. I couldn't spot any bus stops on the other side, so I walked towards Heathrow direction, and the bus stop was at least a 5-min walk. I think there probably is a closer bus stop if I had walked the direction away from Heathrow.
Bottom Line - If I need to stay at Heathrow again in the future, I would avoid bidding for a 3* on PL as I really do not want to run the risk of getting this hotel again, ever!
Thistle Heathrow</b>
Again, I decided to stay at Heathrow on my first night upon arrival was to save money, as I wasn't to find a good rate for London for 4 nights.
3 months ago I needed to stay at Heathrow for one night. I got the Holiday Inn M4 Jct 4 (3*) thru Priceline. It was a fine stay despite bad reviews on Tripadvisor.
This time, my bid for 4* was rejected, so I went down to 3*, thinking that I'd get the HI again. Instead, I got the Thistle for $80 bid, $102 after taxes/fees.
The reviews over on tripadvisor were horrible, but I thought to myself, that's the same for the HI which turned out okay, so it couldn't be that bad.
Well, it really was that bad. My review here is essentially the same as the TA review I posted.
<u>PROS:</u>
Accessible to/from Heathrow by the free local bus; no need to pay £4 each way for the Hoppa
Bedroom itself is clean, but there is a stain on the bed cover. Room smelled okay, no traces of cigarette smoke as other reviews have noted
Relatively quiet in the night, but gets noisy by 5am when other guests get up to catch their early flights.
<u>CONS:</u>
Hotel is difficult to find from the local bus stop - in fact, you cannot see the hotel (nor is there a sign) from the main road where the local bus runs.
My room is on the ground level, but because of the layout of the hotel, to get to my room I have to:
1) walk UP a flight of stairs (no elevator)
2) walk along 2 hallways
3) walk DOWN a flight of stairs
The signs for the room numbers were incorrect. There was a sign to direct me to go down the stairs (after the 2nd hallway) to my room. And halfway down the stairs, there is another sign telling me to go back UP the same stairs that I had just gone down. Not funny when carrying my suitcase up/down after a long flight!
Bathroom has lots of black spots on the ceiling (likely mold). There is no ventilation fan in the bathroom so I'm not surprised there's mold.
The toilet in the bathroom doesn't flush well. Out of 10 flushes only 1 flushed completely.
Room is small with no space to put suitcase. No shelving space in bathroom to put toiletries.
No tea or coffee making facilites in the room.
**<b>How to get to the hotel from Heathrow using the free local bus?</b>**
From the Heathrow Central bus station (at T1/2/3), catch the # 75 or 76. The stop to get off is just after the McDonalds/Petrol station on your left hand side. After you get off, walk back towards the McDonalds but just for about 20 yards. There is a narrow public foot path to the Right. Take the foot path, when you get to the next road, you'll see the Thistle in front of you. It should not take more than 3 minutes to walk there.
When I took the bus, I didn't realize the foot path takes me to the hotel (as I said, there's no sign as to where the hotel is when you get off the bus), so I took the long route to McDonalds and asked for directions.
To return to the airport, again, take the foot path back to the main road. Cross the main road with care - lots of traffic. I couldn't spot any bus stops on the other side, so I walked towards Heathrow direction, and the bus stop was at least a 5-min walk. I think there probably is a closer bus stop if I had walked the direction away from Heathrow.
Bottom Line - If I need to stay at Heathrow again in the future, I would avoid bidding for a 3* on PL as I really do not want to run the risk of getting this hotel again, ever!
Jun 2nd, 2008, 12:39 PM
#47
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<b>Hotel Review
Holiday Inn Regents Park</b>
This hotel I got on Hotwire (4*) for $97/night.
<u>PROS:</u>
Clean room, has in-room safe, tea/coffee making facilities. No smell of cigarette smoke.
Quiet throughout the night. No traffic noise noted; my room faces within the building.
<u>NEUTRAL:</u>
Convenient Location to public transport - short walk to 2 tube stations (Great Portland St + Regents Park), and many bus stops (on Euston Rd and on Great Portland Street).
However, not a location I really desire for London. I'd much rather stay in Bloomsbury, or even Kensington than where this hotel is.
<u>CONS:</u>
Small room. I have stayed in many Priceline 4* hotels in London before and this is the smallest room I have ever gotten. There's barely space to put my 21" carryon suitcase.
The bed is small. I booked for 1 person on hotwire, but I believe the room is also sold as a double. The bed is the size of a full, definitely not queen. I'm glad it was just me staying there as the bed would have been very cramped with 2.
Horrible water pressure from the shower (my room was on the 4th floor). It was basically a slow trickle of water.
My stay got worse on my second night. The fire alarm went off at 7:30am (Sunday). Other guests & I went down the fire escape and found ourselves outside of the bldg and it was pouring rain out. While we were waiting, another guest said this was the second fire alarm within 3 days!
We were let back inside after about 15 minutes, and there was no one from the hotel staff explaining what caused the alarm to go off.
When I returned to the room to get ready for the day, I found out there was no hot water! Called the front desk and they said they're investigating it. I had to take a cold shower after all the fire alarm drama.
Holiday Inn Regents Park</b>
This hotel I got on Hotwire (4*) for $97/night.
<u>PROS:</u>
Clean room, has in-room safe, tea/coffee making facilities. No smell of cigarette smoke.
Quiet throughout the night. No traffic noise noted; my room faces within the building.
<u>NEUTRAL:</u>
Convenient Location to public transport - short walk to 2 tube stations (Great Portland St + Regents Park), and many bus stops (on Euston Rd and on Great Portland Street).
However, not a location I really desire for London. I'd much rather stay in Bloomsbury, or even Kensington than where this hotel is.
<u>CONS:</u>
Small room. I have stayed in many Priceline 4* hotels in London before and this is the smallest room I have ever gotten. There's barely space to put my 21" carryon suitcase.
The bed is small. I booked for 1 person on hotwire, but I believe the room is also sold as a double. The bed is the size of a full, definitely not queen. I'm glad it was just me staying there as the bed would have been very cramped with 2.
Horrible water pressure from the shower (my room was on the 4th floor). It was basically a slow trickle of water.
My stay got worse on my second night. The fire alarm went off at 7:30am (Sunday). Other guests & I went down the fire escape and found ourselves outside of the bldg and it was pouring rain out. While we were waiting, another guest said this was the second fire alarm within 3 days!
We were let back inside after about 15 minutes, and there was no one from the hotel staff explaining what caused the alarm to go off.
When I returned to the room to get ready for the day, I found out there was no hot water! Called the front desk and they said they're investigating it. I had to take a cold shower after all the fire alarm drama.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 12:44 PM
#48
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<b>B&B Review
85 Exeter Street</b> in Salisbury
http://www.85exeterstreet.co.uk/
It has been many, many years since I last stayed at a true small-scale B&B. Booking this place was kind of a leap of faith. I have stayed at hotels so many times I always get caught up with reading reviews from many sites. I found 85 Exeter on Alastair Sawday's guide, and it is not even listed on Tripadvisor. Basically I had no reviews to base on at all.
I made the initial contact via email. After I got a reply the following day, I sent another email with some f/u questions. As I didn't hear back the day after, I called the B&B directly. The owner, Susan, answered the phone, and she seemed so nice over the phone that I decided to go ahead with the booking. She did not ask for CC info, just took my name down and in good faith believed I will show up.
The B&B is her house. It has 3 floors and she rents out 2 rooms. Mine is the smaller one on (US) 3rd floor. It has a twin bed (plus a roll-out twin underneath). The bathroom is outside the bedroom just next door. It is a private bathroom with full bath.
I also asked to look at the other room, which is a larger double on the (US) 2nd floor. It is very spacious and has its own en-suite bathroom, but shower only.
Location-wise, it is <5 min walk to the Cathedral, 5-10 min walk to center of town, 20 min walk to train station. On the same block, there are 3 other B&Bs (Cathedral View, Cathedral Cottage, and Spire House).
Susan is a gracious host. Her teenage son lives there as well and is very quiet. I felt like I was staying with someone I know. Both guest rooms face the back instead of the front of the house. Downside is one cannot see the cathedral spire; but major upside is how quiet it is. Exeter Street is very busy and I imagine it's noisy facing that street.
Breakfast is laid out each morning on the ground floor room. 3 types of cereal, fresh cut fruit (strawberries + canteloupe on Day 1, strawberries + pineapple on Day 2), greek yogurt, OJ, milk. Choice of freshly-brewed coffee or tea. Susan then cooks breakfast to order - choice of eggs, sausages, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms - any or all of the above. There is also toast, which is homemade by Susan. Then there is 2 kinds of jam plus butter. What a wonderful way to start the day!
Based on my conversations with Susan, it seems that she gets most of her clients from Sawday's guide. She is contend with that, as she wants her clients to have similar interests so that they get along better at breakfast. During my 2-night stay, I was the only guest so I didn't get to meet anyone else.
My room rate for single was £55/n, cash only. I would not hesitate to stay there again in the future.
85 Exeter Street</b> in Salisbury
http://www.85exeterstreet.co.uk/
It has been many, many years since I last stayed at a true small-scale B&B. Booking this place was kind of a leap of faith. I have stayed at hotels so many times I always get caught up with reading reviews from many sites. I found 85 Exeter on Alastair Sawday's guide, and it is not even listed on Tripadvisor. Basically I had no reviews to base on at all.
I made the initial contact via email. After I got a reply the following day, I sent another email with some f/u questions. As I didn't hear back the day after, I called the B&B directly. The owner, Susan, answered the phone, and she seemed so nice over the phone that I decided to go ahead with the booking. She did not ask for CC info, just took my name down and in good faith believed I will show up.
The B&B is her house. It has 3 floors and she rents out 2 rooms. Mine is the smaller one on (US) 3rd floor. It has a twin bed (plus a roll-out twin underneath). The bathroom is outside the bedroom just next door. It is a private bathroom with full bath.
I also asked to look at the other room, which is a larger double on the (US) 2nd floor. It is very spacious and has its own en-suite bathroom, but shower only.
Location-wise, it is <5 min walk to the Cathedral, 5-10 min walk to center of town, 20 min walk to train station. On the same block, there are 3 other B&Bs (Cathedral View, Cathedral Cottage, and Spire House).
Susan is a gracious host. Her teenage son lives there as well and is very quiet. I felt like I was staying with someone I know. Both guest rooms face the back instead of the front of the house. Downside is one cannot see the cathedral spire; but major upside is how quiet it is. Exeter Street is very busy and I imagine it's noisy facing that street.
Breakfast is laid out each morning on the ground floor room. 3 types of cereal, fresh cut fruit (strawberries + canteloupe on Day 1, strawberries + pineapple on Day 2), greek yogurt, OJ, milk. Choice of freshly-brewed coffee or tea. Susan then cooks breakfast to order - choice of eggs, sausages, bacon, tomatoes, mushrooms - any or all of the above. There is also toast, which is homemade by Susan. Then there is 2 kinds of jam plus butter. What a wonderful way to start the day!
Based on my conversations with Susan, it seems that she gets most of her clients from Sawday's guide. She is contend with that, as she wants her clients to have similar interests so that they get along better at breakfast. During my 2-night stay, I was the only guest so I didn't get to meet anyone else.
My room rate for single was £55/n, cash only. I would not hesitate to stay there again in the future.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 12:48 PM
#49
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Holy cow! £55/n?
Wow, 3 years ago, when I took a driving trip to Devon and Cornwall, the B&B I stayed at charge me £20/n. Two people staying in a double room even get a discount. £36, instead of £40.
Wow, 3 years ago, when I took a driving trip to Devon and Cornwall, the B&B I stayed at charge me £20/n. Two people staying in a double room even get a discount. £36, instead of £40.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 12:55 PM
#50
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Well, Salisbury is quite a touristy place! I think it's more expensive because of the location/proximity to sights. Of all the B&Bs I have looked at, they range £50-60 for a single. There are plenty of B&Bs located just outside of town and probably much cheaper, but not nearly as convenient esp w/o a car.
And of course, it's always more expensive (per person) for a single vs double. 85 Exeter charges £75 for a double.
And of course, it's always more expensive (per person) for a single vs double. 85 Exeter charges £75 for a double.
Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:02 PM
#52
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cmcfong - thanks for your kind words. 
<b>What's the Damage?</b>
Using £1 = $2
<b>Transportation</b>
<u>Airfare</u> $600
<u>London transport</u> £15.40 (= ~£5/day)
<u>Train transport</u>
r/t Windsor £8.10
r/t Sevenoaks £8.30
one-way London/Bath £9.50 (advance purchase discount)
one-way Bath/Salisbury £8
Salisbury bus (to Stonehenge/Wilton House) £13.2
one-way Salisbury/Heathrow £28.20
<b>Hotel</b>
$618 for 6 nights, $103/n on average
<b>Admissions</b>
£65.30 (average £11/day)
<b>Entertainment</b>
Chelsea Flower Show £19.75
Opera £55
Symphony £16
<b>Food</b> - including snacks
£145 (average £24/day)
<b>Total</b> not including shopping
$2001.50
<b>What's the Damage?</b>
Using £1 = $2
<b>Transportation</b>
<u>Airfare</u> $600
<u>London transport</u> £15.40 (= ~£5/day)
<u>Train transport</u>
r/t Windsor £8.10
r/t Sevenoaks £8.30
one-way London/Bath £9.50 (advance purchase discount)
one-way Bath/Salisbury £8
Salisbury bus (to Stonehenge/Wilton House) £13.2
one-way Salisbury/Heathrow £28.20
<b>Hotel</b>
$618 for 6 nights, $103/n on average
<b>Admissions</b>
£65.30 (average £11/day)
<b>Entertainment</b>
Chelsea Flower Show £19.75
Opera £55
Symphony £16
<b>Food</b> - including snacks
£145 (average £24/day)
<b>Total</b> not including shopping
$2001.50
Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:05 PM
#53
rkkwan: "<i>Wow, 3 years ago, when I took a driving trip to Devon and Cornwall, the B&B I stayed at charge me £20/n. Two people staying in a double room even get a discount. £36, instead of £40.</i>"
You can still find £20 pp B&Bs, or £60+ pp B&Bs. Or anything in between. The rates at one B&B in one area really doesn't have much bearing on what they cost somewhere else. Though rates will naturally have gone up a bit in 3 years.
yk: I love the detail you are including
You can still find £20 pp B&Bs, or £60+ pp B&Bs. Or anything in between. The rates at one B&B in one area really doesn't have much bearing on what they cost somewhere else. Though rates will naturally have gone up a bit in 3 years.
yk: I love the detail you are including
Jun 2nd, 2008, 02:16 PM
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BTW, I'm always surprised by how much the trips ended up costing when I got the final tally.
A few thoughts on how I could have saved some $/£:
1) If I had planned the trip earlier, I might have found some cheaper lodging deals. Eg, Travelodge UK has advance booking rates as low as £19/night
2) Many of the London attractions I went to charged admission. Certainly I could have saved money by going to the free ones.
3) Even the churches (Bath Abbey & Salisbury Cathedral) charge admission. They call it "donations" and I suppose one could refuse to donate. However, I do realize it costs a lot for them to maintain the facilities, and of course the more visitors, the more wear-and-tear.
4) Since I moved location a lot, the train costs added up quickly.
5) I don't think I splurged much on food, as most meals were under £15; but I could have saved more if I stuck with sandwiches from Pret a Manger every day.
A few thoughts on how I could have saved some $/£:
1) If I had planned the trip earlier, I might have found some cheaper lodging deals. Eg, Travelodge UK has advance booking rates as low as £19/night
2) Many of the London attractions I went to charged admission. Certainly I could have saved money by going to the free ones.
3) Even the churches (Bath Abbey & Salisbury Cathedral) charge admission. They call it "donations" and I suppose one could refuse to donate. However, I do realize it costs a lot for them to maintain the facilities, and of course the more visitors, the more wear-and-tear.
4) Since I moved location a lot, the train costs added up quickly.
5) I don't think I splurged much on food, as most meals were under £15; but I could have saved more if I stuck with sandwiches from Pret a Manger every day.
Jun 4th, 2008, 07:43 AM
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<b>Photos</b>
For some selected photos on this trip, plus photos of my hotel rooms, you can view them here:
http://p099.ezboard.com/feuropetogof...icID=431.topic
For some selected photos on this trip, plus photos of my hotel rooms, you can view them here:
http://p099.ezboard.com/feuropetogof...icID=431.topic
Jun 4th, 2008, 10:22 AM
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yk, on FlyerTalk, there is currently a discussion about people who have gotten refunds for 3* hotels that did not measure up to the expected standards. I wonder if you might complain about the Thistle, based on what you posted here, and get some compensation?
If I were going to be staying near London Heathrow again (which I have done three times, luckily at the Holiday Inn Ariel), I'd definitely have mixed feelings about what to do. I'd want to be on the free bus line, because it's so convenient and quick (and free), and I'd want a reasonably pleasant hotel room, and it obviously you can't be sure of either with Priceline.
If I were going to be staying near London Heathrow again (which I have done three times, luckily at the Holiday Inn Ariel), I'd definitely have mixed feelings about what to do. I'd want to be on the free bus line, because it's so convenient and quick (and free), and I'd want a reasonably pleasant hotel room, and it obviously you can't be sure of either with Priceline.
Jun 4th, 2008, 10:43 AM
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WillTravel - thanks for the heads up. I will definitely write to Priceline and complain about the Thistle Heathrow. Maybe I can get PL drop it from their list - that would be wonderful.
I agree with about the free local bus. It is much faster than the Hoppa based on my experience.
I actually meant to complaing to Holiday Inn as well, in regards to the fire alarm plus lack of hot water. But now I'm not sure if I should complaing to HI or to Hotwire.
I agree with about the free local bus. It is much faster than the Hoppa based on my experience.
I actually meant to complaing to Holiday Inn as well, in regards to the fire alarm plus lack of hot water. But now I'm not sure if I should complaing to HI or to Hotwire.
Jun 4th, 2008, 10:46 AM
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Re the fire alarm - I'm not sure if much can be done, unless it was a mechanical fault that caused it. Someone who works in a hotel told me that certain tour groups tend to have people who pull the alarms. In respect to the hot water, you might as well complain to both the hotel and Hotwire.
Jun 4th, 2008, 12:05 PM
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Trying to reach PL's Customer Service was quite a challenge. First I tried ther online "Contact Us" feature. I filled out the boxes and clicked "GO", only got a response on the next page saying "Data not valid". I did this back and forth numerous times and didn't work.
Then I called the CS phone line. The person just said perhaps the website is down and told me to try it again later. He refused to give me the direct CS email address.
I went back to the website and tried again with the "Contact Us" for another 20 minutes. Still got the same response.
Called CS the 2nd time and again asked for the email address. The CS agent said he'll take down my complaints instead. AFter I finished, he offered a $10-off for my next PL bid. (ie, if I place a $40 bid, it'll automatically become a $50 bid.) I told him I didn't call because of the $ but rather let PL know about the Thistle Heathrow and perhaps they can take that hotel off their list.
Then I called the CS phone line. The person just said perhaps the website is down and told me to try it again later. He refused to give me the direct CS email address.
I went back to the website and tried again with the "Contact Us" for another 20 minutes. Still got the same response.
Called CS the 2nd time and again asked for the email address. The CS agent said he'll take down my complaints instead. AFter I finished, he offered a $10-off for my next PL bid. (ie, if I place a $40 bid, it'll automatically become a $50 bid.) I told him I didn't call because of the $ but rather let PL know about the Thistle Heathrow and perhaps they can take that hotel off their list.
