Deciding on a Hotel » London Hotels

Beer+Pubs=London

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:17:25 +0000

Spent an enjoyable few days “testing out” this Guide and I cant recommend it strongly enough. Its not really a guide to good beer, but a guide to Pub architecture and social history. Things like snug screens and astounding urinals… but the author also knows his beers and you can indeed find the very best beers as you wander along the walks. The illustrations show you what to expect and the maps guide you well. There are lots of little interjections and sidelines on London’s history and things to see en route between the pubs that you would otherwise miss and dont feature in other guidebooks We ended up missing out most of the so called Real tourist spots like Buckingham Palace, to see the actual Real London that this book can show you. From ancient Inn to “back Street boozer”. Came upon this via Rick Steves website and am jolly glad we did.

London Sites For Less

admin — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:09:40 +0000

Whether you’re going to London for the first or the fiftieth time, you’ll never get tired of seeing its wonderful sites. London travel deals are everywhere to help defray the costs and one of the best items you can purchase is the London Pass. With this smart card, you’ll not only avoid the ticket lines, you’ll also save a wad of cash. With the exchange rate at £0.6052 to the US Dollar combined with our difficult economy, you’re going to want to save as much as you can. With the right tools, such as the London Pass, you will. Below is a partial list of what is included with the Pass:

	Normal Admission Price	Approx. U.S. $ Equiv.
Tower of London	£17.00	$27.28
St. Paul’s Cathedral	£11.00	$17.66
Kensington Palace	£12.50	$20.06
Royal Mews	£7.50	$12.04
Thames River Boat Cruise	£11.50	$18.46
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Tour and Exhibition	£10.50	$16.85
Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms	£12.95	$20.79
National Portrait Gallery	£5.00	$8.03
The Queen’s Gallery	£8.50	$13.64
Tate Britain	£3.50	$5.62
London Brass Rubbing Centre	£4.50	$7.22
Tower Bridge Exhibition	£7.00	$11.24
	£111.45	$178.90

If you see only the attractions above and purchased the tickets at the ticket booths, it would cost the equivalent of $178.90 per person. The cost of the pass ranges from £39.00 for a 1-day adult pass to £87.00 for a 6 day adult pass. That’s the equivalent of approximately $62.59 to $139.42. If you saw all the attractions, it would cost well over £420 (or $673) which means you’d save over $500.00 per person!!! Talk about a great London travel deal! In addition, you get some other great benefits:

20% discounts at selected restaurants
20% discounts on the famous Bateaux Lunch and Dinner cruises
Commission-free exchange at Bureau de Change
Free gifts at Crest of London, London Beatles Store & It’s Only Rock n’ Roll
10% discounts in other gift shops
Free entrance at select Cinemas

And that’s just a sample — click here for a full list of added bonuses which come with this London travel deal.. You can also purchase the London Travel Card at the same time as your London Pass at a significant discount. The Travel Card will grant you free access to buses, trams, trains and the Underground. The Travel Card costs at most £7.00/day when you have a London Pass which grands you unlimited travel on any of the services. Considering that the Underground is now £4.00 for a single trip, this can save you big time. The Tube is so well organized, clean and safe, you’ll find it a joy to ride. If you want to use your Travel Card from the airport in to central London, you will be able to use it from Heathrow. If you come in to Gatwick, you will have to pay a bit extra. However, it will be much cheaper than hiring a cab. The drawback to this, however, is you cannot use it on any of the Airport Express trains. You can even elect to have your Travel Card and your London Pass mailed to you in the States – or you can collect it when you arrive. For more information on the London Pass and the Travel Card, please click here to go to their website.

London Hotels – Staying With The Locals

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:13:59 +0000

One of the most enjoyable times in my life was the period I lived in London. While there (from 1996 – 2003), I frequented many of the hotels as some of the smartest bars and best restaurants are situated in them. It was great fun and now when I go back for a visit, I know just where to stay. One of my favorite phrases used in London is “Smart Casual”. Nothing could be more understated. London’s hotels have always enjoyed the status of chic and sophisticated and that is no less true today. But with more than 70,000 three to five-star hotel rooms to choose from, where does one start to look for a place to stay?

There are loads of travel logs which will tell you about the different areas of London and where to stay based on the location of the touristy places – matching your budget to a local hotel. That is not what I’m going to tell you about in this article. Instead . . . I’m going to tell you about the Smart Casual hotels – where you’re going to find a great meal – fantastic cocktails – lovely accommodations and service – and perhaps even some star gazing in the bargain! If you plan you stay right, and use our recommended services, you’ll get a great rate as well.

Nearly everyone in the Smart Casual set live in either Chelsea or South Kensington. There are some exceptions. For example, you’ll find a niche area in Knightsbridge or Notting Hill. Belgravia holds treasure to some seriously expensive homes whilst Pimlico is a pleasant diversion. There is a following of Americans in the Holland Park area as well. Predominantly however, most everything revolves around the Chelsea set. One can stay outside of these areas, but if you want to mingle, there’s nothing like being there! With that in mind, here is the first of my series on Chelsea and South Ken hotels.

Also – Click Here to See Our Site Exclusively on London Hotels!

Draycott Hotel 26 Cadogan Gardens London SW3 2RP

The Draycott is truly a gem. If you like traditional British 19th century charm – this is for you. The rooms and décor are true to the period of colonial Victorian England. Authentic antiques blend beautifully with contemporary amenities. The hotel is very close to Sloane Square and the King’s Road. London neighborhoods are blessed by their squares and Cadogan Gardens is no exception. The rooms are gracious and comfortable and the suites even have their own full kitchens. If you get a room at the rear of the house, you will have a wonderful view overlooking the gardens. For us Americans, you’ll be happy to know that it is fully air conditioned (and many of the older hotels in London are not!). In the winter, the fireplaces are fitted with gas and are totally operational. Talk about ambience! A 5-star hotel, the Draycott received an overall satisfaction grade of 5.0. A standard double room will cost approximately $353.00/night for two.

Wyndham London Chelsea Harbour London SW10 0XG

The Wyndham Grand is a beautiful hotel and if you want to be on the river (The Thames – prounounced temms), and still be in Chelsea, then this is for you. But be absolutely sure that’s where you want to be because Chelsea Harbour is somewhat off the beaten path. There is no tube stop nearby. You will have to rely on taxis or public bus service (the C3 bus runs between Earls Court tube and Clapham Junction via the Harbour every 10 minutes. The 11 and 22 buses run down the King’s Road to Sloane Square and the West End every 7 minutes. You can get this bus at the Lots Road bus stop). The hotel will also provide transportation and even arrange a river taxi. On the positive side, however, Chelsea Harbour is in itself a beautiful place. You can sit and sip on a cocktail and watch the yachts coming in and out or just take a stroll along the banks of the river. Chelsea Harbour also hosts the Design Centre which is a combination of offices and showrooms for interior decorators goods and services. There are also cafes and restaurants and a health club on site. The Wyndham Grand is an all-suite, 5 star hotel. The service and accommodations are first class all the way and is a great choice for those in town on business (albeit not in “The City”) or holding conferences. They have first-rate conference centres on two levels with audio-visual conferencing. They are close to the major exhibition centers at Earls Court and Olympia.
Blakes London 33 Roland Gardens London SW7 3PF

Blakes is one of my all-time favorites. It’s situated in the heart of Chelsea between (the) Fulham and Old Brompton Roads. In fact, it is surrounded by beautiful Victorian homes – now mostly converted flats. This is a fantastic location for anyone wishing to be in the hub. South Kensington and Gloucester Road (pronounced Gloss-ter) tube stops are walking distance and taxis are abundant. There are fantastic restaurants and shops everywhere. Blakes was designed by top international designer Anouska Hempel and, with it’s low-profile, is a favorite among travelling stars and starlets. The décor is absolutely magnificent – an unusual blend of traditional and contemporary using only the finest silks and tapestries. The rooms and suites are a must see. Each one is a true work of art as only Anouska Hempel can do it. Whether you stay there or not, you absolutely have got to have a meal in the restaurant. The cheese soufflé is something to die for. It is wicked! For dessert, try the Chocolate soufflé! Uggh. I wish I was there. I used to go there when my boss was in town just so I could have that cheese soufflé. A standard (whatever that means!) single room is approximately £175.00/night
Cadogan Hotel 75 Sloane Street Knightsbridge, London SW1X 9SG

The Cadogan (pronounced kah-duggan) is located on Sloane Street and, although technically in Knightsbridge, it’s really just on the fringe and close enough to Sloane Square to keep it in this category. In fact, what a great location. You’re walking distance to either Sloane Square or Knightsbridge tube stops; close to Harvey Nic’s and Harrods, walking distance to Beauchamp Place(pronounced Beech-ham) and the wonderful Walton Street shops. If you head the other direction and walk down Sloane Street to Sloane Square – you’ll be in heaven when you stroll down (the)King’s Road. Loads of shops, coffee places, restaurants (walk all the way down to the local favorite La Famiglia). If you want a taxi, there are plenty in that area. The Cadogan Hotel is a 5-star hotel –situated in a beautiful Victorian property with a townhouse feel. A Superior Double room (the standard) will average approximately $239/night for two. Which is really a great rate. The rooms are spacious and comfy with beautiful period furnishings. Travelers there have given it a 4.2 in overall satisfaction.
I will be continuing this series on London. If you would like to be notified when we have added more info, please be sure to fill in this form!
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Get more great info on London hotels at: BestLondonHotelReview.com The last time I went to London, I booked the entire trip on Expedia.com. I stayed at the Savoy as I was doing business in “The City” and it was close. Since I had stayed at the Savoy before – and booked a top room directly – I had something from which to compare the room I received from Expedia. I have to say I was a bit skeptical — but I was pleasantly surprised. The room I stayed in by booking through Expedia was just as nice – if not nicer. The only difference was that I paid about 25% LESS! Do yourself a favor — let one or more of these services do their job and book everything through them. They’re great! Make sure you get either the London Pass or the Heritage Pass. You’ll save a bundle on siteseeing!