So this trip may not get planned (some tbd family health concerns)… or if it does, we’d need excellent cancellation flexibility. I’ve found that with Premier Inn, and also Booking.com has filtering for free cancellation.
Has anybody used Booking.com in London (or other international location)? I see it mentioned a lot on a London FB group, but I’ve always been hesitant to use it overseas. Even for US travel I prefer to book directly with a hotel/chain… seems like we would be more likely to get the room as selected (and seamless cancel if needed) when there is not an extra third party layer in the booking process.
I’ve used it in England and encountered an issue once in an airbnb type place in London. I don’t remember the exact problem but it had something to do with being unable to contact the landlord when trying to engineer a late cancellation that should theoretically have been possible. Had no trouble with booking stays in Inns/B&B’s, but now much prefer to book directly with the hotel or B&B.
I looked at Premier Inns for an upcoming trip to London. It looked like they had good prices and locations, but I ultimately decided against based on info on their website. They use the same generic pictures and descriptions for every hotel. You might get a double or a king. The hotel might have AC. You just can’t tell based on their website.
I used it to make hotel reservations in Switzerland- recc by a friend. I have corresponded with the hotels directly. Trip is next month so hopefully it goes well, first time using.
Last December we spent a couple nights at the Hub Premier Inn in Kings Cross at 50 Wharfdale Road. It was a small room but everything was new and clean. I would stay there again. The location is walking distance to Kings Cross and St Pancras train stations and the underground in a very safe neighborhood.
We have rented 2 great vrbos if we are staying more than a couple of days. London is so accessible by foot and the underground that it doesn’t really matter too much where you stay.
Your Premier concerns are valid - “use the same generic pictures and descriptions for every hotel. You might get a double or a king. The hotel might have AC. You just can’t tell based on their website.
My husband is a big guy. Ideally we opt for US King (especially for 10 nights) or maybe US Queens.
I should also mention that often the London hotel listings use “Double” to mean 2-person…. and then they will list bed size as Queen or King (or give dimensions)
Example is from Park Plaza Victoria, “Double” with King bed (though not sure if UK King or US, since it is a Raddison)
Yea, I prefer booking directly too. Can’t always get the rates and cancel flexibility we need.
Lots of progress today. We booked flights with United Frequent Flier points (so good flexiblity to cancel or resched if needed). Also booked 5 nights at Premier Inn County Hall, Premier Plus Room - which hopefully will have US King or Queen size bed.
Because of the possibility we’d need to cut the trip short, we are leaning toward switching mid trip to another 5 nights in different neighborhood. (Usually no refunds for unused nights). This is one of the contenders, mainly due location and availability of “King” room, with lots of space. And ability to cancel.
Thanks, heading out of London for last nights is a possibility. Oxford seems to have easy transportation back to Heathrow.
We wanted to put a stake in the ground for this trip while there were still seats left on the appealing direct flights from Denver. Exact times we would have picked. I might have just done 10 nights tentative at hotel, but Premier Inn only allows up to 9 nights online… above that you have to call their UK office.
Bus from Oxford to LHR is quite easy/convenient. I think there is a Premier Inn by the Pear Tree Park & Ride in Oxford which gives you easy access to the City Center.
If there if a room safe, we use it (even though we know they can be broken into if thief tries hard). When we were in Rome airbnb we really sweated whether the bigger risk was taking or leaving the passports since so many pickpockets (we hid them in room).
In London Premier Inn wi though safe… my thought was to take passports with us (under clothing), husband says leave them. We have time to decide.
Several years ago, we used Ivy Lettings to rent a flat for a week. We needed 2 rooms, and that heavily influenced the economics. They were great to deal with. An alternative to airbnb. For longer stays, we prefer this to a hotel. Always nice to have a kitchen and washing machine.
We leave tonight… very excited. I can report that Premier Inn (we will spend first 5 nights at County Hall location) does a great job on email communication. Emails for confirmation, prior week, prior day. It is nice that they offer early check-in for 10 pounds.
For those planning a London trip, Sky Garden is a popular viewing site (enclosed rooftop). Tickets are free but need to be booked as soon as available (3 weeks prior, I think slots added on Monday ).
A fun place to go for drinks is the power room at the old Battersea Power Station which is now a mall. We also have gone to The American Bar at the Stafford Hotel for martinis. Not cheap, but great atmosphere.
