talkmagic.co.uk

Agecroft - if you mean the secret deals on Lastminute.com - it's usually possible to figure out which hotel you're booking. I've never tried but I know my folks have had some very cheap deals in nice digs with that.


Mandrake - when I read that post I'd never heard of the trick but thought you mean the extremely NSFW "London Underground" song - which is just stupidly funny.

To be fair, a Going Underground routine might be possible with other items but the Oyster card etc lends itself very well to the effect. Next time I visit the smoke I might just invest in one.....

That's the one, i think you just need to cut and paste the description into google by all acounts to find out the hotel.

I've used it a couple of times and had nice hotels for £100 a night.

Demitri wrote:
I'm assuming something smack dab in the middle of London is probably best for a first-timer, but I just wanted to know if any of the surrounding areas were better considerations (I found what looks to be a nice place in Paddington, for instance).

I once worked in the Hospital next to Paddington Station and seriously I really really really wouldn't want to stay round there if I were a tourist, you will get preyed on by all sorts of lowlifes.
There are a couple of nice hotels near the Tower of London just behind Tower Hill Station, although its a short Bus/ Underground/ Riverboat or Cycle ride to the West End where some of the main tourist attractions are.
Some people mentioned the Strand and Charing Cross - this is the true centre of London but the hotels there may be a bit more expensive and maybe not as much space.
If want something cheap then I'd suggest looking for something respectable in Zone 2 or 3 and travelling into Town on the Bus or Underground, where ever you want to go. There is plenty of unique things to see around you whereever you stay in Greater London, the good stuff isn't just in the West End.

How long are you coming for? You need to be in London about 5 years to see everything worth seeing and live here for over a decade before you truly start to appreciate it.

Some of the hotels in London are truly disgusting. I would seriously advise anyone to look at the room before you commit yourself. They often have a lovely lobby and when you go up the stairs the fancy carpet disappears and so does the lovely wallpaper. And the room is none too clean and the size of a cupboard.

When I came to Canada I used to check out the rooms too but found it unnecessary in the end. I hardly ever found a bad one. In London I hardly ever found a good one.

I agree with Mark, some of the hotels on the Strand are the same, magnificent lobby and restaurant but the rooms are expensive and resemble telephone kiosks, barely room for the bed and bathroom.

Well, after taking some of the notes here into account, and some web research - I've narrowed my choices down to these two:

The Grand at Trafalgar Square
Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

Basically, I chose them for location - and the price wasn't too bad. If anyone knows anything about either, I'd love to hear what they've heard.

V.E. - our trip is for 7 nights. Obviously not enough time to see everything - but we hope to squeeze as much in as we can.

Thanks to all who replied. Now if I could just convince people to have a Tabula Mentis event during my stay...and I can crash it...

I believe there is a travel review site called Trip Advisor. You get actual reviews from the punters. Perhaps if you did a search on that site for the hotels mentioned you would find something out about them.

As mentioned I stayed at the White House Melia and it was a lovely hotel. I just don't know the prices though. I expect it costs a fortune. Might be worth checking it out though. The whole hotel is run by Spaniards.

I got it as part of a package deal with Air Transat, hotel and air fare included for about $2200 dollars or so for the week. I had to endure an uncomfortable flight and got a nice hotel.

Thanks Mark! I checked tripadvisor (and a few others) for both hotels. That's part of the reason I came to these 2. I'll definitely check out the White House, though - since the prices are similar.