london hotels by hotels-london.co.uk

8 Feb 2009: Harbingers of Spring

I know London had a large dollop of the cold white stuff the other week which brought the capital to a standstill. It is, don’t forget February and we are warned about global warming (or is that warmed by a global warning?) however, we approach adversity with a spirit that events can only improve. With that thought in mind, Winter is a good time to plan the spring clean. At Hotels-London, once we’d dug a way out, we thought why wait for Spring? We took a long look at some well known search engines and made some refinements to our own search

How could we make it easier for our guests to find their preferred hotel, that extra inspiration to find the right category, make it simpler to locate the right London hotel?

We have made the quick search a whole lot quicker, the search a whole lot searchier. Just type in your preferred location and maybe add your favourite hotel in the same box and we’ll go FIND for you. Hope you like it.

We also know our Hotels-London guests have a fondness for particular categories, drop down a Luxury, Boutique, Apartment or Family choice and we will do our best to offer you some of our favourite London hotels by genre.

If you are still undecided feel free to give us a call. Our London specialist agents are available 7-days a week (08707 544 447 – 10p p/minute) and have a nifty way of making suggestions. With excellent hotel relations, we may be able to get that little bit extra, so nothing is too much trouble. Just ask.

As for Spring, its just around the corner and watch out for more spring cleaning to help you find your perfect London hotel.

Stay close

25 Nov 2008: We're living in exciting times...

Whilst the 10 o’clock 'Bad' News broadcasts more glum figures, plotting graphs with values that head south, rather than north east, the Government is throwing everything it has to help restore public confidence. A jump in taxes for those who earn lots, with a planned cut in VAT to hopefully encourage the rest of us back to making the tills ring.

The recent unpleasantness in the City in August and September has given us some very good news and many of our hotel partners have given hotels-london some very good rates. Autumn is a truly lovely time of year to spend in London. The Christmas lights are up, shoppers are indeed busying themselves and there are at least 30 theatre productions to keep us entertained and amused. You can book all these things with us online or with any of our reservation agents at 08707 544 447, if you feel compelled.

Whilst you’re here, search for some of our best hotel offers. I’m sure you already know it’s only a short tube ride on the central line from some of our favourite hotels in the City and Docklands in the east straight into the sparkle of the West End.

Remember, since time began economics follow a cyclical path. Once we’ve reached the bottom of this winding trail, the only way is up. That which does not kill us will make us stronger in the end.

Stay lucky

28 Aug 2008: August Summer Holidays!

London is absolutely packed. I don't know if you have been able to get in to the big smoke lately, but it seems parents are making the most of the warmer (and slightly drier) weather and dragging their kids across town before schools go back. London is buzzing! Oxford Street is bustling, the Apple Shop is wall to wall customers, Covent Garden is a playground, crowds are spilling out of pubs onto footpaths from East to West. But, there is still plenty of room in hotels as many appear to be day trippers. Just looking through the availability on the site there are some really good bargains to be had before things go back to normal, around mid September.

Enjoy!

2 Jun 2008: 10 Years Online!

Believe it or not it's 10 years since the first Hotels-London.co.uk website went live, on 7 June. Its amazing to look back and see where you have come from. There were only a few people on the internet globally at that time and we were all very "green" about where this was going and what we were doing. All we did know was that it should be a good way for people to book hotels rather than sending brochures all over the world. Our philosophy was always to research, review and select hotels whilst putting them in easy to use categories. This hasnt changed, although the hotels and guests have. Read more...

14 May 2008: Top 10 Ways To Get an Upgrade

Want to get more for your money when staying in hotels? An upgrade is the most rewarding and costs very little to a hotel, especially if the rooms are empty anyway. Upgrades are mostly handled on the day of arrival and subject to availability. Increase your chances by following our Top 10 tips ... Read more...

12 May 2008: Sun is Shining so bring your flip-flops!

This is a great time of year to be in London. Somehow the city changes and becomes far greener than it appears in the colder months. Some of the best places to spend the sunnier days are .... Read more...

16 Apr 2008: Recycling and all this environment business ...

Is it just me or are we all a little confused over recycling and the environment? Are viewpoints publicised a little too quickly before theories are proven? I am in agreement we should make a conscious effort to reduce emmissions and we should recycle but are we getting caught up in all the hype without even knowing? Read more...

3 Apr 2008: One Aldwych Hotel, London

One Aldwych Hotel has been open a few years now and was one of the first hotels to think of having a TV screen in the bathroom. Apparently inspired by the creator missing an important news bulletin whilst having a shave in an LA hotel. Read more...

9 Oct 2007: Hackett Beaujolais Run 2007

It's Beaujolais time! Once again I will be flying the flag for both Hotels London and Hotels.tv at this years Hackett Beaujolais Run. . We are really excited as there is a field of about 50 cars which will be leaving from the Goodwood Circuit on 13 November heading for France. .... Read more...

24 Jul 2007: Travelling with kids?

We all know children like small confined spaces, keeping quiet in hotel bedrooms and sitting still and enjoying expensive dinners, don't we? Not! But dont let the little blighters put you off booking that swanky pad, ritzy room and chic retreat. No, no, no. You are just as entitled to stay in Sanderson or The Metropolitan as JLow or Dame Edna (*!?). The trick is to find out which room/hotel will best suit your travellers whilst still maintaining your boutique, contemporary-luxury needs. Don't give in and go Best Western or Comfort! Do a little research and see if you can get a suite or adjoining room. Often the suites are the last to sell and can be booked last minute. Choose a hotel with Playstation or better still, Nintendo Wii (although watchout for breakages and black-eyes). Look for a hotel where there is ample space in the hotel bar or restaurant to have a cocktail whilst the kids roll around the oak floorboards. Some boutique hotels even have a small garden or a pool. Read more...

24 Jul 2007: August - Summer in the city

I always thought it funny (wierd-funny, not funny-funny) that during the best weather months us UK residents fly off to warmer climes, rather than stick around here and enjoy the sunshine we've beeen waiting for. Just skimming through the Events
Calendar for August you should check out some of the stuff happening in London. Events like England v India in the third test match, Kenwood Lakeside Concerts, Portobello Film Festival, Notting Hill Carnival and the Great British Beer Festival at Earls Court to name a few. There are also lots for the kids to do during the holidays, like Museums,
London Aquarium, Open Top bus rides, River cruises, London Eye, Madame Tussauds and even just a picnic in the park. Since the pubs are all now smoke-free, take the kiddies to the pub for a pie lunch or some fish n chips - they love pubs. Kids love London. But always pack a football - just in case. Since my Centre Parcs disaster, I've decided to stay close to the capital and enjoy it. Leave Spain for the colder months. See you here!

23 Jul 2007: Centre Parcs - be very scared!

Usually I am reviewing independent hotels, but last week we decided to "grit" our teeth and take the kids to Centre Parcs Elveden Forest in Suffolk. From check-in we received attitude,
bad service, poor quality accommodation and hot water and heating problems. We discovered later that our apartment was to be pulled down in August. These guys should be disgusted and simply should not rent apartments in that condition. Shabby, chewing gum on the carpets, dirty furnishings, just horrible. Other guests also made similar comments. It also took 5 calls to get towels, 2 engineer visits over 2 days to fix the hot water and 3 requests to be seated at a half empty Huck's Diner - amongst lots of other really irritatiing situations including not being able to be served food outside in the sunshine. They have all the faciltiies but no-one seems to be able to think outside the box. Maybe they assume because you travel with kids that bad service and shabby accommodation is OK. Maybe we were expecting too much - however for £700 for four nights + £££ for activities, I don't think we were. Read more...

10 Jul 2007: St Martins Lane Hotel - Minimalism: Out of style?

I "loved" the idea of minimalism. It always conjured thoughts of Tony Montana (Al Pacino in Scarface) lying on big white fluffy pillows, cigar in mouth and hot tub in bedroom. But re visiting hip minimalism a few years on, post fashion craze, was a bit of a disappointment. Yes the room was nice, I was upgraded to a Garden Room with a tiny terrace which I didnt use. The room was white and glass, floor to ceiling. I could even walk around the bathroom and bedroom in a complete circle passing the bed, shower, basin, toilet then back to the bed. Because there was no place to sit, other than the bed, I found myself circling for 10 minutes after I arrived. A bit like a labrador looking for a place to lye down. The mini bar was sufficient with plenty of snacks, the TV was small and quite old and the robes fluffy. But to be honest I was bored and felt almost caged in an Ikea display. Don't get me wrong, I like this hotel. It has an exciting atmosphere, good restaurant and swanky bar, but I just think "contemporary luxury" is where it is at now, not minimalism. This means St Martins Lane Hotel needs to get a little more colour in the rooms and nicer fabrics. Doing this will also allow them to age a little more gracefully.

19 Jun 2007: "Pearl Jam" rocks!

I went to see Pearl Jam last night, at Wembley Arena. Yes, really. They were "awesome", as my American, Pearl Jam Fan Club member, friend would put it. And they were. I think Pearl Jam usually plays stadium gigs, but the Arena is definitely a more intimate venue and the words and music don't get lost if the wind blows... they
get lost in the screams from the crowd instead. After leaving the concert my attention turned to the crowds trying to catch the tube back to central London, squeezing together like they were being sucked into the station. I was certain what drove them to join the crowds was the severe lack of decent accommodation close to two of London's most favoured venues,
Wembley Stadium and Arena. I could see a couple of cheap chain hotels nearby but nothing to tempt an overnight stay close to the venue after a concert or football match. We have recently listed Hotel 55, on the border of Wembley/Ealing, 5-10 minute drive, and this is about the closest you'll get a good standard of hotel. Best
advice is get yourself into the Indian Cabaret Restaurant, The Blue Room, straight after the gig. Enjoy good food, a couple of drinks and some Bollywood style entertainment. Then get a cab to Hotel 55 when the crowds disappear.

The Blue Room Bar & Restaurant, 53 Wembley Hill Rd, Wembley, Middlesex, HA9 8BE, tel 020 8903 4747 - Directions: across the road from the west side of Wembley Arena.

1 Mar 2007: How time flies!

March already! Unbelievable. Is it just me or do the months and years go by faster and faster. London is getting busy. January and February are usually modest months for visitors to the capital but 07 has been stronger than last year which is a good sign for another year in tourism. I am pleased to say that Hotels.tv is developing well and has been launched as the first online TV or WEBTV channel dedicated to hotels. This has been a dream of mine for many years now. Read more...

13 Nov 2006: The Hackett Beaujolais Run

The
Hackett Beaujolais Run is being held between 14-16 November, to benefit two very worthwhile charitable causes; the Down's Syndrome Association (DSA) and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity. click here for more...

3 Sep 2006: Play "SPOT THE MINI"

Hotels-London & Hotels.TV now has Purple Mini Cooper S Convertibles buzzing around London. Spot the Mini! Spot one of our sexy cars in London. Let us know where and when you see it and you could win a hotel stay, free upgrade or breakfast when making your next booking. Email or Text "HOTELS" TO 60300 with your sighting! Good luck!

3 Sep 2006: Overbooking

I can't stand greedy, selfish, uncomprimising hotels which overbook their hotels in order to achieve 100% occupancy. This can leave customers out on the street or moved to another hotel. Unfortunately these practices are rife through the industry, however many of our hotels do not practice such activities. We actually contract all the hotels featured on Hotels-London.co.uk to not move our customers, so if you have been booked out or moved to another hotel, please email us. If you book a specific hotel, that is exactly what you should receive.

3 Sep 2006: Get ready Corporates!

For a long time September to December has been the "silly season" for London and attracted the most bookings throughout the year. This year is set for a record numbers hitting the capital, and most of these will be business travel. Hotels London has just launched the new London Meeting Rooms area and now has a dedicated team handling requests. You can't book meeting rooms online because they need a little more TLC, but you can email an enquiry form and let Cara and Louise do the rest.

3 Sep 2006: Hotels.TV

The video content you have been seeing on Hotels-London.co.uk is from Hotels.TV, our media side of the company. It has been established to bring hotels closer to you during your decision making process, in a "tele-visual" style. The first in a series of short city guides should go live in the next couple of weeks. If you have anything you would like to see in video on the site please email.

Hotels.TV has also a collection of some fantastic hotels worldwide. Many are able to be booked online, others you will find an enquiry form for. Think of it as more of an online magazine dedicated to hotels, than just a booking site. Video content for these coming soon.

1 Sep 2006: Feedback

Many thanks for all your feedback regarding "how you prefer to pay for your hotels - in advance or at hotel". You have overwhelmingly told me that paying at the hotel is better for you. Not only does it mean you can keep your money in your pocket but you have more flexibility to chop and change your booking. It has long been our philosophy that a hotel booking is a short term, changeable booking which often cannot be pre purchased like a package holiday - it must be flexible.

This month: What is your favourite London hotel?