need help want to book aug 13th no rooms

[515kitty]

Just found out I might not have any lodging prior to a booking with Princess cruise Aug 13th out of southhampton england. Where can I look to book lodging for Aug 10th thru the 13th in London. Either it is 10 miles out for a 3 star and at a cost of 2,000 for the 3 days help!!!! Everything is sold out. Don't want to book till I know I have a place for the 3 days. :confused:

[CruisinEars]

You are contending with the tourist traffic from The Olympics. You will want to just book what you can find. You can check the consolidator websites with the major search engines. Sorry, we aren't allowed to name travel agents here.

[dmwnc1959]

The 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London begin with the Opening Ceremonies on July 27th and continue until the Closing Ceremonies on August 12th. Good luck, because the world is going to be in London and grid lock with olympic prices can be expected as a daily thing. Bad timing unfortunately on your part.

[Crystaltipps]

That's right in the middle of the Olympics so no wonder you're struggling - any remaining rooms in the centre are going to be hugely expensive. You might be better to stay out of London but somewhere on a fast train line into the centre. Reading, Berkshire might be an option. It's about 25 minutes on the train into London. Or if you want something that is on the same train line as Southampton then Woking is an option. Again. about 25 minutes in to London on the train. And from Woking you've got nice places like Winchester in the other direction on the same train line.

 

Good luck!

[DougH]

Why don't you stay out in Southampton? Its easy to get to and much cheaper. The railway is easy to use for day trips, I spent a day in Portsmouth and one in Winchester.

[Pam in CA]

Why don't you stay out in Southampton? Its easy to get to and much cheaper. The railway is easy to use for day trips, I spent a day in Portsmouth and one in Winchester.

I agree. I have a friend in the same boat and she's going directly to Southampton, bypassing London entirely.

[sportsmum]

Does Princess have no add on's? More expensive but at least it's somewhere to stay. Otherwise, I would suggest you book what you can and then keep checking since people will cancel and hopefully you'll snatch it up. Also, ask to be put on waiting lists for the hotels you'd like.

[Pam in CA]

Does Princess have no add on's? More expensive but at least it's somewhere to stay. Otherwise, I would suggest you book what you can and then keep checking since people will cancel and hopefully you'll snatch it up. Also, ask to be put on waiting lists for the hotels you'd like.

I seriously doubt there are any hotel packages left with rooms available in London during the Olympics, but it's worth a shot.

[sunluva7]

I feel your pain. We are cruising on Aug. 8 out of Dover, and very early on decided that we will see London another time. We are flying in the morning on the day before and taking a private transfer with a stop at Leeds Castle on the way. We booked our hotel in Dover in December. If I were you, I would do likewise, transport yourself directly to Southhampton or one of the towns nearby, maybe tour the English countryside, and save a stay for London at a better time. I wouldn't wait, though - I'd book a room now.:)

[515kitty]

I do realize the Olympics and that is my problem as I spent an hour last night and only found 3 or less stars 10 miles out of london and still anything inside that was sold out or 3 nights were over 2000 dollars. But am thinking it might just be better to go to Southhampton and day tirp out of there. Any tours companies to contact to help me there?

[sunluva7]

515kitty,

 

I just searched a favorite search engine of mine and found Premier Inn, Southhampton Center, for a very reasonable amount for 3 nights, as well as others in the area. I think that's all I can divulge without a slap on the wrist from the moderators. Search Southhampton on one of the popular hotel search sites.

[Bucky3]

What is the best way to get directly from the airport in Heathrow to South Hampton? Is there regular bus transportation directly from the airport?

[sotong]

Best bet for heathrow to Southampton is coach, national express or possibly greyhound.

Re accommodation if you stay in Southampton its an hour and half to London on train! Can be expensive though. Suggest stay nearer London, if you want to see the city, agree Woking or guilford or similar is a good idea.

Premier inn or travelodge are good budget hotels their websites will let you search availability in and around the south.

 

Hope you did something suitable. Gillian

[Crzn-Life]

We usually stay in Southhampton or Portsmouth occasionally. The train is really convenient, both places are nice, but Southampton is easier to get around in.

 

We usually stay at Jury's in Southampton. Not the greatest hotel, but it's convenient, clean and cheap. Well not really cheap since nothing in the UK is cheap but it's reasonable by UK pricing standards.

 

In Portsmouth we usually stay at the Marriott which is a very reasonably priced hotel showing 96 GBP per night for the period you are looking for.

[DougH]

I've stayed at the Ibis in Southampton a couple of times. Its a pretty basic hotel but relatively cheap and is only a 5 minute walk from both the National bus terminal and the train station. There is a McDonalds and a TGIF right next door for cheap/quick food and a big shopping center also just a short walk away for anything you might need. Others can suggest lots of local restaurants for food.

[Posaune]

You might try and book something you could cancel in or near Southampton and keep checking London close to your departure. During the 1996 Olympics here in Atlanta rooms opened up at the last minute at lower prices.

[Twickenham]

Just found out I might not have any lodging prior to a booking with Princess cruise Aug 13th out of southhampton england. Where can I look to book lodging for Aug 10th thru the 13th in London. Either it is 10 miles out for a 3 star and at a cost of 2,000 for the 3 days help!!!! Everything is sold out. Don't want to book till I know I have a place for the 3 days. :confused:

 

Do you have any Priority Club points? There's plenty of availability for your dates on points in London; indeed, it might even be worth it to buy points, and use the points+cash option. Or, get the PC Visa card - you can sometimes find an offer that gives you 60,000 bonus points.

[insidecabin]

I would avoid london

 

Holiday inn have a 2-4-1 in the UK that works on most hotels but not all dates.

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/ihg/hotels/us/en/reservation/findandbook?ratePreference=IDEX1

 

Southampton for 11+12aug £125 (£63pn).

 

There are good HI express dotted all over

for 3 days a 2-4-1 and another night might work for some of the rates, look at end of thread for latest links

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=1535105&highlight=holiday+inn

 

What about hire car and then you can consider a lot more places.

 

new forest is local and has a lot of options inc B&B's

http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/

 

THere are few cheapies near the center of southampton, eg Ibis,etap,novotel

jurys is popular with cruisers

 

devere has gone down hill but they often have multi night deals

sign up for the emails.

[John Bull]

Hi Kitty,

Guessing you've already got the message re the London Olympics.

Posaune makes a good point about late availability, we came across the same thing world-wide for the millenium celebrations - sky-high prices, but late bargains on unsold rooms.

If you book elsewhere via a site such as booking.com you will find that in virtually all cases you can cancel cost-free as little as three days out if cheaper London options become available.

The only downside is the need to build two sets of plans.

 

Wherever you book, make it a place which has good transport links and/or is itself worthy of a few days.

Two suggestions:

 

Southampton.

Pleasant enough, not a tourist city but has plenty of facilities and a few things to see in the city, all in a compact historic area close to the city centre & port, all very walkable.

And excellent rail links to places such as Weymouth, Bath, Salisbury (& ho-ho from there to Stonehenge), Winchester, Portsmouth & Southsea, and London. Most can be visited on a day-return ticket for about £10 to £15 pp - the exception is London, which will cost about £35 pp (about £70pp on a weekday for trains arriving in London before 10am)

Unless you hire a car (which gives a lot more options, such as the Jurassic coast, the Dorset downs, the New Forest, Glastonbury/Wells/Cheddar), choose a Southampton city centre hotel, all are reasonably convenient to Southampton central rail station.

 

Portsmouth & Southsea

In itself has much more to offer the tourist, its a navy town & holiday resort. The historic dockyard & ships are worth a day by themselves, plus Gunwharf Quays/Spinnaker Tower, Old Portsmouth, Southsea seafront with D-Day museum, Southsea Castle,& other attractions.

Good rail links to London & Southampton & to the other places mentioned, though they're a little further. No need for car hire.

Holiday Inn Gunwharf Quays is an ideal location, or there are many hotels along Southsea seafront.

 

Heathrow to Southampton or Portsmouth:

Private transfer about £90 the car, try www.westquaycars.com or www.smithsforairports.com

Train is awkward, involves a shuttlebus to the nearest mainline station.

By National Express coach is simplest & cheapest (Greyhound don't operate routes from Heathrow)

 

 

Some useful websites.

 

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx

www.visit-southampton.co.uk

http://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/

http://www.visitwiltshire.co.uk/salisbury/home

http://www.thestonehengetour.info/

http://www.visitwinchester.co.uk/

http://visitbath.co.uk/

 

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_london_transfers.htm

There are a lot of other useful pages on this website, including

http://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton_map.htm

 

 

JB :)

[CruisinEars]

Does Princess have no add on's? More expensive but at least it's somewhere to stay. Otherwise, I would suggest you book what you can and then keep checking since people will cancel and hopefully you'll snatch it up. Also, ask to be put on waiting lists for the hotels you'd like.

 

No they don't. I was working as a Res Agent last fall (have since left my job) and even then Princess was not offering add-ons for anytime near the Olympics. The hotels wouldn't give them contracts because they could charge a premium for Olympics tourists.