London - Hotel & Flights on a Budget

Lemlin

Hi all,

Wondering if I could get some help. I'm hoping to bring the lady to London sometime in June and am looking for the best hotel and flights to get.

I've never been to London and haven't a clue what airport I should fly to etc. I'm hoping to stay somewhere close to the good shopping areas (I've heard Oxford St or Bond Street are the best).

I tried arrowtours.ie but flights to Gatwick (is that even the best airport to fly to?) and 3 nights in Jurys in Great Russell Street is costing €820. That sounds majorly high.

I'd be hoping for something around €400 to €500. We'd be going from Tuesday until Friday I' say.

[Edit: I'd be flying from Dublin by the way]

gandalf

Is that €400-€500 pp or in total. Cause I think you will be stretching it during peak season if its in total.

I suppose first thing to sort is the flights, if you get the timing right Ryanair or Aer Lingus may be ok but you have to factor in the cost then of getting to your Hotel in London. I tend to fly City Jet to London City Airport (flights are a little more expensive) and then the Docklands Light Rail into the City and the Underground onto where I want to go.

As regards a Hotel try and get one that does a room rate like Travellodge rather than one that does per person and that should save you a few bucks as well.

Good Luck, I hope you and the Lady have a ball

gandalf

Oh one thing if you decide on City Jet, check the booking through the Air France website as well, normally works out cheaper through it for some reason

Lemlin

Its 400 to 500 in total Gandalf. Where is London City airport?

gandalf

Along the docklands http://www.londoncityairport.com/

DLR is around £4 into the city and the ticket works on the underground as well (one way).

Check out www.lastminute.ie sometimes you can get a good hotel deal through them. I got a great deal in the Radisson Vanderbilt last August.

BuffyBot

Check out premiertravelinn.com and Travelodge (PTI is a little more classy than Travelodge, so might be worth considering when bringing a partner) for accomodation along with Lastminute.com, laterooms.com and if you feel that you want to take a risk priceline.com/co.uk's name your price feature. There is a thread full of useful links on the top of the forum. Scour them all and you might find a bargain.

Do check out flybmi.com, aerlingus.com and ryanair.com - and surprisingly ba.com (sometimes flights from reasonable prices each way into Gatwick).

Don't worry about staying too close to Oxford St. etc. Transport is plentiful, cheap and easy to use. You would be surprised how 10 minutes on the tube can really braoden your accomodation choices and stretch your budget

Heathrow has the advantage of the tube, and as London City has the DLR it is worth checking out as well.