Priceline Hotel: 3 Adults in a London Room

[Kazbah]

Hi All,

We are three adults travelling to London for 3 nights in April. I would love a 4* but would can't afford the rack rates. Am I taking a big risk trying to book a room on PriceLine, I could contact the hotel after and ask them for occupancy for three. Has anyone else tried this?

If the hotel wouldn't give us a room for three do you think I could sell my booking on eBay?

Thanks guys!

[Blueskies]

"If the hotel wouldn't give us a room for three do you think I could sell my booking on eBay?"

Not unless the person has the same name as the one you have booked under. Priceline insist on the named person checking in.

I would check out the 4 star hotels in the zones you are interested and see if they have rooms for 3, which would normally be 2 doubles. If so, is it more expensive than a double room. If so, be prepared to pay the extra if required or book two rooms unless of course they flatly refuse to change your Priceline booking.

You may want to look at londontown.com or use hotwire (through Savingsbarn.com) which allows you to specify the number of persons. What are your dates? There is the London marathon on 23rd April and easter also which may play havoc with your trip. Are you in London sightseeing?

You may find this website helpful to compare same hotels on different sites-

http://www.hotelscomparison.com/

Good luck.

[Kazbah]

Thank you very much for your reply.

Yikes - I didn't know my trip would coincide with the marathon - I got very cheap flights so I thought it would be a good time for hotels too. I am looking for 3 nights April 21 - 24. Yes it is a sightseeing trip. My sister and I are taking our Mother for her birthday so I want it to be somewhere nice. Priceline might be able to help me stay in a nicer hotel for the same money I'd be staying in a 2/3 star otherwise.

I will cheap out which hotels offer 3 person rooms in my areas.

I think I'm interested in these areas:

Bloomsbury - Marble Arch

Radisson Edwardian Marlborough

Radisson SAS Portman

Radisson Edwardian Grafton

Thistle Marble Arch

Thistle Bloomsbury

Euston Plaza

Russell Hotel

Grange White Hall Hotel

Marriott Marble Arch

Novotel London Euston

Melia White House

Sherlock Holmes Hotel

The Cumberland

MyHotel Bloomsbury

Hilton London Euston

Mayfair - Soho

Sheraton Park Lane on Piccadilly

Thistle Royal Horseguards

Thistle Charing Cross

Marriott Grosvenor Square

Washington Mayfair

Hotel Inter-Continental London

Kingsway Hall

Millenium Hotel London Mayfair

The Berners Hotel

Radisson Edwardian May Fair Hotel (formerly Intercontinental Mayfair)

Holiday Inn Mayfair

The Waldorf Hilton

There are an awful lot of hotels there to cover to check on their websites if they ALL do triple rooms or rollout beds :)

[WillTravel]

All of those hotels undoubtedly have some sort of triple room, but not necessarily very many. Many rooms are too small to accommodate a rollaway. The problem is that if you book a double, and arrive expecting a triple, they might not have any of these rooms left, or they might want to charge you the difference between the Priceline rate and some other rate. It's possible that if you book a double, and then contact the hotel right away, they might be able to upgrade you to a triple for a fee, but you wouldn't know that fee in advance. I've read 20 to 50 pounds in various instances.

It would be unlikely that you would get a triple for three adults for no extra cost, considering how much of a discount Priceline gives you on a double.

For three nights, consider the cost of booking two rooms. Or try Hotwire, entering 3 adults. Or look at the cost for the Holiday Inn Express, which includes breakfast.

[WillTravel]

I know it's not 4*, but there are often great deals on family rooms at this site:

http://www.travelodge.co.uk

I did a search at the Holiday Inn site, and I see you can get a room for your dates with a double bed plus sofabed for 71 pounds, at Holiday Inn Kings Cross-Bloomsbury.

[rapazfreiburg]

I have been at the Thistle Marble Arch, and they don't offer any triples for booking on their website. I would be very hesitant in expecting a room accomodating more than 2 adults, particularly in London.

In Europe, space is scarce and the "norm" are rooms which are only suitable for double occupancy.

I realised that rates for your travel plans are still relatively low considering the Marathon.

You might be able to get someting in Bloomsbury/Marble Arch at around $75, in Soho for a little more, and then book two rooms.

Or do consider the Holiday Inn which WillTravel mentioned. That's a very good regular rate for London.

[Kazbah]

You're right I think it is taking a big risk that the room PriceLine reserves would be able to accomodate 3 people or that the hotel would be able to upgrade us a reasonable fee.

I have seen that Holiday Inn at Kings Cross, which is a 3+ stat, however it is about 15 minutes walk from several tube stations. If I have the choice to book a specific hotel (ie if I don't use PriceLine) I would probably choose something nearer the underground. It is great value though.

I have checked TravelLodge and they only accept 2 people in a room.

I might go ahead and book Holiday Inn LONDON-KENSINGTON. 82.95 + 17.5% VAT

Originally I looked at London Guards at Lancaster Gate but I think it looks a bit grotty.

I don't really want two rooms as we would like to be together.

[Blueskies]

Kazbah,

you may want to check out some of the Citadines apartments in London, Novotel London West, which I know from personal experience has family rooms. We had a room for 4. Good safe area but a walk to the tube. I think it is on the Picadilly line if you are coming in from Heathrow.

Also consider staying at The Docklands/Canary Wharf area, which is normally quiet at weekends. Might not be the case on marathon weekend as the marathon passes through this area (supposed to get a great view from there). This is out of the main centre but has good transport links and hotel options. Very upmarket business area with good shops/nice bars but not in old london town if you are looking to be in historic area.

You should check out the London Marathon website so you know the route. Some transport options in the city are closed that day.

http://www.london-marathon.co.uk/

Good luck

[Kazbah]

Thanks for all the advice, I'm glad I didn't do Priceline this time because I would have been too stressed if we got a hotel that couldn't accomodate 3.

Anyway I have booked the Kensington Holiday Inn.

It was

[wiggums]

I have stayed in "five star" hotels with very tiny rooms. I would not advise using Pricleine and hoping for a sufficiently sized room for three people.

Many lower star hotels tend to have room for three people (three beds). I'd advise booking directly with them although they'd cost a lot more. Or try bidding for two rooms?