Hotwire Hotel: Help Identify London 4.5 * Kensington - Chelsea - Knightsbridge

[MrB]

I've contributed but haven't asked for help before. Going to London UK for business but want to go early which I have to pay for myself. Staying April 3 and 4 2010. I can guess the Hiltons (previous stays include Waldorf, Olympia and Financial District (I preferred the Waldorf and then the FD) but I see a 4.5 star in the Kensington district with Smoke Free Rooms Fitness Center Pool(s) Restaurant(s) Business Center Laundry Facilities High-speed Internet Access and Spa Services.

My first reaction was that this was, once again, the Wyndham Chelsea Harbour (which I have stayed at before - very nice but not tube friendly) but I see a 5* hotel with similar amenities plus the Suite icon which the 4.5* was missing so I think I am out of luck and this must be another hotel. One of the Holiday Inns upgraded perhaps?

Any suggestions as to what this may be?

Also, any other suggestions for this time period and/or any special events to attend over this week-end?

Thanks!

[thereuare]

Unfortunately a hotel with this amenity combination has not yet been reported to the board. Given how long its been since the Wyndham was reported to the board i would think that chances are good that the amenities have changed and that is the property you're seeing above, but i'm far from certain.

Please use the PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links on the board to begin your travel purchases.

Let us know what you decide and how it goes or if we can be of further help.

[Rhine-and-Roses]

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say I DON'T think it's the Wyndham. There is a 5 star for those dates with the golf and tennis (but no suites) The Wyndham usually has golf and tennis listed, and very few other London hotels do.

Both the 4 1/2 and 5 star hotels list pools. So I did a search in Trip Advisor for hotels with pools and was able to eliminate a few hotels based on location. Based on that handy search feature on TA, this appears to be one of these: Marriott Kensington, The Rembrandt, and the KWest Hotel and Spa. I guess it could be a hotel that does not appear on Trip Advisor, but I have yet to find one that wasn't listed.

I'm betting on the KWest, which has a 3.5 rating, 4 stars on Trip Advisor. I just did this search for myself for a possible May trip to London and thought I'd share my findings...

Hotwire has been more and more "generous" with their ratings. By the way, anyone know what amenities a hotel must have to get which rating from Hotwire? (They just lost my business for an upcoming trip because they have no ratings and refuse to divulge Trip Advisor ratings.)

[MrB]

Thanks for the help - I'll take a closer look at these hotels. I was thinking that the 5* (without suites) could be the Jumeirah Lowndes and with suites likely the Wyndham Chelsea Harbour. I have stayed at the Wyndham and it is quite nice but not that convenient to tube. There are also specials at the moment with the Wyndham for GBP135 per night so I don't want to spend close to that or I'd rather book direct instead. The rates on the 4.5 star vary considerably - Friday night is US$104, Saturday US$179 (same amenities, I realize it could be a different hotel though). For the Saturday rate at the Wyndham I could get a 5* Mayfair instead which would be a much better location.

[Rhine-and-Roses]

I looked at the two Jumeirah hotels, too. I finally decided there was not much chance that Hotwire would DOWNGRADE a TripAdvisor rating from 5 to 4 1/2 stars, however, I guess it's possible. The Lowndes doesn't really even have a pool- it is at the other Jumeirah property in the immediate area. However, the Lowndes does have a couple of Priceline reviewers, so maybe it could be! If you take this, please be sure to post since my trip is after yours, so I can benefit.

The Wyndham location is not really as isolated if you take the bus instead of the tube. Since you've been in London several times, you know generally where things are, which makes reading the bus postings easier. I really like that I can see outside on the bus. The hotel concierges all know what bus close to the hotel will get you where. I used to be intimidated by London buses and took taxis or the tube, but now I usually stick to the bus.

Enjoy your trip.

[MrB]

Thanks. I was thinking that the Jumeirah hotel would be the 5* not the 4.5*. I will definitely let the you and rest of board know if I book but this looks unlikely for this location based on current pricing although the US$104 was sure attractive and worth a gamble albeit for the night before I arrive. I have in the past not booked until I actually arrive in London at Heathrow so you never know though - obviously this is not advised by me or anyone else I suspect (although it can be done as I have proven, even with few rebids, as long as you know what you are doing and/or are willing to accept HOTWIRE's prices which are generally good even day of and/or have a corporate rate program to back you up if you fail!).

I have seen indicatons that the closest tube station to the Wyndham was within walking distance and others that this is at least a mile+ away - I don't mind wallking and do so a lot in London so long as it is not pouring rain etc. but need to transition quickly from pleasure to work so would prefer to be closer to a tube station while still recovering from jet lag! The London double deckers though are great fun and I enjoy taking them whereever they may go just for fun.