Give me any event in the US, and I can book a hotel around it. I know my chains, I know my B&B’s and I know what Inns to avoid and which ones to run-quick-like-a-bunny to book way ahead. I can book last minute, a year ahead, or with 3 weeks to spare. It’s not difficult and I have lots of confidence when I book a hotel here.
I figured I’d go online this morning, find something quick and book it. We just want to make sure we have a hotel, and after hearing about the football game happening that same weekend, (someone said it was the same as our Super Bowl) I figured I’d best get on it and get it done. 20-30 minutes tops and I’d have it booked and I’d be on with the rest of my day. After all, I’ve been there once before… In the UK, however, it’s not quite as easy to book a hotel. Twin beds?? Really? No bathroom “en suite”? Neighborhoods, tube stations, breakfast or no breakfast…and never mind the cancellation policies, internet rates and god forbid I decide to look at reviews. *sigh* Did you know that showers in London don’t have full doors that go across the entire shower (if it’s a tub/shower combo)?? I do seem to remember that from my last visit….it’s going to be an adventure!
In any case, I spent the whole day pouring over websites, draining my laptop battery and forgetting to eat lunch in a desperate attempt to find a decent hotel in London that didn’t cost more than my hospital stay to have my 3rd child. It’s very similar to New York City in that respect, although even in NYC I have more confidence with what I’m looking at online! I did end up booking a really nice hotel in the Kensington/Hyde Park area – and I’m crossing my fingers that it’s going to be nice enough to house Amanda and I for 4 nights. Let’s hope.
Tomorrow will bring another day….good luck to those of you battling the latest snowmageddon out there. I’m in sunny, although not really “warm” California. We’re about to face some really damaging winds here – and for us, that’s about as exciting as our weather gets!
-R
My best advice: Go on TripAdvisor.com. Go to the London forums and ask the locals – they have never steered me wrong. They know all of the little boutique hotels, as well as the chains, and will be able to tell you exactly how to get from your hotel to the O2 Arena.