View Full Version : Gatwick Hotel.
I am very confused at what i should do next year. We normally travel to Gatwick from Hertfordshire very early in the morning before our flight as we usually fly on a Saturday. Next year however we are travelling on a Thursday , flight at 11 30 am , so i anticipate some M25 delays with traffic travelling to work. I have been pondering the idea of booking a hotel near Gatwick the night before instead . I have booked the car in for meet and greet parking on the day of departure. It seems like a good idea except for a couple of things . If i check the luggage in the night before what do i do to dressing kids and pj's , toothbrushes etc as i assume with twilight check in luggage is taken or do they just check tickets etc ? And how do i find somewhere that will accomodate a family of 5 ? Will i need a family suite or 2 rooms ? Any ideas on what to do and names of hotels if this is the way to go would be appreciated . Thanks in advance . (Sorry if this sounds daft but i have a terrible fear of roadworks and rush hour traffic meaning we miss the flight !!!!!!!!! )
We are off in 27 days or so and we have booked into the Hilton at Gatwick. We fly out on the 31st and stay in the hotel overnight on the 30th to avoid an early morning getting up a silly o'clock! Wea re coming from near Stonehenge in Wiltshire. I booked it through VH and it came with secured parking (15 days)for around £180 I think from memory but I will check. I think that this is a superb idea to avoid the trauma of possible delays - traffic etc. I think you can go onto the VH site and check for hotel accommadation near the airport but if you can't do it that way I will check and see if I can post a link. Also we booked a family room....sure 5 will be ok but just check.
Good luck
Joss
cerigirl
4 Dec 06, 09:59 PM
I have just booked the Holiday Inn for next September, 1 night stay, with 15 days parking £150. We have been quoted £98 just to park, so thought like you and wanted to avoid the stress of waking up at the right time 120 miles away!!!! I can never sleep properly because of this, so spoil the first day of my holiday as I am tired!!! This seemed the sensible option, as it is a 4 star hotel and I am sure they have room for 5 guests. Give them a call, I know it is really close to the airport, so no problems if you do Twilight check in:wavey:
Thanks guys i will look at them . But i need 19 days parking and i haven't seen a hotel that offers that. And what do you do about luggage etc ?
speedwayfan
4 Dec 06, 10:22 PM
Thanks guys i will look at them . But i need 19 days parking and i haven't seen a hotel that offers that. And what do you do about luggage etc ?
You can book a room for 5 at the Hilton with parking for up to 15 days or no parking at all. check the Hilton's website too and compare prices.
You can check all your luggage in at twilight check in and if you have an overnight bag that is too heavy for carry on just check it in the following morning. I know with young children it's hard to travel light but I have managed to do this with 3 children years ago by just carrying spare underwear, one T shirt in case of accidents and throw away toiletries.
SF
I just rang the Hilton Gatwick and they said for 1 night for 5 of us no parking (family room ) is £239 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OMG !
Ok try another one!!! I guess I am going at a less expensive time of the year. But at least you have found out they can do a family room for 5! Also don't think of the cost ....think how much it would cost you if you missed the flight due to traffic beyond your control!
We have 15 days parking but you can book further days a daily rate.
On the VH website there were hundreds of hotels to choose from. We only chose the Hilton because it is in walking distance from airport and we will use the twighlight check in. And this is a once in a life time trip and we want to remember it....never stayed in a Hilton before.
Keep trying there is way round this....keep looking... Good luck
Joss:pgig:
when we stayed there in 2004 we needed 21 days parking, we booke dthe room with 15 days parking then we had to pay the difference when we left the car park, only problem was the guy at the car park must have either liked us or cocked up cause he didnt charge us anything (but then again i didnt remind them neither)
plus its cheaper to book through holidaysextra
Carys,
We stayed at The Clarion Hotel & Leisure centre. It has just been taken over and vastly improved. We had a family room which had a queen bed and a queen sofa bed,our room was all new, never been used.
We had food in the bar and they had a fab pool for the kids to use. We are going to stay there again in June.
As for pj's and stuff we take a small overnight bag and leave it in the car in the morning. Our car was parked in Summer parking and then we got a bus to the terminal,can't fault any of it.
www.clariongatwick.com
Just looked and its saying £99 for a family room with 15 days parking.
speedwayfan
4 Dec 06, 11:14 PM
I just rang the Hilton Gatwick and they said for 1 night for 5 of us no parking (family room ) is £239 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!OMG !
They're probably quoting a fully refundable price. They have a sliding scale of charges depending on how far you book in advance. Although weekdays are more expensive than weekends.
Check ABCHolidays extras, although you may have to ring them for a quote, along with the Hilton website if you haven't already.
A cheap but clean alternative is the Cambridge Hotel which will be around £99 including parking. You can book them through Holiay extras too but I have found them cheaper booking direct.
SF
I have been recommended Staith House Gatwick (if you put that into google you will find it!! They have 3 bedrooms, so you could use 2 of them. Much cheaper than the Hilton. We looked on Google Earth and there seems to be a footpath from the B&B to the airport, so we may walk!! Although their prices do include transfers. They will quote you for as many nights parking as you need (we are having 17) and a very good price!!
HTH
Kate
Just check if parking is at hotel or in a SECURED place. That made a difference to us...didin't just want to leave our car for 15 days in the hotel car park at our own risk!
Carys,
We stayed at The Clarion Hotel & Leisure centre. It has just been taken over and vastly improved. We had a family room which had a queen bed and a queen sofa bed,our room was all new, never been used.
We had food in the bar and they had a fab pool for the kids to use. We are going to stay there again in June.
As for pj's and stuff we take a small overnight bag and leave it in the car in the morning. Our car was parked in Summer parking and then we got a bus to the terminal,can't fault any of it.
www.clariongatwick.com
Just looked and its saying £99 for a family room with 15 days parking.
I like the overnight bag idea didn't think of that ! They can give us a deal of £154 with parking they think ( they haven't got prices beyond March !) They say they are a 20 min bus ride from Gatwick. Think i will take all your advice on board guys and keep shopping around . Have paid my parking already but can get that back bar £5 , but i checked that and i have spent £128 on that and they are now offering it for £97 !!!!!!!!!!! Done ? i think so ! Thanks everyone.
try the arora international at crawley,about 10 minutes from the airport in there own free shuttle bus,parking is underground in there own car park ,not some muddy field lol we stayed there before our hols in november it was a gorgeous hotel.they do family rooms ,which are really 2 rooms joined by connecting doors.in my opinion its by far the best hotel near gatwick ,the hilton is a dump in comparison and the prices they want are a joke.if you want to do twilight check in which i would advise so as to avoid the massive queues in the morning ,why not just take a small bag with the clothes and toiletries you need for the night then just dump them all in the car before you leave for the airport in the shuttle bus,big advantage to having the car onsite at the hotel http://www.arorainternational.com/
freedomathome
5 Dec 06, 10:53 AM
Try www.holidayextras.co.uk We tried several and this company was the cheapest. We have booked the Gatwick Hilton and that includes dinner and half price breakfast. The biggest bonus is that we walk through a covered walkway and we are there!! No worry about traffic, even in the Gatwick area :spin:
fozzie bear
5 Dec 06, 11:29 AM
Another vote for the Arora - fantastic. BA and Emirates crews stay there - nuff said!
Danny
Have you ever stayed at the Hilton? I am going there in Dec and I am not sure I'm too happy that you have described it as a 'dump' ! Obviously I would appreciate your opinion if you have personal experience?
Thanks
Joss
rocialle
5 Dec 06, 04:40 PM
I have stayed at the hilton on a number of occasions and always found it to be very nice indeed, good quality rooms and food however food and drink is somewhat expensive but you expect this given the surroundings.
A large proportion of the rooms have been refurbished and its best feature is being able to walk straight into the terminal in the morning. It is the only hotel connected to the south terminal.
We stayed in the Hilton In October and found it far from being a dump. Our room was lovely family room (very spacious). The breakfast was fabulous and it was so convenient as we were traveling with Virgin and used Twilight Check so we were really relaxed for the start of our holiday.
Thank you Rocialle and Tinker for your personal experiences. I was beginning to worry a little because the very reason we chose it was for the reason you both stated, its proximity to South Terminal. It was meant to start the holiday off in a more relaxed fashion like Carys had originally posted about.
THANKS
Joss (much relieved)
i stayed there twice,but not for 4 yrs so i assume its been refurbished since then,what i actually said,JOSS, is the arora makes the hilton look a dump,as the hotel is only a year or 2 old and very very nice indeed,and has its own car park under the hotel,where as if u take the hilton parking u end up in the summer special car park,not ideal.i also foun dthe hilton had the most uncomfortable hard bed id ever tried to sleep in,the only good point about the hilton is the fact that you can walk directly into the terminal ,apart from that i cant see why anyone pays there ridiculously inflated prices for rooms.i know were a somewhat captive audience wanting to stay near the airport but what the hilton try and charge is ridiculous
ok I get that Danny. It is always a worry when you book a place and have never been there and I expect I was oversensitive to the word 'Dump'. We were quoted over a hundred for parking only so I wasn't that shocked at the price for one night and parking but as I said it is on 30th Dec...but we will have to see when we have actually experienced the place for ourselves. But I do appreciate your opinion.
Can you explain a little more when you said that 'Summer special parking was not ideal' We have a new car that we don't want to leave just anywhere and assumed (because I can't find it anywhere) that Summer special is a secured place?????
Thanks for your help
Joss
I don't know about the car park, because we were driven down. However, they must have changed the beds, because our beds were very comfy. I expected us to have trouble sleeping the night before the holiday due to over excitement, but we were all off as soon as our heads hit the pillows and I did not wake until the woke me. I felt totally refreshed and ready for our holiday.
Carly1234
6 Dec 06, 09:42 PM
Hi
We have just booked the Russ Hill hotes (well I think thats what it is called) not too sure about the hotel or what it is like but we paid £108 for two double rooms and 15 days parking. Its definately the cheapest I saw and I am not too bothered about the hotel. We will only be there for one night.
x
Treacle44
6 Dec 06, 10:39 PM
Danny
Have you ever stayed at the Hilton? I am going there in Dec and I am not sure I'm too happy that you have described it as a 'dump' ! Obviously I would appreciate your opinion if you have personal experience?
Thanks
Joss
WE've stayed there and it's certainly not a dump! It's lovely there.
i had a brand new car too the last time i stayed at the hilton ,the summer special car park is no worse than any of the other secure car parks where you have to leave your car keys and let them park it for you,its just on the other side of the airport from the hotel and you have to get a bus back from the car park to the terminal then walk back to the hotel .for the money the hilton charge you would expect it to have its own onsite car park.sorry to be cynical but i dont really trust some of the people that park your car,im sure the vast majority are professional ,just hear and see some really dodgy things sometimes.all i meant about the arora car park is that its right under the hotel ,so no bus ride back from the car to the hotel ,plus you can leave your overnight bag/s in the car when its just parked downstairs from the room,all much easier.thats my point about the hilton ,they charge absolute top dollar for the rooms, yet apart from being very close to the airport things like parking etc are not very convenient,please dont worry im sure your car will be fine ,and youll get your holiday off to a wonderful start.p dont know how many are in your party or how much you had to pay for the hotel/parking package,but to give you some idea ,the arora international have double rooms with parking for 15 days for £115 on the 30th dec, im assuming the gilton is a lot more,so thats why i was making the comaprissons .
Thank you Danny
it's new and a bit scary! This wouldn't be a valuable board unless everyone contributed good and bad aspects of their experiences. I usually fly from Heathrow on other holidays I have been to (not Disney) and use Park&Fly and it is secured and we have no probs at all. We looked at the Hilton probably just because of it's name and assumed it would have a fairly good reputation. It also offered the chance for secured parking. I think I noticed that although the hotel you mentioned sounds very good and parking really concenient, it suggests parking is at your own risk. Now not having used any hotels near Gatwick we make a descion from a few photos and words like secured as opposed to parking at owners risk...on the internet and then hope for the best!
Yeh it does sound a bit worrying if someone parks your car but I honestly thought you collect a voucher, go to Summer, park your car yourself and then return the keys to them....I will have to do some more checking!
There are four of us in a family room and 15 days parking for £190, I checked last night and you are so right we could get cheaper for the same standard, from what you are saying but hey ho it's booked now. I'll let you know if you were right when we get back!!!
Thanks Danny
Joss
my pleasure joss, summer speical park the car for you ,then you just get a bus back to the terminal ,always puts me off leaving the keys with them to park the car but thats cause im a suspicious old fart i guess lol dont worry the hiltons not a dump by any means,i just prefur the arora its nice and new plus they dont charge like there a 5* lol . youll have a lovely start to your holiday.think its good to get lots of ppls views thats what makes the board good.
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