Hotel LHR Accommodations

I always stay at the Sofitel at Terminal 5.

Stay at the Sofitel LHR at Terminal 5. We always stay there especially for the exceptional dining at Le Belle Époque. Make a dinner reservation in advance. The staff at the hotel give excellent service too.

We prefer the Premier Inn over near terminal 4. Very nice rooms for less than half what you'll pay at the Sofitel.
Getting between terminals is pretty easy - even with luggage - on the Heathrow express underground train which is free. There are helpful folks posted along the route if you get confused, and there's a full description plus terminal maps on the Heathrow Airport website to help you get your bearings.
If taking the train sounds a little too complicated you can take one of the mini-cabs just outside baggage claim for door to door service - costs about 15 pounds as I recall.

can someone walk me through the procedures transiting T3 to T5.

https://www.heathrow.com/at-the-airport/airport-maps/travel-between-terminals

I, too, have stayed at the Premier Inn Terminal 4 in past years. Great rates. However, with Terminal 4 currently closed (due to lower air traffic from COV-19), apparently one can only access the Premier Inn Terminal 4 using taxi or infrequent bus. To me, that removes an advantage of staying there. Therefore, for my late June trip to London in which I will be flying in/out of Terminal 3, I will stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Terminal 2 that (as far as I can tell) is easily accessible from both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.

I agree that you should stay at the Sofitel in Terminal 5. It will be easier the next morning to catch your flight. It's less than a 5 minute walk from the hotel into the main terminal. All indoors.

The American Airlines lounges at Terminal 3 are closed. There is no AA lounge at Terminal 5 however you can use the British Airways lounges.

There are three business class lounges at Terminal 5. A north lounge (always crowded), a south lounge which isn't bad, and a lounge in Satellite building B. If your flight departs from Satellite B or C--which is probably will--you can use the Satellite B lounge. (Just be aware there is no way to get back to the main terminal without being escorted.) I have been in all the lounges.

If you are flying business class, the check in area, if you need it, is towards the south end of the terimal. The hotel is connected to the north end. If you flying first class, there is a separate check in area behind closed doors. There is a separate security lane there that leads right into one of the first class lounges

Wray and Suki, thank you for your Sofitel recommendation. Online booking just now says there are no accommodations available for my dates (May 9-10). Since we arrive later in evening of May 9 at T3, we need room for about 8-9 hours before we will need to arrive at T5 for 8:30am departure on May 10. We always travel with carryon but this leg on BA may require us to check our bag. We are using AA miles but this is a separate ticket from AMS to LHR. Don’t know if BA will honor AA luggage specifications. I have tried to make online reservation with Aerotel Heathrow but am not successful. Is this a short term reservation that cannot be made in advance?

Frank II, thank you as well regarding Sofitel. We are flying AA business class; which lounge will we be directed to use? Also, what hours are the lounges open? I had read that some lounges remain closed due to Covid.

We have Hilton Honors membership. Would Hilton Garden Inn near T5 be a consideration?

There is no Hilton Garden Inn at T5. Use the one between T2 & T3. It's an easy covered walk. There are two Hilton Garden Inns Heathrow. Make sure you get the one that specifically says Terminal 2 & 3.

The following morning you grab the Heathrow express train from the terminal between T2 & T3 to T5. It's free but you must get a transfer ticket prior to boarding.

You will be able to use any of the business class lounges at T5. They open at 5 AM and close at 11 PM. The last time I was there in January, instead of buffet style, you ordered food off the app and it was brought to you. Soft drinks, coffee and the bar were still self serve.

With a business class ticket you can also use Fast Track security. Not like precheck but the lines are usually shorter than the main security area.

Frank II, took your advice and booked Hilton Garden Inn walkable from T2/3. I will continue to monitor Sofitel in the event a vacancy comes available. We begin trip DFW/LHR (AA) Terminal 5 with 6 hour layover, then LHR/MRS (BA), Terminal 5 (I think). Days later MRS to Frankfurt (Lufthansa) and Hanover continuing to AMS with stops in between. Will utilize lounges during LHR layover prior to Marseille (MRS) boarding. Any and all thoughts and advice are so appreciated from the RS veteran forum members.

I stayed at the HGI T2 a couple of years ago. A little difficult to find. My Uber dropped my off on the top level of the parking garage. I had to go down to one of the arrivals levels. Probably the main one that has the baggage carousels. I had to walk through to the back of the parking garage past some car rental parking and some rows of general parking. The entrance to the hotel is back there.

The Hilton Garden Inn T5 is a bit of a misnomer. It’s not actually at T5. It’s one of the off airport hotels that you reach by way of a bus or taxi.

Frank II, looks like our arrival is late evening at T5 and departure early next morning at T5. Is Hilton Garden Inn between T2 and T3 still the best choice given that Sofitel has nothing available for the date needed? I enjoy your posts and your practical advice. I have been a daily reader of this forum even when not planning a trip and always glean useful information for daily life.
Suki, Wray, horsewoofie, Lo, you ladies are so helpful and generous offering your knowledge of travel packing, products, and “been there done that” advice.