We are arriving LHR @ 20:10 from Budapest. The next day we have a 14:45 flight back to the U.S. So the thought is to stay at or near the airport if we should be checking in about Noon (or is that too early?).
So, the question: What is the recommended option for staying at/near LHR. As we'll have a long travel day, I'm OK paying a bit more, if need be, for a good nights sleep.
Thank you for your time and reply,
Mike
I think it depends on the terminals you will be using. I fly in and out of terminal 5 and I always stay at the Sofitel as it is luxurious for me and so convenient. I arrive at Heathrow at a similar time as you will be and I never make a flight out until at least late morning so I can relax and sleep in. Check out at the Sofitel isn't until 11:00 AM either so it should work nicely for you. I love their room service; however, I understand they have a great restaurant as well.
I've stayed at the Radisson Blu Heathrow 3 times as the ending hotel of Road Scholar tours. The Hoppa bus is convenient for getting to the airport in the AMs. However, if I were arranging it myself I would probably stay at one of the ones in the terminal as above if it were convenient for my airline.
I think you definitely need to be checking out before noon. For a flight back to the US I would want to be IN the terminal area pre-immigration/security at least 3 hours before my flight. That place is so busy.
We're doing something similar next summer. We're arriving at terminal 4 I believe and departing the next day from Terminal 3 (both on BA). I have us booked at the Sofitel for the night. It seemed like the easiest and nicest alternative. I believe it was just over 200 usd for the night.
I stayed at the newish Premier Inn at Terminal 4 in mid-September. It's not fancy, but it's clean and not cramped. There's an enclosed but not fully temperature controlled walk of perhaps 10 minutes from T4. The rate was incredible--under 50 GBP single. The microscopic Yotel was over 100 GBP at the time.
We stayed at the Heathrow Sheraton, which had a great price and there is a shuttle to all terminals.
Stayed at the Premier Inn T4 in November for an early morning flight out of the same terminal. Paid £29.50. Have booked it again for a trip out in mid January - cost £30.50. (Solo traveller.)
Love PIs. As someone says above there is a longish enclosed walkway, but the price and convenience can't be beat.
As stated earlier, it depends on which terminals you'll be using.
I've also stayed at the Sofitel a few times when I either had late arriving or very early departing flights. Very comfortable and quiet.
If you don't want to order room service, or eat in one of their restaurants, just before going through the door from the terminal to the lifts (elevators) to the hotel is a Marks & Spencer Food Hall with sandwiches, salads, snacks, etc. I believe it is open 24 hours.
I like to say that my favourite LHR hotel is... the Hilton Paddington:-). The Heathrow Express makes it so easy and fast to travel there from LHR, I wouldn't even consider staying at an airport hotel.
