Help with hotels near Knightsbridge

[wbeem 568]

It would fall right in the middle of the school Easter break so here are the best prices for an adult and a child:

Train from Glasgow to London: £207

Flights Glasgow to London: £212

Hotels: All coming up over £200 per night.

Plus fees for medicals for two plus one MMR booster

Any tips? This is clocking well over £1000 for the privilege of being examined for a visa. Why the *** did we not get married there and AOS?!

[yuna628 9,680]

Holiday Inn, London Oxford Circus perhaps? About a few minutes walk from Knightsbridge. It's budget but cheaper than the others. http://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/london/lonmr/hoteldetail

Would shave off at least 100 quid or so. Unfortunately my guy will have to travel nearly as far as you, hasn't decided if he'll drive or take the train down. Flying is rather bit of a hassle.

There are a few other cheaper hotels if you go out 15 mins up the road toward Belsize park, but you'd have to allow for the traveling time to get down to the embassy. Put the Knightsbridge address into google maps and search around for hotels and they do give a price list..

Agreed the expense is ridiculous and inconsiderate... I guess consider it like a minicavacation. :-p Window-shop and see if you can spy any celebs.

Edited April 2, 2015 by yuna628

[wbeem 568]

You're right. What really ticks me off is that there is a US embassy right here in Edinburgh. But they don't deal with Non Immigrant visas.

It's OK. I've calmed down now. I had a bit of sticker shock there as I had priced this up before at under half what I'm seeing now, but it is really down to the fact that the entire country's schools our out over this period. Apparently everyone decided to go to London! The Easter Bunny there must be loaded!

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look into that. I am at work and should not be looking at hotels right now so I will wait for lunch time.

Edited April 2, 2015 by wbeem

[MacUK 983]

You're right. What really ticks me off is that there is a US embassy right here in Edinburgh. But they don't deal with Non Immigrant visas.

It's OK. I've calmed down now. I had a bit of sticker shock there as I had priced this up before at under half what I'm seeing now, but it is really down to the fact that the entire country's schools our out over this period. Apparently everyone decided to go to London! The Easter Bunny there must be loaded!

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look into that. I am at work and should not be looking at hotels right now so I will wait for lunch time.

With the underground it's not really essential to be close to Knightsbridge except for convenience. Looking a little further afield can drop prices drastically, although you should check there's a tube station nearby.

I'm surprised at the train ticket prices though although being the holibobs maybe it shouldn't be surprising.

I've got train tickets for Glasgow to London in May at £150 return and that's going 1st class!

Also, it gets complicated but if you have any tesco clubcard vouchers they can be doubled in value to be used to buy train tickets through redspottedhanky. It can be a lot of faffing around with opening accounts and whatnot but every penny saved and all that.

Edited April 2, 2015 by MacUK

[wbeem 568]

With the underground it's not really essential to be close to Knightsbridge except for convenience. Looking a little further afield can drop prices drastically, although you should check there's a tube station nearby.

I'm surprised at the train ticket prices though although being the holibobs maybe it shouldn't be surprising.

I've got train tickets for Glasgow to London in May at £150 return and that's going 1st class!

Also, it gets complicated but if you have any tesco clubcard vouchers they can be doubled in value to be used to buy train tickets through redspottedhanky. It can be a lot of faffing around with opening accounts and whatnot but every penny saved and all that.

Thanks. I have not been to London for over 13 years. I am also useless with a map. I could get lost in a paper bag!

The train prices are purely down to the season and the fact I am going on a weekend and coming back on a weekend. They are much lower the following week when most schools go back but we waited nearly 8 months for our NOA2 and I want to get moving so I will pay if necessary.

I priced the tickets up with a railcard and they dropped by about £85 for the two of us. So I spent the £30 and bought a family railcard today at the local station. It saves me more than I spent.

Another question: I have to work until lunch time on the Friday so if we arrive at Euston at 8.45 pm on a Friday night (April 10th) is it safe to take the tube to where we are staying? Or should I be looking for a hotel at Euston and just going through the next day?

Apologies for all the questions. I have zero nerves about the medical now because they are all rattling about getting us lost.

Edit to add: I am flapping less about the hotel prices as I can use my United airmiles with Miles & Money to offset the cost, but I'd like to keep it as low as safely possible. Thank you for your help.

Lee

Edited April 2, 2015 by wbeem

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

See what you think of this hotel http://www.stgeorge-hotel.net

It's on the same street as where we stayed for the interview and seems to be similar...boutique hotel converted from a posh home. It was a nice street. Our hotel is currently undergoing remodeling (Lincoln House).

I see rooms for £134. And it says call for special deals. Exactly what we did and got better prices than published by calling to book and paying in cash. Negotiate! They also held our luggage after we checked out while we went to the embassy and did tourist things the rest of the day.

The hotel is 1.6 miles from Euston. (Google maps) Take a cab if you are worred about after dark. Or take the tube to Baker Street Station and walk .4 miles to hotel.

Medical is .4 miles from hotel. From medical, it is 1.4 miles back to Euston.

I am a Google map freak. Hahahaha.

[-PiLoT- 11]

i went with travelodge marylbone. its about 90 - 130 a night. it can drop lower, for example my medical stay was £98 however i have my interview this monday and it was £59

also use thetrainline.com for the tickets. theyre the same kinda thing for my medical it was like £60 but my interview train was £100.

[wbeem 568]

Thank you, Pilot and Nich-Nick.

I've managed to sort out the train tickets. I bought a Family Rail Card and it dropped the price down by £85 when I added it onto the quote, so that was £30 well spent. We will get Oyster cards for London travel.

For the hotels, I'm looking to see if I can use my United or BA airmiles to pay for or offset part of the cost of a hotel.

This is definitely down to the week that I have chosen, but we are so keen to have this medical sooner than later to get things moving that we will just have to pay what needs to be paid and be done with it.

Pilot, I suspect I will get better prices when I go for the interview as it will be outside of the Easter holidays. Also, it will only be one travel ticket because my daughter does not need to attend.

I will update you all in case any further findings are helpful to others