I remember Best Westerns in the US were often quite quirky, independently run properties... I used to not mind them! This experience has put me off a bit!
Interesting Vlog again Matt. I much prefer an off peak cheaper train with an overnight somewhere... then see which hotel is doing a good deal... The Pheasant Inn does a good pint and generous portions... The stress of a morning flight by catching the milk train or risking the M25 Roulette... No!
Thanks Richard. Another Folkestonian pointed out a 04:42 train which would get you to LHR by 7... Investing the difference in peak to off peak train fares into a night at Heathrow still makes sense to me!
Try the Hilton Garden, a stones throw from Hatton Cross tube station. Each time I've used it, have always found it reasonably priced, really convenient for onward travel to the airport, and in plane heaven with it overlooking both BA engineering and the southern runway. Their popular bar also ensures there's no stale beer 🍺🍺
@@ianworthington2324 It seems that things have changed since I've last stayed there. In my recent searches have noticed their prices have certainly shot up and don't remember being charged for parking there in the past. I'd still favour it over the Ariel, even if it's just so I can reminisce over my days as a BA apprentice whilst overlooking what's left of the engineering base
Love the location of that pillar at 2:50. Been a while since I've had the need to stop at a Heathrow Hotel. Renaissance - good, small rooms. Premier Inn Good, Crowne Plaza - good, Big rooms, Thistle - poor, very dated, Travelodge - OK. I find Best Westerns very variable - some of their high end properties are very nice, but the lower star properties often have owners who are not investing in their properties, or so it seems
That pillar is going to catch you out if you're retrieving your reservation on your phone at that moment... Will continue to work my way around the options - glad this one is behind me though! Unlike that pillar!
Have you been to the Thistle heathrow terminal 5. Cheap and you get to go on the pods ro the hotel. Mind you they charge you aux quid to go through the gate
Useful, thank you. I stayed at the Aerotel in February before a flight to Finland. It was very convenient just walking into the terminal in the morning. But you do pay handsomely for the privilege.
Thanks Nick. Looked like there was a bit of life just north of the hotel. Didn't explore this time as I felt i should check out the hotel for the video but certainly would if I stayed there again!
@@MattsPlanet Cool. If you do decide to go to the Pheasant I'd advise on booking a table if you were wanting to eat. It's used by a lot of cabin crew and gets very busy.
If you must venture out onto the streets in that part of London then surely get a Taxi/Uber Getting buses at that time of night especially in that area is just asking for trouble
Not sure I agree about that part of London at that time of night, but being 6 foot 4 and solidly built I have come to recognise that I don't look at some things the same way as others...
Matt I’ve lived in the London Borough of Hillingdon all my life and kindly take it from me hitting the streets in Hayes at that time of night with visible luggage isn’t a bright thing to do You maybe will be over 6 feet tall but that certainly wouldn’t put of any local vermin looking for easy pickings It would be you against a group of them for sure Back my original point an Uber from Hayes station to the Ariel Hotel would cost peanuts 🥜
Indeed. The crew behind the bar didn't look like they welcomed constructive criticism! A few beers were off so the only other option was a lager... When the Guinness was mis-poured, I thought "how bad could it be???"
The PI at T4 maybe worth a try for a future vid. As well as T4, it works well for both T5 and T3. There are bus stops right outside, both ways, for T5 (482 or 490) or walk to T4 in covered walkways and get the tube to T3. Consistently cheap rooms, and they also have newer 'plus' rooms too.
This was sold as a single room so you'd not expect a ton of space... I thought it would be single occupancy of a normal sized room but ended up with single occupancy of a single room!
Your hotel looked nice Matt in foyer, but the room was very poor even though it was a single room, but if you had a good night sleep that great, pity about the beer.
I actually enjoyed my stay here mind you when I have stayed I only spent £50 a night and I didn't drink in the bar or eat .They let you eat from deliveroo so it's pretty good in that regard . The rooms are small but I don't mind that .
@@MattsPlanet I get the first train out of central at 04.42 change at Ashford onto the first high speed of the day at 05.15, into St Pancras just before 6 and then it’s about an hour on the tube.
@@tarquinmontague637 Thanks so much - I've been clicking back to the 6am train which gets you to LHR at 8 (with a following wind...) Hadn't gone back far enough to uncover the 4:42... That's a pretty brutal start though - I guess you have no trouble getting a seat!!! Really appreciate the reply.
Regarding the LCY babybus - my reasonings behind that flight being binned are a combination of: * Corp travel having fallen off a cliff in favour of Zoom meetings * The flight is only economical at a high load factor of last minute bookings * The ongoing pilot shortage, especially considering the LCY certification required * Brexit, because of course * Increase in operating and maintenance costs of the A318 I do like LCY as an airport. It's all business people so no messing around at security or boarding. Robotrain is the icing on the cake
Can't remember the last time I stayed at a Best Western.... Thanks for reminding me why!🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for the info + video!!!
I remember Best Westerns in the US were often quite quirky, independently run properties... I used to not mind them! This experience has put me off a bit!
That room gives me claustrophobic vibes
I barely noticed when I was asleep!
Interesting Vlog again Matt. I much prefer an off peak cheaper train with an overnight somewhere... then see which hotel is doing a good deal... The Pheasant Inn does a good pint and generous portions...
The stress of a morning flight by catching the milk train or risking the M25 Roulette... No!
Thanks Richard. Another Folkestonian pointed out a 04:42 train which would get you to LHR by 7... Investing the difference in peak to off peak train fares into a night at Heathrow still makes sense to me!
Try the Hilton Garden, a stones throw from Hatton Cross tube station. Each time I've used it, have always found it reasonably priced, really convenient for onward travel to the airport, and in plane heaven with it overlooking both BA engineering and the southern runway. Their popular bar also ensures there's no stale beer 🍺🍺
Thanks - I'll probably work my way around all of them as the channel grows! In the free Heathrow travel zone too now, I believe...
Plus they have parking, so good for an overnight prior to driving to a terminal car park the next morning.
@@MattsPlanet It is, yes.
I always think it's a bit overpriced. Plus they nickel and dime you if you need to park, a practice akin to "resort fees" which I utterly detest.
@@ianworthington2324 It seems that things have changed since I've last stayed there. In my recent searches have noticed their prices have certainly shot up and don't remember being charged for parking there in the past. I'd still favour it over the Ariel, even if it's just so I can reminisce over my days as a BA apprentice whilst overlooking what's left of the engineering base
Looks small but functional, think I’ll stick to the PI. Thanks for the reply about ITA matrix on your HOP video, most helpful 👍🏻
No worries Steve - happy to help. The PI retains a clear lead but I need to try new places to make new videos!
Love the location of that pillar at 2:50. Been a while since I've had the need to stop at a Heathrow Hotel. Renaissance - good, small rooms. Premier Inn Good, Crowne Plaza - good, Big rooms, Thistle - poor, very dated, Travelodge - OK. I find Best Westerns very variable - some of their high end properties are very nice, but the lower star properties often have owners who are not investing in their properties, or so it seems
That pillar is going to catch you out if you're retrieving your reservation on your phone at that moment... Will continue to work my way around the options - glad this one is behind me though! Unlike that pillar!
Have you been to the Thistle heathrow terminal 5. Cheap and you get to go on the pods ro the hotel. Mind you they charge you aux quid to go through the gate
Not done the thistle yet... Both times I've had the chance I've been travelling from T2/3. Never done a pod either - they do look like fun!
Useful, thank you. I stayed at the Aerotel in February before a flight to Finland. It was very convenient just walking into the terminal in the morning. But you do pay handsomely for the privilege.
Thanks Roger. I stayed in the T5 Sofitel a few years back which was super convenient but super expensive...
I use to stay there when it was a Holiday Inn. There's a very nice pub called The Pheasant Inn just 10 minutes walk from the hotel.
Thanks Nick. Looked like there was a bit of life just north of the hotel. Didn't explore this time as I felt i should check out the hotel for the video but certainly would if I stayed there again!
@@MattsPlanet Cool. If you do decide to go to the Pheasant I'd advise on booking a table if you were wanting to eat. It's used by a lot of cabin crew and gets very busy.
If you must venture out onto the streets in that part of London then surely get a Taxi/Uber
Getting buses at that time of night especially in that area is just asking for trouble
Not sure I agree about that part of London at that time of night, but being 6 foot 4 and solidly built I have come to recognise that I don't look at some things the same way as others...
Matt I’ve lived in the London Borough of Hillingdon all my life and kindly take it from me
hitting the streets in Hayes at that time of night with visible luggage isn’t a bright thing to do
You maybe will be over 6 feet tall but that certainly wouldn’t put of any local vermin looking for easy pickings
It would be you against a group of them for sure
Back my original point an Uber from Hayes station to the Ariel Hotel would cost peanuts 🥜
As an Irish man I would have refused to pay for that appalling pint. Thanks for the video. Very informative.
Indeed. The crew behind the bar didn't look like they welcomed constructive criticism! A few beers were off so the only other option was a lager... When the Guinness was mis-poured, I thought "how bad could it be???"
The PI at T4 maybe worth a try for a future vid. As well as T4, it works well for both T5 and T3. There are bus stops right outside, both ways, for T5 (482 or 490) or walk to T4 in covered walkways and get the tube to T3. Consistently cheap rooms, and they also have newer 'plus' rooms too.
Thanks Geoff. About to pull the trigger on an early flight ex T4 so this may happen sooner rather than later!
Helpful video. I think I’d go for somewhere else too!
The executive rooms are likely to be better... More expensive though...
One would think airport hotels would be a little bigger if you have 2 people with luggage.
This was sold as a single room so you'd not expect a ton of space... I thought it would be single occupancy of a normal sized room but ended up with single occupancy of a single room!
Your hotel looked nice Matt in foyer, but the room was very poor even though it was a single room, but if you had a good night sleep that great, pity about the beer.
Good summary Peter! Was a very underwhelming room...
I actually enjoyed my stay here mind you when I have stayed I only spent £50 a night and I didn't drink in the bar or eat .They let you eat from deliveroo so it's pretty good in that regard . The rooms are small but I don't mind that .
Hard to argue with a rate of £50!
You can easily be at LHR by 7am on weekdays from Folkestone on the train, I’ve done it many a time.
What train do you get? Costs a bit too???
@@MattsPlanet I get the first train out of central at 04.42 change at Ashford onto the first high speed of the day at 05.15, into St Pancras just before 6 and then it’s about an hour on the tube.
@@tarquinmontague637 Thanks so much - I've been clicking back to the 6am train which gets you to LHR at 8 (with a following wind...) Hadn't gone back far enough to uncover the 4:42... That's a pretty brutal start though - I guess you have no trouble getting a seat!!! Really appreciate the reply.
@@MattsPlanet Yeah its not a fun start but doable, I find doing that also allows me to get to LCY for around 6am and LGW around 7am.
Why do the environs of British airports always look so grim?
Can't think of many big airports where the environs are delightful!
Regarding the LCY babybus - my reasonings behind that flight being binned are a combination of:
* Corp travel having fallen off a cliff in favour of Zoom meetings
* The flight is only economical at a high load factor of last minute bookings
* The ongoing pilot shortage, especially considering the LCY certification required
* Brexit, because of course
* Increase in operating and maintenance costs of the A318
I do like LCY as an airport. It's all business people so no messing around at security or boarding. Robotrain is the icing on the cake
I think those reasons all contributed! Never did BA1 when it was concorde but happy to have done it as the babybus!
@@MattsPlanet I'm so jealous. The SNN stopover with US CBP must have been so handy. It's the only redeeming feature of SNN these days
I thought you was in Pakistan lol
Not exactly!