Heathrow Gatwick Transfer Taxi London UK

possibly the world's most amazing luxury airline suite

2012-06-12T12:56:00.002-07:00

Unveiled: possibly the world's most amazing luxury airline suite

Singapore Airlines was the first airline to install double beds, so the fact that they are now among the first to offer luxury suites on a commercial jet is par for the course. Leg room is no longer an issue but your bank balance might be - a round trip flight from New York to Singapore costs $15,570 per person.

[Travel From Heathrow - Heathrow Cabs Taxis]

Each suite is equipped with a 23-inch television and comes with sliding doors and self-adjustable roller-blinds. See that chair the lucky so-and-so in the picture is sitting on? That's hand-stitched by a world famous Italian craftsman, Poltrona Frau. [Transport to Heathrow]

The standalone bed is a first for air travel and with the luxury suite you even get a turndown service.

You can take part in a 'Book the Cook' programme, which allows you to pre-select your meals. As an example, you can order Lobster thermidor with buttered asparagus and slow-roasted vine tomatoes. You'll seriously never want to fly economy again.

The bed measures 27 inches by 78 inches, and the duvet and cushions are designed by Givenchy. Heck, there's even a personal coat closet!

[Taxi Service Cabs to Heathrow]

Apart from the linen, the bathroom products are Givenchy. Perfume is provided by Salvatore Ferragamo. Once you've spruced yourself up, there is even a chaise longue in the suite for 'socialising'.

Even if all this is so decadently luxurious it'd satisfy the fussiest oligarch, you can fly with a clear conscience - the Airbus 380 is one of the greenest aircrafts around by burning less fuel and reducing noise pollution.

[Taxi Service Cabs to Heathrow]

Olympics-London hotels 'pricing themselves out of market'

2012-06-08T11:26:00.002-07:00

Bookings at London hotels for the Olympic period are down by around a third on last summer, with travellers being put off by high prices, a British travel agent said on Wednesday, dampening hopes that the Games will help to revive Britain's economy.

Credit ratings agency Moody's said last month that the Olympics would provide only a temporary boost to corporate earnings but said hotels would be a clear beneficiary.

However, past Games have shown evidence of a displacement effect - with regular tourists put off by fears of overcrowding and high prices during an Olympics.

Hotel wholesaler JacTravel is forecasting visitor arrivals to London in July to be more than 35 percent down on 2011, and August to be almost 30 percent down.

JacTravel's chief executive Mario Bodini said that Olympics expectations had been overly optimistic.

"It's a great event; great publicity for the country, but what we need is sensible hotel pricing, and to make sure it goes back to normal very quickly," he told Reuters.

The travel agent said a four-star hotel room in central London is normally priced between 80 pounds and 120 pounds ($120-180) per night during in the peak summer season, but this year the range is 200 pounds to 415 pounds.

JacTravel's customer base includes travel agents, tour operators and online hotel booking engines, and therefore acts a useful barometer for the inbound tourism market.

[Travel from Heathrow, gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City Airport to London by London Airport Transfer Taxi-Cabs]

JUBILEE PEAK?

Hotel prices in London were distorted when local organisers block-booked 40,000 of London's 100,000 rooms for Games athletes, officials, media and sponsors. In January 2012, 20 percent of these were released back onto the market.

"The demand is still there internationally for people to come to the UK," said Mary Rance, chief executive of trade association UK Inbound, which represents tour operators and hotels.

"There's plenty of availability in London, more than enough hotel rooms, but rates have to be commercially viable ... Hotels and tour operators have to work together better to maximise the opportunity and fill those beds."

Rance worries that many visitors to the UK this year may have already come. Britain has just celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the other major event of the summer.

UK Inbound conducted a members' survey last week which found that between May and August 2012 almost half said their tourism bookings were "slightly lower" or "considerably lower" than the year before, (27 per cent and 21 per cent respectively).

Conversely, 52 percent responded that their bookings were either "considerably higher" or "slightly higher" year on year between January and April.

Tour operators' worries about a visitor shortfall contrast with available flight data. Research last week by travel reservations group Amadeus found a 13 percent rise in bookings for flights to London for the Olympic period compared with the same period a year ago.

These figures were based on global air reservations booked through travel agencies, not direct bookings, and do not take into account potential traffic on low-cost carriers.

A significant portion of the travellers who have already booked could be the 11,000 athletes staying in Olympic-village accommodation, and spectators staying in private residences.

UK agents say the spike in air bookings can also be accounted for by Games visitors making unusually early reservations whereas summer holidaymakers wait until nearer the time to book and it is these visitors which the UK hospitality industry fears will fail to turn up in sufficient numbers. ($1=0.6506 British pounds)

Heathrow Airport feeling the heat with 2012 London Olympics rapidly approaching

2012-05-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Andy Rain / EPA file

Passengers are pictured at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5 in March. Reports suggest that the UK's flagship airport may struggle with passenger traffic during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

By Harriet Baskas,

With the London 2012 Summer Games less than three months away, Heathrow, the event's host airport, is already under fire for the Olympic-sized lines that have been greeting arriving passengers in the immigration halls.

Last week, UK Immigration Minister Damian Green told the BBC that while “there is a problem,” improvements were being made. “For the Olympic period, we are guaranteeing that there will be, at peak times, full manning” of border control desks.Customs checks for illegally smuggled drugs and arms have been reduced at UK airports in an effort to combat long lines and wait times, according to a weekend report in The Guardian, citing "senior immigration officers and border force unions."

BAA owns Heathrow and five other airports that serve the UK, but is not responsible for immigration wait times.

[Cabs from Heathrow to London Olympic village]

The 2012 Summer Games just months away, the British fleet squeezed up the Thames Rivers in London in a show of military might. NBC's Stephanie Gosk reports.

Heathrow claims it is the world's busiest airport in terms of international traffic. It served nearly 70 million passengers in 2011 and is currently operating at capacity. It will be the entry point for at least 80 percent of Olympics-bound passengers, and an estimated 59,000 athletes, family members and spectators.

An experienced Border Agency immigration worker says waits of up to three hours have left staff facing public order problems at Heathrow Airport.

[London Heathrow taxi-cabs Chauffeur Services]

Msnbc.com spoke with Colin Matthews and John Holland-Kaye, BAA's chief executive and commercial director, respectively.

Q: When did Heathrow begin planning for Olympic Games traffic and how did you go about it?

A: Colin Matthews: Heathrow’s planning for the London 2012 Games began during the bid process for London about five years ago. Since then the Heathrow team has been in Beijing in 2008 and Vancouver in 2010 to observe the operational challenges created by both Summer and Winter Games. Heathrow also met with the airport operators who successfully delivered Games transport in Athens and Sydney.

Q: The news has been full of stories lately about arriving passengers having to wait for more than two hours in the immigration halls. Is that what visitors will encounter when they arrive for the Olympics?

A: CM: Immigration is controlled by the Home Office [the UK government agency that oversees immigration and passports]. Immigration waiting times during peak periods at Heathrow recently have been unacceptable, but the good news is that the government recently announced it is going to devote more resources in that area.

Q: The airport is really the front door to the city. It’s the first — and last — place visitors will see. What are you doing to insure Heathrow will make a good impression?

A: John Holland-Kaye: Our strategy involves best practices and recommendations from prior host airports, construction of the temporary terminal for Olympic athletes departing from the Games and investment in additional facilities for Paralympians in the existing terminals. We’ve also been working in collaboration with other airport stakeholders and rehearsing and testing our facilities at their capacity.

Slideshow: Venues for 2012 London Olympic Games

Oda / Getty Images

From Wimbledon to Wembley Stadium to The Dome, a look at the venues for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Q: How much is Heathrow spending to make the airport games ready? Where do the funds come from?

A: JHK: Heathrow has invested over £20 million [about $32.4 million] in providing a great experience for athletes and regular passengers during the Games period. These funds are entirely Heathrow’s contribution.

Q: What special amenities, exhibits or temporary services will be in place?

A: JHK: We’ll be dressing up the airport. There will be Olympic-themed art exhibits and each passenger terminal will feature theatre and celebrations to surprise and delight passengers. For example, one walkway is going to look like a swimming pool and you’ll feel as if you’re walking on water. There will places where passengers can take photos standing on podiums, next to images of athletes. And we’ll do things like set up a 100 meter track so kids can race against each other.

Slideshow: London calling

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

From Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square, the venerable old town oozes history and Dickens. [Heathrow taxis Transfer Services]

Q: Everyone loves Olympics-related souvenirs. Will passengers be able to shop for those at the airport?

A: JHK: Yes, there are special souvenir shops set up for Olympics souvenirs. It’s also the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee [marking 60 years of the Queen’s reign], so we’re selling a lot of souvenirs for that. And, royal wedding souvenirs are still very popular.

Q: What are some insider tips about Heathrow you can offer to travelers, Olympics-bound or not?

A: JHK: A few quick ones: There’s an Olympic-themed art exhibit land-side in Terminal 5; there are two family security lanes in each terminal [look for the rainbows] and kids get a sticker when they go through; and at the duty free cosmetic shops in each terminal, you can get a facial or a hand massage for free.

Five ways to cut the cost of your hotel

2012-05-08T13:22:00.004-07:00

By John Fitzsimons

Wherever you're hoping to spend your holiday this year, chances are you'll want to keep the cost of your hotel to a minimum. Let's face it, hotels can end up working out to be pretty pricey, so if you're looking for ways to save money, make sure you follow my five clever tips on how to cut the cost of your hotel...

Travel off-season
It stands to reason that hotel rooms will cost more when everyone is on holiday. After all, there's more demand, and hotels know they can charge more. So why not go a little earlier, or later, than everyone else? A good way to judge this is to go on holiday once the kids have gone back to school. Providing you're not a school teacher and/or you don't have kids, this is a far better way to get a cheaper deal on your hotel room.

Book early - or last minute!
I know this seems contradictory, but trust me, it works. If you can book up a holiday well in advance - I'm talking more than a year here - then you tend to get a much better deal. Equally, if you book very late in the day, perhaps with a day or two to spare, then you can also get your hands on a great priced room.

However, the latter option is very much fraught with danger. While on occasion you will get a great price, it's at least equally likely that most hotels in the area will be fully booked, so you may end up paying way over the odds just to secure a roof over your heads. I prefer the early option every time.

Get discounts
First of all, you should have a look at sites like lastminute.com and Expedia, which tend to get absolutely amazing deals on hotel prices (in fact Expedia even offer a guarantee that if you find the same hotel room cheaper anywhere else, they will refund the difference).

But there are loads of other sites to check out, like Discounthotels.co.uk, hotelclub.net and (particularly if you are off to the States) hoteldiscount.com. It's also well worth reading the travel sections of national newspapers both during the week and at weekends, as they often have a selection of cracking-looking deals. However, be sure to act quickly as they will disappear pretty sharpish!

Take a gamble!
This is my favourite tip, and if you like taking a bit of a step into the unknown, it's definitely for you! Lastminute.com isn't just great for arranging a trip at short notice - it's also an awesome place to get a hotel room at a shockingly low rate. The catch, though, is that you don't know which hotel it is.

An absolute shedload of brilliant hotels - we are talking top of the range here - have signed up to the Top Secret Hotel scheme, offering up to 45% off their nightly rates. You go on, pick which date you want to go, and you'll be given a description of the hotel, as well as its location and rating. But not its name. [Heathrow Gatwick Taxi Transfer London Airport Service]

Only after completing the booking do you get sent the name of the hotel, though in all honesty, once you have the location and description, most of the time it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out which hotel they are referring to. In fact, lastminute.com's sister company, Travelocity, has also started a similar service, though it's quite hidden on the site, so good luck finding the relevant deals!

And if you are just looking for somewhere to stay in London, you might also want to check out Discounted Hotels London, which offers its own secret hotel service.

Go grocery shopping
If you shop at Tesco, or have a Nectar card, then you can trade in your points for some brilliant hotel deals. Build up points on a Tesco Clubcard and you can get money off all sorts of hotel chains, including Hiltons and Marriotts, while you can use Nectar points to get money off deals at Expedia.

So if you shop at Tesco or Sainsbury's, but don't have a loyalty card, you could be missing out on some bargain hotel deals! So there you have it: my top five ways to cut the price of your hotel. I'm sure you all have amazing tips of your own, so be sure to share them via the comments box below.

London: Heathrow to Gatwick

2012-05-02T19:08:00.002-07:00

Transferring between London Heathrow to London Gatwick Airport

Travel by train: There is no direct rail service, to go by rail you must go via central London, train - tube or taxi - then train.

Time to allow by train:
Estimate a total journey time of about 2 hours, minumum for safety, to travel by train. Check if there are planned closures or works before you travel, as maintenance is scheduled for the upcoming 2012 Olympics Games.

From Heathrow, take the Heathrow Express or Heathrow Connect to Paddington Station - then take the Bakerloo Line Underground to Oxford Circus - change trains to the Victoria Line to Victoria Station - from Victoria take the Gatwick Express to Gatwick Airport.

From Gatwick, take the Gatwick Express to Victoria Station in London - then jump on the Victoria Line Underground to Oxford Circus, change train to the Bakerloo Line toPaddington Station. From Paddington take the Heathrow Express to Heathrow Airport.

         - Heathrow to Paddington: 20 minutes(+/-), 1 train every 15minutes. First train is at 5.05am - Last train is at 11:40pm
         - Walk from train to train: 5-10 minutes.
         - Paddinton to Victoria: 20 minutes(+/-), (Check journey planner to see if engineering works are taking place).
         - Walk from train to train: 5-10 minutes.
         - Victoria to Gatwick: 30 minutes(+/-), 1 train every 15minutes. First trainis at 4.30am - Last train is at 12:50am
         - Walk from train to check-in: 5 minutes.
             (Reverse journey is same journey time)

Bear in mind that travelling by train between Gatwick and Heathrow will involve steps and escalators, so if you have baggage or children this might not be practical.

LINKS

- Heathrow Express
- Heathrow Connect
- Gatwick Express
- Underground Journey Planner

There are other slower options by train, but these are not really practical unless you are not in any hurry, or you are planning on staying in London or near the airport for a night. Details of these alternatives are at the bottom of this article for reference.

Transfer by road:
By road London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports are about 40 miles apart. The route is all motorway, but delays can occur. There are two options for travelling by road between Heathrow & Gatwick, Bus/Coach or Taxi/Private Car Hire (minicab).

Time to allow by road:
By Coach: Without traffic congestion the a coach or bus will take around an hour to complete the journey, being speed restricted.

               - Heathrow 1 & 3 to Bus Station: 15 minutes walk.
               - Heathrow 4 to Bus Station:        20 minutes via Heathrow Connect Train.
               - Heathrow 5 Arrival to Bus Stop: 3 minutes (Bus Stop Outside Terminal)
               - Actual Coach Journey:                 1 hour (with no traffic)
               - Coach to Departures:                   3 minutes (Bus Stop outside both terminals)

By Licensed Private Hire Car, Licensed Taxi or Minicab the journey will take about 45 minutes, and more professional airport transfer companies have alternative routes.

                - Arrival Terminal to Car Park:         5 minutes
              - Actual Journey:                              45 minutes
                - Drop off to Departures:                   5 minutes

Very few road trips taken during day time will not experience some level of traffic congestion though. Journeys between 07:00 and 9:00 and 16:30 and 19:00 can take up to 90 minutes by road. Avoid transferring on Monday mornings and Friday and Sunday afternoons when traffic levels are higher if at all possible.

Most airlines suggest a minimum of three hours between scheduled arrival and departure time when travelling between these two airports, but bare in mind this is a minimum and flights do get delayed. Also British passport control lines can be long, especially for non-European passport holders at Heathrow. At both Heathrow and Gatwick it takes on average about 45-75 minutes from landing to clearing customs with luggage.

(Spring 2012 Update) Please note: Customs time has increased significantly at Heathrow since time of writing this, mainly due to reduced numbers of customs officers and increased security for the upcomling Olympics 2012. Terminal Five particulary has been experiencing 2 - 2.5 hour lines in March/April 2012... So give yourself more time than the recommended 3 hours between airports if you can!

If you have a doubt about whether you will make your flight or not, and if you have the time/money, why not consider a hotel nearby your departure airport? Check on Tripadvisor for some airport hotels, some have amazing deals and include a transfer to your terminal when you check out. An overnight stay could save you a missed flight, a bit of stress and perhaps a bit of jet-lag, plus there might be time for a civilized breakfast.

National Express Coach Service
The only direct public transfer link is by road, via National Express coaches, there is no direct rail link. There are around 100 coaches a day between Heathrow and Gatwick taking around an hour if there is no traffic congestion. The coach service is almost a 24x7 operation.
At Gatwick the coaches pick up from each terminal, at Heathrow the coaches start at the bus station between Terminals 1,2 and 3, they do not pick up or set down from each terminal at Heathrow. The coaches visit Terminal 5 at Heathrow on their way between Heathrow and Gatwick. If you are using Terminal 4, you need to catch the free Heathrow Connect train that runs every 15 minutes to the central area where the bus station is. There are luggage trolley friendly underground tunnels between Terminals 1 and 3 and the central bus station. Allow 10 minutes from exiting customs. The ticket office at Heathrow Bus Station can have very long queues at peak times.
National Express coaches allow a maximum of 2 medium size suitcases. Folding bikes, surfboards etc are carried only at the discretion of the driver. Bikes must be packaged like that required by the airlines. No animals except guide dogs.

Licensed Airport Transfer Private Car Services, Pre-booked Taxi Cab's & Private Hire Minicab Companies and Mini Bus Options The fastest route is by pre-booked Licensed Private Hire Company, Pre-booked Taxi or Minibus. Without traffic congestion the fastest transfer can be achieved in around 45 minutes. Look up "London Airport Connections by Private Taxi" - plenty of choice (12million results on Google!), and all credit card bookings are guaranteed and covered by insurance when purchasing by card in the UK, which means if you complain about the vendor, they will investigate your complaint for you. (Debit card companies do not always, so ask your bank before you use a Debit card!) Normal charge for a Licensed Private Hire Transfer between Heathrow and Gatwick should be at about £75 for 4 persons, £105 for 6. Bare in mind additional costs, but you do get what you pay for. Supposed 'Airport Specialists' can be anything from reliable individual drivers, to back street local minicab companies with drivers more used to going to the local supermarket. Checking the company you are thinking of using out first could stop you from being taken for a ride instead of a transfer.

If there are 2-3 passengers or more travelling it is actually cheaper to prebook a private transfer than using the direct National Express bus, and they normally meet you in the airport arrivals to take you directly to your departure terminal.

London Black Taxi cabs do have ranks in front of all the terminals at Heathrow, and will go to Gatwick. Both 5 and 6 seat taxis are available, all take disabled passengers, they have special ramps if needed. Most modern Black Taxis will accept credit cards, but get a price agreed with the driver at the commencement of the journey, and pay only the agreed fare. Black Taxis will take a great deal of luggage.

You will get the best price by booking in advance.
Competition is fierce and advertised headline rates by taxi companies can be misleading.
The most common extras to look for in the small print are:
- surcharges for paying by anything other than cash.
- car parking, which can go up sharply after a small 'free' period.
- 'meet and greet' charges.
- waiting time (remember the average traveller will take 45-60 minutes to clear customs) many companies start charging after 30 minutes - not enough luggage capacity requiring an upgrade or extra car.
- rescheduling your pick up if your flight is delayed or when your flight is cancelled.

Some online companies are 'all-inclusive', others have hidden small print, so check properly before you book!

CHECK YOU HAVE AN ADDRESS BEFORE YOU BOOK - so many websites have no real contact details!

Do you trust a company that uses a mobile/cell telephone as it's contact number?Fixed land-line telephone numbers in London start 020**** or +4420**** from overseas. If you see a number starting 07*** or +447*** it's a mobile telephone!! If it starts 0845*** or +44845**** it a purchase and divert number - not necessarily a problem, but check there's an address before booking. This also applies to number starting 03*** or +4403*** in the UK anywhere.

Hotel - Airport Transfers If you are staying at a hotel nearby a airport, it is best to see if the hotel provides a free or discounted shuttle bus service directly from the airport to the hotel. If they do, this would probably be your best method of travel. If they do not, it is recommended you ask the hotels advice of a good means of travel to their location.
Be WARNED, if a hotel offers to book you a cab, the prices may be overpriced as they include a commission for the hotel. This commission will be passed onto your fare and will be paid by you in full. It is best to compare the prices online at minicab website beforehand.

The cheapest (slow) train route: (not recommended for the faint of heart!)
The cheapest route between Heathrow and Gatwick is not direct.

From Gatwick Airport use the rail link from Gatwick Airport station to East Croydon (takes 15 minutes, frequent service, costs about £5; ask for aSouthern ticket, the other operator charges more).
Just outside East Croydon station is the end of the run for the X26 Metrobus (timetable online at www.metrobus.co.uk ) which takes between one hour and 20 minutes and about two hours to reach Heathrow, at a cost of £2 single and is free for children under age 11. (From Heathrow just do the reverse).

Another more arduous way is to use the London Underground between Heathrow and London Victoria (changing once from the Piccadilly Underground Line at Barons Court to the District Line to Victoria) and taking the bus (or train) between Victoria and Gatwick. This is much slower though and the London Underground can be crowded and there are escalators/steps at Victoria, Children and when coming off a long flight.

The cheapest underground/bus option will commonly take 3.5 hours airport to airport.

Heathrow Taxis transfers service Gatwick transport

America's Best Affordable City Hotels

2012-04-30T13:36:00.001-07:00

Want a luxurious urban getaway at bargain rates? Check in to one of America’s top affordable hotels, chosen by T+L readers.

From April 2012By Katrina Brown Hunt

The Brown is a Kentucky institution: the Georgian Revival–style hotel in Louisville wows guests with marble flooring, ornate ceilings, feather beds—and the Hot Brown, a decadent, open-faced turkey sandwich. Even more impressive, the rates start as low as $129.

This irresistible combination of character and value makes The Brown one of America’s top affordable city hotels, as selected among high-scoring properties in our annual World’s Best reader survey. All these favorite hotels offer room rates between $90 and $250 a night—meaning there’s bound to be a hotel that’s right for you.

That’s especially good news considering that finding a good deal may get a little tougher for travelers in 2012. Business data firm TravelClick predicts that, after a long slump in hotel prices, rates will rise almost 4 percent in 2012, thanks to increased demand as the economy recovers.

At least there’s no need to compromise on quality. The Waldorf Astoria Orlando, for instance, has outposts of celebrated dining venues from the flagship property in New York. Not to mention two pools and a spa with 21 treatment rooms. But at $159 a night, its rate is less than half that in Manhattan—and you get a free shuttle to Disney World. Besides, visiting a city that’s not on the West Coast or in the Northeast practically guarantees that other costs, such as dining and entertainment, will be more affordable, too.

Top affordable hotels like the Waldorf Astoria Orlando also defy the conventional wisdom that you should look to a city’s outlying neighborhoods for a good deal. In Santa Fe, the pueblo-style Inn of Anasazi wins over guests with its tasteful, luxurious décor—handwoven rugs, paintings by acclaimed local artists, kiva-shaped gas fireplaces, and four-poster beds—placed in the heart of the action.

Although plenty of celebrities have been spotted checking into the fashionable Inn of Anasazi, you don’t need to star in a hit movie to be able to afford its nightly rates.

Read on for more top city hotels across America that won’t bust your travel budget.

Taxis to Heathrow Transfer Gatwick Transport Service

—Katrina Brown Hunt

$90: Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa, Las Vegas

This sprawling resort, with 490 rooms and 74 suites, opened in 2002 in Henderson, just a 20-minute drive from the Strip. Locals love the hotel’s eight restaurants, which include the trendy sushi joint Sushi + Saki. The trump card? The pool, which is set on a hillside with views of the Vegas skyline. Doubles from $90.

$129: Brown Hotel,Louisville, KY

Built in 1923, The Brown, in downtown Louisville just three miles from the Kentucky Derby’s Churchill Downs, was a magnet for celebrities through the 1950s. This year, all 293 guest rooms will undergo a renovation. Doubles from $129.

$139: Loews New Orleans Hotel

Located just three blocks from the French Quarter, the 285-room Loews New Orleans Hotel is filled with local photography and neutral-toned furnishings with bright red or blue accents. Downstairs, Café Adelaide serves inventive Creole dishes such as shrimp and roasted tomato grits. Doubles from $139.

Heathrow Chauffeur Private Hire Taxi Cars

$149: Hotel Monaco Chicago

This 191-room boutique hotel is situated in the downtown commercial district, but even with the buttoned-up location, creative touches abound, from in-room goldfish (yes, actually fish) to GM-led Segway hotel tours. Rooms have large bay windows, and suites feature separate living areas and oversize, two-person Jacuzzi bathtubs. Doubles from $149.

$159: Waldorf Astoria Orlando, FL

This mega-size resort is set on 482 acres at the edge of Walt Disney World, near Hollywood Studios and Downtown Disney (suites have balconies overlooking Disney and the tranquil Bonnet Creek nature preserve). Don’t miss the outposts of beloved restaurants from the flagship New York City Waldorf property, including Peacock Alley and the Bull & Bear Steakhouse. Doubles from $159.

Cabs to Heathrow Airport

$169: Arizona Inn, Tucson

Just north of the University of Arizona, the Arizona Inn, set on 14 acres of elaborate gardens, feels like a proper English estate. It’s amost a feat to find your room—on your way you’re likely to bump into teams of gardeners trimming hedges. Order your breakfast by the large pool or sip afternoon tea in the oak-lined library. Doubles from $169.

$169: Wynn Las Vegas

When the Wynn opened, it was the first Las Vegas hotel to incorporate design details from the outdoors: natural light floods the casino floor, and outside, a 140-foot mountain and wall of water separate the hotel from the rest of the Strip. The smallest rooms are a capacious 620 square feet, while the six enormous villas top out at 7,000 square feet. Doubles from $169

Heathrow Gatwick Cabs Transfer Transport Service

$179: Raphael Hotel,Kansas City, MO

This Renaissance Revival–style property overlooks Country Club Plaza, the first outdoor suburban shopping center in the U.S. The 126 rooms and suites are designed in seven different styles, but all reflect the 1920s European origins of the hotel building. In the evenings, the Chaz Restaurant and Lounge hosts local Kansas City musicians. Doubles from $179.

$189: Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City

Grand America Hotel is a Salt Lake City treasure, owned by the resident Earl Holding family, who didn’t shirk any expense when they built the opulent, European-style property. The exterior, for example, is wrapped in slabs of white Bethel granite, while rooms are done up in gold, green, and red fabrics and connect to marble bathrooms. Doubles from $189.

$190: Windsor Court, New Orleans

Following a $22 million restoration, this 324-room hotel, rising above New Orleans’s Central Business district, is bustling again. The Polo Lounge hosts local jazz bands; the elegant Grill Room is packed with patrons dining on American-Creole cuisine. The hotel is also home to an $8 million art collection that includes works by Flemish Baroque painter Anthony van Dyck. Doubles from $190.

$195: Sofitel Lafayette Square,Washington, D.C.

In some way, every Sofitel is a Parisian hotel, and despite its location in downtown Washington, the Lafayette is no exception. Francophone staff click-clack over black marble floors; chic young things lounge in the wine-and-gray halls of Le Bar. To respond to the growing demand of traveling families, the hotel added the ability to connect 12 rooms last year. Doubles from $195.

209: Hotel 1000, Seattle

Personally programmed room sensors, iPod docking stations, a virtual golf driving range: this 120-room hotel is packed with high-tech gadgetry. But it’s not just about the tech touches here. The Pacific Northwest is honored in the design. Glass sculptures and ceramic lamps in earthy tones appear throughout the public spaces. Doubles from $209.

Travel from Gatwick Cabs

$229: Hotel Teatro,Denver

This 110-room hotel is housed in a Renaissance Revival building filled with theater memorabilia, such as a costume worn by Annette Bening in a Denver Center Theatre Company production. All rooms have 12-foot ceilings and oversize bathtubs with Indonesian marble and sandstone finish. Don’t miss one of the hotel’s guided tours through the city. Doubles from $229.

$240: Charleston Place,Charleston, SC

This Georgian-style property, near excellent restaurants and boutiques on King Street, is home to a 3,000-piece handblown Venetian chandelier and 442 elegant rooms furnished with Chippendale-style furnishings and flat-screen TVs. And the service here is unmatched, thanks to the 1-to-2 staff-to-guest ratio. Doubles from $240.

Gatwick taxis Transport

$249: Inn of the Anasazi, A Rosewood Hotel,Santa Fe, NM

This fashionable inn puts a spin on traditional southwestern design: all 58 guest rooms, with sandstone walls and latilla-and-viga ceilings, are contemporary and sleek, with four-poster beds so high that they require special stepping stools. In the evenings, guests head to the clubby Living Room lounge, and the on-site restaurant buzzes with well-heeled Santa Fe culturati. Doubles from $249.

Cheapest Europe destination for Brits

2012-04-25T01:16:00.003-07:00

Bulgaria found to be cheapest European destination

By Hannah Pini

Symbol	Price	Change
SOL.MI	4.01	0.00

^REURUSD	1,276.95	0.00

The cost of taking a break in Bulgaria is the best-value of all the European destinations, a recent Post Office study has found.

Bulgaria is the cheapest European holiday destination for Britons, according to a new survey.

Ten typical holiday items and costs, including a three-course meal out, will cost tourists just £42.79 in Bulgaria almost twice as cheap as Brighton according to Post Office Travel Money’s latest cost index.

Turkey is the second-best bargain country Britons, where costs at the popular resort of Marmaris have fallen by more than 20 per cent since last summer.

However, prices on the Costa del Sol (Milan: SOL.MI - news) in Spain have risen by 35 per cent since 2011, where the same ten luxuries now cost more than £50. In Portugal costs have also increased by 10 per cent, although prices have gone down in most of the 15 destinations surveyed.

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Of the non-eurozone countries, Croatia came in at the most expensive, with the ten items costing £73.65.

The survey also found Britons will have almost 15 per cent more cash to burn on European holidays this summer thanks to soaring sterling rates.

The strength of the British pound compares more favourably against the euro than it did at this time last year. It is also stronger against non-euro currencies, including the Hungarian forint, the Turkish lira and the Polish zloty, making Europe (Chicago Options: ^REURUSD - news) a more affordable holiday destination for British tourists.

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"Resort prices and currency exchange rates are always changing, so it is worth doing some research to check the latest position before booking a holiday,” said Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money.

“It is also worth considering how you plan to spend your holiday cash," he said.

"If you eat out every night, the difference in cost between destinations can be quite marked. For example, eating out for seven nights in either Bulgaria or Portugal will cost less than £175 but over £280 in Spain, France or Malta."

Travel to Gatwick London transport

Virgin Atlantic plane forced down - 15 hurt after emergency landing

2012-04-16T13:34:00.002-07:00

Emergency crews attend to the stationary plane. Picture- Lorna Willson.

A plane has been forced to make an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport, leaving 15 people in hospital.

Passengers suffered a range of injuries, including suspected fractures and cuts, as they escaped Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 using the emergency chutes.

Passenger Tom Aldridge told the BBC: "The people panicking as they were jumping off were throwing themselves out of the plane down the chute and there was a big pile of bodies at the bottom where people were just landing on top of each other and there were quite a few injuries."

And fellow passenger Kirsty Bonwick told radio station LBC: "A lot of people were hurt scraping their arms and legs and elbows and bleeding ... you think you're going to stop at the end of the chute and then get up, but you go flying off of it and you just went across the concrete, which is why everybody cut their arms and legs and were bleeding."

There were reports of a small fire on board as the Florida-bound plane came in to land two hours after it had taken off just before 11am.

The Virgin flight was forced to turn around as it crossed the English Channel. Image- FlightRadar24

Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said the flight, carrying 301 adults and three children, was not far out of London when the technical alarms went off on the flight deck. He said the captain made the decision to turn the aircraft around and fly back to Gatwick. He added: "We carried out an emergency evacuation, which was the right thing to do."

Dr Jane Pateman, South East Coast Ambulance Service medical director, said: "A total of 15 patients were transferred to hospital, 14 of which went to two major trauma centres, at St George's Hospital and Royal Sussex County Hospital, suffering from suspected fractures."

Flights in and out of Gatwick were suspended from the time of the emergency landing until around 2pm, with a number of incoming flights diverted - some to Stansted Airport in Essex.

Virgin Atlantic said that most of the passengers were intending to fly to Orlando on Tuesday: "We are working closely with the authorities to establish the cause of this incident. The safety and welfare of our crew and passengers is our top priority." [Travel to Gatwick Transfer Heathrow Taxi]

Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard Branson said on Twitter: "Very sorry to all passengers on board VS27. The staff @virginatlantic are doing everything they can to look after everybody. More info soon."

Read and rest at the finest hotel libraries

2012-04-14T12:20:00.000-07:00

By Jennifer Paull

Courtesy of Gladstone's Library

Gladstone's Library at St. Deiniol's, Hawarden, Wales, is a hotel inside a library. British Prime Minister William Gladstone founded the residential library in 1889 as a sleepover haven for bibliophiles.

Books have long been essential traveling companions — perfect for pulling out on airplanes, perusing during solo meals or sparking conversations (remember how Jesse met Céline in "Before Sunrise"?). Libraries, too, have traditionally been welcome retreats for those abroad; travelers can learn about a new culture through its literature, or find comfort in the familiar pages of a favorite novel.

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For these hoteliers, a carefully curated in-house library speaks volumes (no pun intended) about their property’s character. Some, like the Taj Falaknuma Palace, in Hyderabad, India, embody the timeless bibliophile’s fantasy of ceiling-high shelves, leather-bound tomes and cozy armchairs. Other properties put a distinctly modern spin on the library experience: For example, The Library resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, where the slick, white-on-white reading room evokes a poolside gallery space. And some hotels have been teaming up with art-book publishers to offer brand-specific reading material — like the Trump SoHo in New York City, where the library is stocked exclusively with Taschen monographs and art anthologies.These days, as travelers turn increasingly to e-readers and tablets, the allure of libraries might seem to be fading — but luckily, some hoteliers are preserving, and even revitalizing, the tradition of linking travelers with books. And they’re doing so right in their own hotels.

Some hoteliers need guidance in selecting what should go on their library shelves — which is where companies such as the Oxford-based Ultimate Library come in. By helping to create bespoke library collections especially for hotels and resorts, says Ultimate Library’s chairman, Philip Blackwell, his company “enhances the guest experience with books to educate, inspire and entertain.

“Someone once said that ‘a hotel should be a home from home but better,’” Blackwell continues. “Books are a vital component in creating this homeyness. Carefully chosen, they create a sense of place.”