Gatwick hotels?

[suzycute]

DD (wishspirit) and I are planning our September trip and since we have an early morning flight on a Friday, we might travel the night before and stay over night at Gatwick Airport. We are travelling by train and therefore need a hotel on site. Sofitel looks good (although their website was less than helpful) - are there any other recommendations? I'm very keen on a runway view - how do we guarantee this? Many thanks!

 

[Twilight Terror]

The Hilton is another favourite choice of hotels on this board, and also our personal fav too. Every time we've gone to Gatwick, we've always gone by train. Last year we stayed at the Hilton, and are booked in again for this year. It's about a 5-10min walk from the train platform, but it's all undercover - you don't go outside at any point.

Then, in the morning (if you haven't done twilight check-in), there are trolleys available in the foyer, and then it's straight into the airport via the covered walkway, again, not having to go outside at all! Rooms are brilliant, and you can request a view, but I don't think they have runway views, but I could be wrong. Despite being next to the terminals, it's very, very quiet inside! Can't hear anything.

And room service at 2am is also very good ;-)

Plus, if you have a Quidco account, you can get cashback. And a member of HiltonHonours, you can also gain VA airmiles by spending on rooms at the Hilton!

 

[wilma-bride]

As far as I'm aware, the Hilton doesn't have 'runway views' but it's worth mentioning, especially since you're travelling by train and won't need car parking, that you can book the Hilton using Tesco Clubcard vouchers, if you collect Tesco points. It is not too bad - works out about £30 in Deals per room, a bargain really!

Never stayed at the Sofitel so can't comment on that but it seems to get good reviews from those who have stayed there

 

[Becx N Gav]

We have stayed at the Hilton and it was vry nice, so conveient!

I want to try Yotel as well http://www.yotel.com/ it looks fun but I'm guessing could be a little noisy

Not long to go - see you in September

 

[jen_uk]

We stayed at the Sofitel last year and it was lovely, we asked for a runway view and got it so in the morning we had a cup of tea watching the planes land and trying to guess our plane. Its a really nice hotel, we are staying there again next week.

 

[Claire L]

It has been mentioned that the shuttle is closed from September for refurbishment so choose the terminal you fly from for an easier journey in the morning.

BTW Nathan is possibly staying at the Hilton for a week in late September for work purposes! So he is sure to give the lowdown but it is after you go

Claire

 

[Neoshoegal]

We stayed at the Yotel, no chance of a runway view and it is advisable to bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper (I needed earplugs, DH didn't). It's a really fun place to stay at though and I wouldn't hesitate staying there again.
We stayed in a Premium cabin, it is so well designed that it actually feel surprisingly spacious.

Lots of suitcases fit under the bed (bed slides from sofa position to proper bed with the touch of a button)

View from the bed

Bathroom

 

[pepples22]

I have stay in both the Hilton and Sofitel.

The Hilton, my family has always stayed in since 1989, I was only 9 at my first stay and thought it was a really nice hotel. Probably have stayed there over 20 times.

Last trip to Florida was December last year, we could not get the Hilton, so my husband and I booked into the Sofitel. I was completely impressed with this hotel, the service at the front desk was speedy, we got upgraded to the exective level of the hotel which was on the 8th floor. We could not see the planes but we could see the monorail that runs between south and north terminal, and all the cars coming and going. We did the booking of hotel and parking through FHR and the car was parked in the Sofitel grounds, the Hilton's car park is over in north terminal about 5-10 minute drive away at Summer Special.

I found when getting my car back instead of being packed onto a busy bus like the Summer Special car park, we got the monorail over to north terminal walked through the hotel and the car was moved to the closest car park ready for me to pick it up.

My vote always now is the Sofitel, we are flying out in May 2010 and I have convience a party of six people to share my view.

I will try and post some pictures of the room later from my home computer.

I always believe in staying a hotel before flying, last December we got stuck in 4 hours of traffic as they closed M23, if we were catching a flight we would not have made it. Plus it adds an extra day onto your holiday!

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have a standard room at the yotel booked (its only for me so standard will do) I stayed at the one at Heathrow on 30th December on my way back from Moscow as I didn't think I would be in time for the last train home. It was good but they had run out of food for the room service had to buy some from the starbucks.

 

[suzycute]

Thanks for all your great advice!

I would love to stay at the Yotel (pictures look great - thanks Neoshoegal) but Wishspirit says she thinks she would find it claustrophobic .

I hadn't realised that the monorail was being refurbished (thanks Claire) so that made our choice easier. As we're flying from the North Terminal, we have booked a room at the Sofitel (and requested a runway view!).

Roll on September