Hotel at Gatwick

[mrsminniemouse]

We were hoping to spend the night at a Gatwick hotel the night before our flight. We are flying with First Choice, who I think, fly from North Terminal- is that right?

We were hoping to stay at the Sofitel (was Meridien) in North Terminal but I just called FHR (the company who give Frequent Virgin discount on hotels and parking) and they told me that they cannot book a parking package with the Sofitel.

She offered me the Gatwick Hilton for £143 with 15 days parking. I am a bit worried about being in the wrong terminal. I will be 20 weeks pg, we will have DD 2.5 with us, will it be a hassle to leave the hotel in south terminal and get to north terminal with our luggage etc? Also on the way home, will it be hard to get to the car park? The lady said it will be Summer Special parking (in February?) which would be near North Terminal anyway. DH did not want to arrive home at North Terminal then have to get the train thingy to south terminal to get the bus to the car park.

To make it more complicated, Tesco have just added Hilton to their Deals scheme so I could use my Clubcard vouchers to stay free at Hilton possibly.

Totally confused! Any ideas?

Thanks
Mandy

 

[gilld]

It's 2mins from one terminal to the other so although the Sofitel is nicer, if it makes more economic sense to you and it's more convenient with the parking, then I don't think it will be a problem.

We stayed at the Sofitel (Le Meridian) last September before our VA flight from the South Terminal - I think we took our luggage on the shuttle on a trolley.

The other option is to do what we do - don't drive at all - we get a chauffer driven car as DH doesn't feel it's safe to drive home after an overnight, transatlantic flight. That way they meet you at arrivals, wheel your luggage to the car and you're off. There's very little difference in the cost between parking and the hire car.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks Gill. I like the sound of the hire car! Do you get that to take you to the airport the night before and stay in the hotel or on the day of the flight?

We want to stay at the airport the night before the flight to save last minute pressure on the day. With dd we always end up being delayed getting out the door so we would rather deal with the last minute packing, locking up, getting out od the house etc etc, the night before rather than a few hours before the flight.

Mandy

 

[gilld]

We've done both in the past. But like you, we now like to go the day before - we live about 90 mins away so because I'm a completely neurotic type , who's convinced we'll break down or be held up enroute, we now stay overnight. It just makes the day of travel so much less stressful, and on the ride home after the return flight, we both take a nap!!!

From here - Swindon - we pay about £150 return - but take away the cost of parking and it really doesn't cost much at all.

 

[Miffy2003]

I agree with Gill Mandy - it really is no trouble at all to get from one terminal to the other with the regular monorail

I always find it quite fun, though that's a bit sad to admit

 

[gbrchill]

The Hilton no longer has a swimming pool.

We stayed at the Sofitel in October (booked through ABC Holiday Extras) and got there early enough to do twilight check in with VS and then go to the hotel and relax in the pool for a while before going back to the south terminal for something to eat. The following morning we dropped our remaining bag at the VS baggage desk and went airside.

We decided to get a one way hire car to the airport and taxi home. I was able to get a good deal on the hire car, using my corporate Hertz #1 Gold and company rate.

If you can do the Hilton for next to nothing then it's a no brainer. If you have to spend money and there's not much in it then I'd go for the Sofitel.

Getting from one terminal to the other is easy, as is getting from either hotel into the terminal.

Chris.

 

[jockey]

Try the BA website. The cheapest price I could get for Le Meridien in 2004 was 120 pounds room only however managed to get the hotel for 85 pounds via the BA website and this included breakfast!!!! You can then negotiate the parking with the hotel!

You don't have to be travelling BA to book!

 

[jtlover]

I booked the Sofitel hotel with holidayextras for £149 with 8 days parking. This is for February 6th. Also you can get breakfast for half price.

 

[mark&sue]

I have booked Sofitel for 15 nights parking with ABC holiday extras for October. They have charged me £199 per triple room (I booked two). I think I was quoted the same with FHM. We are flying BA and they too do night before check in.

I have been disappointed with Hilton in the past and was recommended the change on this board. I thought it was a bit prices but really wanted to stay there.

I hope you make the right decision for you.


Susan

 

[Amyrlin]

It 2003 I mananged to get the the L'Merdian for £50 oin priceline. It was quite safe as at the time it was the only 4* in the area. Shame we can't do that now.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Hi! OP here.

I cannot use my Tesco Clubcard vouchers to book the Gatwick Hilton so that makes that decision for us!

The Sofitel in the North Terminal with 15 nights parking is what we need. Holiday Extras quote £175 which is fine but I am having trouble booking it through their website. DD is 2 and needs a cot but I cannot specify that online. They have no triple rooms available just double. Double with a cot is what I want. There is no phone number on the website for Holiday Extras and I cannot find one for Gatwick Sofitel either.

Any ideas?

Mandy

 

[widget]

Hopefully its: 01293 567070 (Sofitel Hotel Gatwick Airport)

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks widget for that phone number! The hotel quote £209 plus VAT!

The Holiday Extras online quote is much cheaper. The lady at the Sofitel said I can book a double room online with Holiday Extras and request a cot by phoning the hotel direct.

Thanks everyone!

Mandy

 

[wilma-bride]

Hi! OP here.

I cannot use my Tesco Clubcard vouchers to book the Gatwick Hilton so that makes that decision for us!

Out of interest, why could you not book with your Clubcard vouchers?

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Out of interest, why could you not book with your Clubcard vouchers?

They would take the Clubcard vouchers for the hotel only and they wanted £166.85 for that (more than I had been quoted for hotel and parking) They said parking would be £16 a night but cannot use vouchers for this. So we decided to just pay cash for the Sofitel which we prefer and it is in the correct terminal for our flight. I just booked it through Holiday Extras.

I used my Clubcard vouchers for a trip to DLP last New Year- no problems. But now everything I try to book with them I am told is not part of the Tesco deal. We have a Tesco credit card and have accumulated lots and lots of vouchers hoping to splurge on a trip to concierge level at Disneyland Hotel at DLP. Now I am pregnant and due in July so it will be hard to fit that in before I am too far gone to travel. (Off to WDW at end of Feb) Some of the vouchers expire in May so I tried to use them to book a weekend away for my parents 40th wedding anniversary. EVERYTHING I ask about is not part of the deal. If I wasn't pregnant an early summer trip to Spain or somewhere with Cosmos would be fine but we are very limited timewise now.

Guess I will blow some of the near expiry vouchers on Planet Hollywood or a day out somewhere.......Unless I can book DLP for summer 07 when baby is 1???

Mandy

 

[wilma-bride]

Some of the vouchers expire in May

I could be wrong but I thought if you changed them for Deals tokens, they didn't expire. I seem to remember reading that Tesco will renew the vouchers if you are saving them for some reason. Might be worth a try.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

I could be wrong but I thought if you changed them for Deals tokens, they didn't expire. I seem to remember reading that Tesco will renew the vouchers if you are saving them for some reason. Might be worth a try.

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Your post prompted me to get out all my vouchers and list their values and check the expiry dates. I called Tesco Clubcard to check the expiry issue. For a start they had about £20 of vouchers listed that I dont have (lost them??? Did not receive them???) which were issued ages ago, the vouchers last 2 years but these would be out of date now. The guy said he will just add them to my current invoice. Regarding expiry, he said if they expire unused just call Tesco Clubcard and they will re-issue them on the next mailing with new dates! Great news!

Now I have the equivalent of £1500 to spend on a holiday or whatever. Think I will keep saving them until this autumn/winter then use them to book a DLP trip for next summer. Anyone know the best summer months to visit DLP to avoid crowds?

Thanks for your post that prompted me to call. Don't need to waste some vouchers now to avoid them expiring!

Mandy

 

[Miffy2003]

Mandy there are a host of experts on DLP over at the DLP forum - I know one of them will be able to help with this question for you

Great news on the vouchers!