Caledonian Sleeper opens a lounge at Euston station

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• Jetset Boyz says:

  2 Nov2 November 06:48

  James Villas accounts for around 1% of their parent company’s (Awaze) total supply.

  Awaze businesses over the last few years have moved to a common platform, selling holiday homes that they manage exclusively on behalf of owners. James Villas properties could be booked via other providers, so given the setup and small portfolio they took the decision to focus “on future growth of its core portfolio”.

• Tim says:

  2 Nov2 November 07:22

  So Caledonian sleeper has a lounge with showers at Euston which is only available to travellers who arrive in London in Club or Double compartments which have en suite showers.

  • rotundo says:

    2 Nov2 November 09:28

    True but depending on where the train comes from, it can arrive in Euston at an ungodly hour – I’d much rather get a bit more sleep and have a leisurely breakfast + shower in the lounge!

    (Aside, I really appreciate the train news on HfP, keep’em coming!)

  • flyforfun says:

    2 Nov2 November 09:49

    I’ve had a shower on a train, on the Canadian. I was only on board for 1 night and had to use shared facilities that the carriage had access to. It was quite an interesting experience trying to shower as the train went round bends, slowed down and up again!!

    I could have waited as my other half did to get to the hotel to shower as it was a tad easier not being in motion! But it was fun to do! Now to somehow score F on Emirates to tick shower in the sky off my list! 😀

    • zapato1060 says:

      2 Nov2 November 13:09

      I did it on Thai train from Hat Yai to Bangkok. Pressure was ok. It’s pretty straight line so no issues with bends. Great experience with door in between cars fully opened. Yes fully open. As long as you grip on tight and not a duffus it’s a beautiful experience. Restaurant car was excellent too.

    • @mkcol says:

      3 Nov3 November 16:57

      I did The Canadian the full way from Toronto to Vancouver last year – not an issue showering at all using the communal shower at the end of the corridor. Plenty of room, pressure was fine & the temp could be scalding if you wanted. Only had to wait once while it was in use by another guest.

      It took 2 days to figure out to sleep on my back to get a better quality sleep.

  • daveinitalia says:

    2 Nov2 November 10:08

    Someone on Twitter asked if shower vouchers were still available to purchase on-board for people who don’t have access to the lounge. They confirmed these were still available. I don’t know if these get you into the lounge showers or are there ones in the station

  • Joe says:

    2 Nov2 November 10:26

    The showers on the train are pathetic. You would be better off standing underneath a dripping tap.

    • Steve says:

      2 Nov2 November 11:08

      That’s going to be some size of tap to be effective…!

    • Ryan says:

      2 Nov2 November 12:05

      Correct. Pressure is almost non existent.

      The Caledonian Sleeper is a product that seriously over promises and under delivers.

      Marketed on this mystical idea of waking up in the wilderness with deer roaming around close to the train. In reality, probably won’t have slept a wink anyway.

      • john says:

        2 Nov2 November 13:00

        I rode the sleeper for the first time this year; fully agree with the difficulty sleeping. Yet somehow still enjoyed it.

      • Joe says:

        3 Nov3 November 08:45

        I did it two years ago to Fort William. We were pulled off the train at Edinburgh due to damage to the track on the West Highland line and put in a coach for the rest of the journey (same on the return too)!
        We actually arrived around the same time as we would have done on the train but the journey was less than enjoyable to say the least. And yes, didn’t sleep a wink on the way up, a reasonable amount on the way back.
        Was glad we did it overall though, was quite interesting and the big bonus was that we got a full refund!

• Ryan says:

  2 Nov2 November 07:42

  James Villas had what’s known in the trade as ‘guarantees’ which were villas that were paid for in advance of the season starting, which in turn, meant they more or less had to be sold each week, or else they made a loss on an empty property if it wasn’t.

  The model for other Awaze brands, such as Hoseasons, Cottages.Com is more aligned with AirBnB insofar as they manage the selling of pariculksr properties but have no financial commitment to the property being rented out. In other words, if it’s not sold, it makes no odds

  • pauldb says:

    2 Nov2 November 14:45

    Which probably explains why the unit is ceasing trading, rather than running off. If it’s a subsidiary without cross-commitments, they are walking away from their property-owner guarantees.

• Kraut says:

  2 Nov2 November 09:16

  I’m glad I checked the Offers section on the app before spending £306 at Enterprise last week!

• EwanG says:

  2 Nov2 November 09:29

  If going to either Four Seasons in Megève, you also have many options to use the Amex Plat £150 dining credit, from inexpensive (by Megève standards) to Michelin starred options…..

• Peter W-G says:

  2 Nov2 November 09:38

  The CS Lounge sounds better than the grudging admittance to the lacklustre main Euston lounge.

  • Rob says:

    2 Nov2 November 09:44

    That Euston lounge has always been a mess and I don’t understand why someone hasn’t put some money into sorting it out. Although, of course, there are limits as to how nice you can make anything at Euston.

    • Steven says:

      4 Nov4 November 18:43

      That’s why they keep knocking bits of the station down. I did use the Sleeper a lot in the past (and I slept perfectly fine) but the prices are no longer good value IMO. I’d rather take a late train to Glasgow, arrive around midnight and then sleep in a hotel.

• Paul says:

  2 Nov2 November 09:50

  James Villa Holiday – A name that send shivers down my spine. Simply the worst experience of my holiday life! A washing machine with no door, dangerous electrics, every curtain torn or stained and an array of other issues. Months of grief to get our money back. It was almost 20 years ago but never used again. I had no idea they were still around

• JeanVal says:

  2 Nov2 November 14:19

  Does the Four Seasons offer require to complete a stay by 31 December 2023, or to pay for a stay by 31 December 2023 (for example, by booking for 2024 but prepaying the reservation in 2023)?

  Thank you!

  • Rob says:

    2 Nov2 November 14:43

    If you can get the hotel to take your money in advance then you’re fine (as long as a prepayment is taken by the hotel and not taken by Head Office – we know Hyatt, IHG, Hilton and Marriott are OK, not sure about FS).

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