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This is a bit of a cheeky ask as I am so envious of you all visiting numerous countries around the world….if only. My partner and I are doing a very infrequent long haul flight to America for a week and I would like to treat him to a night in the Sofitel before flying the next morning. For us it is quite expensive and I am wondering for advice to how to book a room at the very best price possible ? I have looked at various comparison sites but is there a better way ? Thank you for your help which I appreciate.
Hello
I do like the Sofitel but, I have to say, the rooms are pretty dated now. In terms of rates, they used to frequently appear as a top secret type hotel on various sites but they don’t seem to be on these any more as far as I can see.
So in terms of rates, make sure you are an ALL member for a modest discount and when booking, go via a c@shback site as they track very well and you get 10% back (and sometimes 15% and they even once did 20%).
It tends to be more pricey midweek.
If you give your actual dates, some people might have a sniff around for you!
Is there a reason for particularly picking the Sofitel?
Like our amphibian friend above I find it dated as well.
There are plenty of others in easy reach of T5 that may offer better value in more modern rooms.
Some deal ideas discussed the other day
https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/sofitel-lhr-t5-deals/
Agreed, you’re paying for the convenience, although as @Froggee says, you can join for a small discount plus the best price is often flexible. There are plenty of good options off-site which you can easily get to by tube or bus.
What time is your departure the next day?
Thank you all. Sunday night, Sept 8th, for flight the next morning around 10am
For a 1000 flight, the Sofitel is a great choice. You want to check in about 3hrs ahead, so being 5 mins indoor walk from the airport saves having to set the alarm unpleasantly early. Your partner will appreciate it.
Whilst the hotel is hardly at the cutting edge of contemporary design, the rooms are immaculate and comfortable. We always stay there for a morning T5 departure, as it’s by far the best choice.
The obvious price saving hacks have been mentioned. A couple of further hotel tips are that it has the best restaurant in Heathrow, La Belle Epoque, if you want to start your trip with a romantic (albeit not cheap) meal the night before. Also, the hotel offers parking packages to residents at a reasonable price. The underground car park is as convenient as the official short stay facility, and you can keep your keys. It’s a life-saver on the return trip after an overnight flight.
Finally, I’ve never bothered with breakfast in the hotel. Unless you really enjoy big hotel buffets, it’s much cheaper and less stressful to have a coffee in your room, clear security early and eat in the airport.
+1 for La Belle Epoque and the parking. We always eat at La Belle Epoque when we stay as it’s very good food. Certainly much better than the Sofitel at LGW which is a typical airport hotel restaurant.
The car park in my experience to date has always had spaces that are friendly to the paranoid parker. Being able to find a spot in the short stay where at least one side of your car is protected from morons is usually very difficult.
Cocktails in the bar are decent even though the bar itself lacks soul.
I did have breakfast in the hotel once when work was paying and it was OK, but not 5*.
In my opinion it’s an ideal choice for an early morning flight as it’s a complete stress free short walk. I’m staying in August and looked at the best options and it’s booking as a member of Accor live which gives you a discount but make sure you go via TCB to Accor for 10% which will take a few months to come through.
In my opinion it’s an ideal choice for an early morning flight as it’s a complete stress free short walk. I’m staying in August and looked at the best options and it’s booking as a member of Accor live which gives you a discount but make sure you go via TCB to Accor for 10% which will take a few months to come through.
If you don’t want to go the TCB route then an alternative is earn Avios (usually 8 per £ for Sofitel) via the BA eStore.
Does anyone have any recent experience of using the Park, Sleep & Fly package at Sofitel Heathrow T5. In particular do you self park and keep your keys and where is the car park located? Thanks.
Does anyone have any recent experience of using the Park, Sleep & Fly package at Sofitel Heathrow T5. In particular do you self park and keep your keys and where is the car park located? Thanks.
Yes. A quick tip I found by accident on a recent stay – if you park on the lowest parking level in the hotel, -3 I think, and park next to or near to the lift (there are signs for where the lift is around the car park), the lift takes you directly to the bridge link to T5 opposite the Sixt desks. This means you can be on your way quicker on your return as you don’t have to negotiate the escalator down to the hotel reception and fight for a lift with the hotel residents.
It also meant I could go straight from the car park to overnight bag drop in the terminal before checking in to the hotel, and I dropped our small overnight bag off in the car on the way to the terminal in the morning.
Yes you keep your keys. On the lowest level you are also more likely to find a spot next to a pillar or with extra wide space in case you are precious about your car.
Sofitel is expensive but convenient for an early morning T5 flight. Its expensive to eat and drink there too so factor that in as well.
If you’re travelling in the afternoon and or from T3 I would recommend you look at other options. Personally my last 2 or 3 nightstops at LHR have been at the PremierInn at T4. Its a fraction of the price and whilst not as convenient at the Sofitel it’s only really about 30 mins door to door on a cheap (free from me as 60+) bus.
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza at T4 recently, and were really impressed. Got the tube to T5, which was very easy even with a change of platform at T2/T3. Got it for £101, and was definitely well worth it.
HGI at Hatton Cross is even simpler to get to, just get on the Piccadilly line at T5.
Many thanks all, some options to consider!
@Roberto I guess so but if it’s a proper holiday what’s a few more £ there’s also easy access to airside with a few cheaper bites or the underground into Hayes etc if you have more time, some great food to be found.
I stayed at T4 CP recently and honestly unless the flight was post 10-11 I would stick to Sofitel unless you are twilight checking luggage.
From T4 I prefer the Lizzie line as it’s closer to the walkway to the hotel than the tube station.
I’d probably avoid the CP for a really early morning flight but anything after 8 am and I’d stay there rather than the Sofitel
But sometimes the Sofitel is a lot more than a few pounds than any of the T4 hotels.
@Roberto I guess so but if it’s a proper holiday what’s a few more £ there’s also easy access to airside with a few cheaper bites or the underground into Hayes etc if you have more time, some great food to be found.
I stayed at T4 CP recently and honestly unless the flight was post 10-11 I would stick to Sofitel unless you are twilight checking luggage.
I totally agree.. I must have done the 06:45 flight to Malaga 30 times and generally stump up the extra for the sofitel but for a later flight I will vote with my wallet. Its not only the £169 headline rate but the cost of drinks at the bar too that puts the damper of staying there.
It is a lovley hotel but the PI is often £50 a night or so and that’s enough to get me on a bus. My next LH goes at 4pm or something similar, there is no way I could justify £119 extra to save me 30 mins. I would rather spend that in Vegas…
r, there is no way I could justify £119 extra to save me 30 mins
It’s not £119, though, as you haven’t included the 10% ALL discount, the usual 10% TopCashback refund, and the bus fare for two. You also have to factor contingency into any bus journey, and, if you use the Sofitel car park, the time saving is in both directions. I also value my wife’s time as much as mine. Putting it all together, the Sofitel ends up about £20 per person per journey – well worth it in my view if, like me, you have a few hours drive to get home once you get to the car.
r, there is no way I could justify £119 extra to save me 30 mins
It’s not £119, though, as you haven’t included the 10% ALL discount, the usual 10% TopCashback refund, and the bus fare for two. You also have to factor contingency into any bus journey, and, if you use the Sofitel car park, the time saving is in both directions. I also value my wife’s time as much as mine. Putting it all together, the Sofitel ends up about £20 per person per journey – well worth it in my view if, like me, you have a few hours drive to get home once you get to the car.
You’re right but I see it differently. I have a free 60+ plus bus pass so there is no cost other than time.
I generally use T5 to connect so the car park is irrelevant, for me it’s the cost of the night stop. That’s the hotel plus food and drink, and unless I am on a really early flight the next morning I will choose to stay elsewhere.
The £159 v £50 is a deal breaker for me ,for others it’s not – that’s why the sofitel is nearly always full.
Isn’t it great that we all have so many choices that can suit various budgets, time constraints or travelling arrangements. For us it’s convenience that we value so it’s The Sofitel for a T5 departure – we are a couple in our late 50’s and travel for leisure only, we usually travel with 2 sizeable cases plus hand luggage so we prefer not to negotiate public transport if possible (which also introduces an element of jeopardy too). For us the trip starts the moment we close the front door so we make the pre-departure and the airport experiences part of the trip and so try to make them as pleasant as possible.
You can manage down the cost of The Sofitel a bit by buying gift cards on Black Friday – I usually buy a couple of £120 cards for £100 each as they have 5-year validity.
One benefit of starting in the regions is that we can check in the big bags the day before and therefore easily travel to other terminals. I will splash out and book the Sofitel for T5 departures but if departing from T3 as half our flights do these days there’s no point in paying higher prices just for a bed for the night.
I also like that you can get a fully flexible rate at the Sofitel for about £10 more than non-refundable. I think our next booking is about £170 – pre-covid I would have balked at that for an airport hotel but there are much worse MAN hotels charging £150 and upwards these days!
*Just checked out of interest and the member fully flex rate at the very average DT MAN is £141 on our travel date. The HI is £152!
HGI at Hatton Cross is even simpler to get to, just get on the Piccadilly line at T5.
No lifts at Hatton Cross, so if you’re travelling with anything other than hand luggage it’s not great. Made this mistake earlier this year (my own fault, didn’t even think to look at the tube station facilities) and my poor husband had to make many trips up and down stairs with all our luggage (I can’t lift heavy things for medical reasons).
Sorry, I forgot about that, and I did actually notice at the time and mentioned to my OH that it would be a problem with a lot of luggage or mobility issues!
I don’t understand how they get away with not making it accessible in this day and age.
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