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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.
Top tip @Man_of_Kent – I’d just add for those that haven’t done it before that cashing in the vouchers can take a while in my experience, so best not to leave it to the last minute when checking out, particularly if you’ve not left much margin for error in passing through T5 security etc!
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.
Top tip @Man_of_Kent – I’d just add for those that haven’t done it before that cashing in the vouchers can take a while in my experience, so best not to leave it to the last minute when checking out, particularly if you’ve not left much margin for error in passing through T5 security etc!
Thanks. Agreed, I last used a voucher at the LGW Sofitel and knew it was a faff so got them to deal wit it when we checked in – it seems the system they need to check to make sure the voucher is valid doesn’t talk to the system they use to process the payment on – some newer members of reception staff also aren’t always familiar with how to deal with the vouchers.
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.
As pointed out to me by a rather grumpy member of TFL staff when I asked where the lifts were at South Kensington station a few months ago “…some of this stuff is Victorian mate so what do you expect…”.
Adding step free access is one of those easy things to say but at many stations just impossible to do due to location of platforms and access points.
Even with massive works like Lizzie Line there are still limited options to improve access when connecting to other parts of the network.
They would have liked to install more lifts at Farringdon for example but just not possible due to location of the network rail and tube platforms.
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.
Top tip @Man_of_Kent – I’d just add for those that haven’t done it before that cashing in the vouchers can take a while in my experience, so best not to leave it to the last minute when checking out, particularly if you’ve not left much margin for error in passing through T5 security etc!
Thanks. Agreed, I last used a voucher at the LGW Sofitel and knew it was a faff so got them to deal wit it when we checked in – it seems the system they need to check to make sure the voucher is valid doesn’t talk to the system they use to process the payment on – some newer members of reception staff also aren’t always familiar with how to deal with the vouchers.
On my last two stays at the Sofitel LHR T5, at check-in I told the receptionist that I will be using Accor gift cards to pay for the room. Handing over the gift cards at that time. The receptionist handed the gift cards to the back desk staff to process. Informing me they would take care of it and I didn’t need to wait. When I checked out the full value of the gift cards had already been applied to bill. Doing it that way added minimal time to check-in and check-out experience.
We recently had a 7:45 departure and as prices were so high we chose the HIX T5 with a parking deal. Hotel was ok, nothing special but nothing particularly bad either. Loads of parking spaces in open air, so no pillars, and never had any car withing two spaces of ours. The trip to terminal is with taxi, £22. We were lucky as BA changed our terminal last minute and so taxi took us to T3 within about 15 mins, which would have been longer if we had stayed at the Sofitel.
Last night we actually did stay at the Sofitel because of 6:15 departure (well, it was meant to be, we are still on stand…). Haven’t been here since doing arrival COVID test a few years back.
The queue at check in were the same as I remember from then – half an hour wait. We then found out that although hotels.com (it had a super special deal on) had selected a king supreme room for 2 adults and a child, which we had prepaid, on arrival we were told it costs another £35 for an extra bed. They said if we are fine to all sleep in one bed (with a seven year old???) then they would waive the fee. When challenged why a prepaid booking wouldn’t include all costs, was told it’s obvious from the room description. Want to try and claim this via hotel.com but wondering if anyone else has experienced similar?
@elguiri – this sucks but I think it is one to write off to experience. It is fairly clear on the Sofitel website even specifying the £35 charge under the King room description.
It is buried away in the Hotels.com description as “Rollaway/extra beds (surcharge)”.
And yes many families seem willing to share a bed with their child. I am traumatised at the prospect of sharing a room with mine.
It brings back memories of a stay in a Las Vegas hotel where the room description on their own website said there was a kettle but there was not. Rather than let me have one, they checked Expedia’s description of the hotel first (I had booked via Expedia) and as a kettle was not mentioned they refused to provide a kettle without charge!
The queue at check in were the same as I remember from then – half an hour wait.
That’s not great.personally, I’ve never had to queue for more than 10 minutes in many visits over the past few years.
I would drop a polite note to the hotel manager to let them know. When I did that to the manager of the Athens airport Sofitel, I had an incredible response (won’t bore you with the details), so some managers take this kind of issue seriously.
Staying here again this weekend just to get away and chill.
Probably sounds mental to most (not flying anywhere and it’s just me) but I love the atmosphere of the place and I need to spend a few quid to maintain platinum for next year.
Been offered the following and wondering if anybody who’s eaten there can say whether it’s worth it…
La Belle Époque
£180 dinner for one: 3 courses Anniversary Degustation Menu with a bottle of Bollinger/Veuve Clicot, a complimentary upgrade to a Prestige Suite and 2 drink vouchers upon arrival including spirits and wines.
£160 dinner for one: 3 courses of your choice with a bottle of Lanson, a complimentary upgrade to a Junior Suite, 2 drink vouchers upon arrival including spirits and wines.Vivre
£120 dinner for one: 3-courses of your choice with a bottle of house white/red house wine or prosecco, a complimentary upgrade to a Luxury Room.
£100 dinner for one: 2-courses of your choice with unlimited soft drinks only and a complimentary upgrade to a Luxury Room.I’m not sure that I could manage a bottle of bubbly, two drinks vouchers plus my Platinum welcome drink without needing to call an ambulance!
Alcoholism aside, La Belle Epoque is probably the best restaurant in Heathrow. My many visits have always been first rate, with excellent food and exemplary service. The atmosphere is quiet and sophisticated, so it may not be for you if you like lively and bustling. My wife always feels that the holiday has started when we sit down for dinner there.
Vivre, not so much. It’s an ordinary hotel restaurant with ordinary food and ordinary service. It’s OK if you’re hungry, but it’s not a special occasion.
Agreed Vivre is a typical hotel restaurant. La Belle Epoque has always been excellent. It used to do a longer tasting menu which was good enough for it to be considered a destination, but the 3 course menu is still great. Personally, I’d order a couple of wines by the glass if alone.
The different room types are interesting. The prestige suite is huge and a proper suite and should come with club lounge access which would allow you more alcohol and then breakfast to recover.
No idea what a junior suite is unless it is what they can a family room.
The luxury rooms have complementary minibars with varying contents from not-refilled to something you might like. Club lounge upgrade is “optional” whatever that means.
I’d either be paying £180 and asking them not to open the champagne so I can take it away or probably not bother with the upgrades. If you do go for the luxury room ones see if they will include club lounge access.
Thanks guys. Nice to hear about La Belle Epoque.
I’m Platinum so have always received lounge access and free upgrade to a luxury room in the past.
But with these new emails – I’m wondering if they’ve changed their policy.I’m there for two nights, so could conceivably spread the alcoholism out a little!
The prices for two people were significantly better value. As always.
So is £180 good value?I normally just get food in the bar as there’s a tiny chance of interesting conversation with a stranger…
The hotel website doesn’t publish prices but a May 2024 review suggests they’ve gone up a lot since I went a year ago – £100 per head for food. So if you want the wine, £180 would be about right for the restaurant. Still feels like a lot mind and I thought they had a price for three courses. I’d email the hotel for a current menu with prices.
The hotel website doesn’t publish prices but a May 2024 review suggests they’ve gone up a lot since I went a year ago – £100 per head for food. So if you want the wine, £180 would be about right for the restaurant. Still feels like a lot mind and I thought they had a price for three courses. I’d email the hotel for a current menu with prices.
Excellent point.
I actually just rang them and they tell me the offer is “from the hotel” not from Accor. And therefore doesn’t count towards my status points.
So I’m leaving it.
Maybe I’ll just try the restaurant
…the [b]parking[/b]….
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…The parking is convenient, but the cost is not. However, we stayed the night before flying home to Melbourne, drove up to check in and dump our stuff, and were then going to meet my sister in Windsor a few hours later, so needed to keep the rental car – they gave me a drop off ticket, so no charge, for the few hour stay (took the car back to Hertz straight after, to avoid the need to do it in the morning), which I thought was great service.
The bloke who greeted us at the door and loaded our bags onto a cart was really friendly and polite/helpful, the lady at check in was a bit reluctant to check my OH in (we were about an hour pre-check in time) until I appeared from parking the car and she realised I was Platinum (I’m sure she could have found that anyway, I certainly didn’t mention it, but OH & I have different surnames so 🤷♂️). That said, they have allowed us to check in super early before (I hate morning landings from Australia, but sometimes it is what it is).
All in all, as others have said, it’s not perfect and could do with an update, but it’s comfortable and I usually get upgraded to a room with a free minibar at least, which are a decent size, plus it has a lounge (which I didn’t use this time, but have before), which itself is useful to have for a drink/snack if you don’t want heaps.
We were flying out of T2 and I still picked Sofi, go with what you know and all that (plus £160 wasn’t bad considering I booked the night before).
Parking costs depend upon your benchmark. A taxi to LHR costs me 400 quid return so I typically book short stay unless it’s over about 250-300 quid. Sofitel is competitive with short stay because it’s as convenient, so if we have an early flight I always pick it.
I would personally rather burn a hundred quid than spent up to an hour faffing around with long stay parking, but I know from recommendations here that some people prefer the money and will take a bus from some bloke’s driveway.
Speaking of T2, is the Hilton Garden Inn any good then? It’s not a brand I’d usually associate with comfort. Very close to short stay and the terminal though.
I’m with you on using the Short Stay car parks. HGI is perfectly fine for a pre-departure night and easily walkable to both Terminals 2 and 3.
It has a nice rooftop bar that serves small-plate dishes with great views of the airport and the London skyline.
Yep HGI is totally fine. It seems somewhat formulaic to me in that it’s just a bland hotel that happens to be attached to an airport.
I will be staying there with family before an early doors Virgin flight in October and I didn’t even consider booking anywhere else because of the convenience.
All else being equal, I would much prefer the Sofitel but they aren’t equal.
Location, location, location!
Having said that, the prices at the Aerotel at T3 seem nuts, they won’t guarantee connecting rooms, and the vibe I get from the website is one of guests being an inconvenience so it isn’t all about location…
Parking costs depend upon your benchmark. A taxi to LHR costs me 400 quid return so I typically book short stay unless it’s over about 250-300 quid. Sofitel is competitive with short stay because it’s as convenient, so if we have an early flight I always pick it.
I would personally rather burn a hundred quid than spent up to an hour faffing around with long stay parking, but I know from recommendations here that some people prefer the money and will take a bus from some bloke’s driveway.
Speaking of T2, is the Hilton Garden Inn any good then? It’s not a brand I’d usually associate with comfort. Very close to short stay and the terminal though.
True, but it’s different with your own car – I don’t live in the UK, so it’s always rentals – paying to park a car I’ve paid to rent seems wrong, so I end up with multiple rentals (when I am that way I usually leave and return several times)…admittedly getting to and from the rentals at LHR is a nightmare, so maybe it would be easier to just keep it and park.
That HGI I haven’t stayed at, but I did at HGI Hatton Cross many years ago, it was more than comfortable for the night before a flight. I forget which of the many Holiday Inn/Holiday Inn Expresses it was, HIX T5 I think, was absolutely horrible. HI M4 J4 was always nice enough though. Neither are all that convenient though, just cheaper options that’ll do the job.
Hi, looking at booking Sofitel for a flight at 10am next day. Breakfast opens at 5:30am. Is it worth booking with breakfast as the lounges at T5 (including BA) are poor?
Also they seem to offer fixed days for park, stay and fly packages. Can we email the hotel to add 2 more days of parking to the package?
@BBbetter – I cannot help with your parking query other than to say that the hotel has always been very responsive to my email queries.
I don’t rate the Sofitel breakfast particularly highly. Having said that, I generally pre-pay for it because (i) they let my kids eat for free so it is a better value proposition (ii) it results in a more normal flow to the get up and have breakfast thing and I do not wish to break Freddo’s flow if I can avoid it.
When we have not had breakfast, we tend to get a bit of fruit and brioche from M&S and call that breakfast.
If it was just me I wouldn’t have breakfast until the lounge. In my view, breakfast is by far the least bad offering in the BA lounges. I have never been in the pay lounges in T5 so dunno about them.
Hi, looking at booking Sofitel for a flight at 10am next day. Breakfast opens at 5:30am. Is it worth booking with breakfast as the lounges at T5 (including BA) are poor?
Also they seem to offer fixed days for park, stay and fly packages. Can we email the hotel to add 2 more days of parking to the package?
I agree that I would wait for lounge breakfast and I often book a parking package and add extra days at check-in.
However, be aware that the extra parking days are now charged at £40 per night.Its also a great Lounge alternative, I drop my bag/ checkin walk in t5 then when ready go and get on the plane – dont need BA lounges !
Several times I’ve extended my parking by a few days on check-in. IIRC, last time I was charged £12 per day, but I note @Peeps comment above and may be more careful next time.
With a 1000 flight, I wouldn’t take breakfast in the hotel; I don’t really relax mentally until I’m through security, so the lounge would be a better option for me. If I didn’t like the lounge food, I’d wait for the flight and eat then, as a short fast is good for the body and eating at c1130 isn’t a thing to do.
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