Cheap hotels in London?

[Rayray23k]

What's the best way to find a cheap hotel to stay for the night in East London (tower hamlet's to canary wharf) or South Waterloo/Vauxhall? Book way in advance?
I'm going to need to stay 1 weekend per month (2 nights) in London but I'm a tight fit and don't really want to pay over £100 per night and it's an opportunity to try some outcalls so Hostels is a no no.

Holiday in or Travelodge? Do you get it cheaper as a member?
Or air bnb?

[Rapha]

Google

[scutty brown]

dunno if its still true but Earls Court used to be full of cheap hotels

[A Decent Fist]

Put your preferred location and dates into Booking.com. Nearly every hotel is on there.

Lots of options below £100 depending on how far in advance you're booking. But you need to assess the privacy situation for hosting outcalls.

[petermisc]

London hotel rates seem to be going through the roof this summer.  And of course Saturday nights are the most expensive of all.  My usual hotel is now regularly charging £150+ a night for Saturdays, and that is in zone 3!

My recommendation price-wise would be to stay somewhere outside the centre, but with a quick tube or rail journey in, such as Wembley, Croydon, Stratford.  You can easily halve the hotel cost.  But that may make getting an outcall difficult.

Travelodge is the cheapest of the chain hotels, so no member discount.  Good booking engine that allows you to easily scroll through and see prices for other dates, without having to redo the search for each date (like you have to with Premier Inn for example).  They also have probably the most extensive coverage of the capital of all the chains.  So their site is a good way of getting an indication of the minimum you are likely to be paying on a range of dates in a chosen area.

Like most chains, the "headline" price is the non-refundable rate - you will pay more for a flexible rate.  How much more varies widely between the chains, but Travelodge also don't seem to whack the price up as significantly for a flexible/cancellable rate as some other chains do.

Having seemed to sign the praises of Travodge, I am not sure that I would recommend them for outcalls.  For example, all their hotels seem to have keycard entry, which would mean you would have to collect your girl from outside the hotel entrance, in full view of the throng of smokers.

[Foxtail17]

London hotel rates seem to be going through the roof this summer.  And of course Saturday nights are the most expensive of all.  My usual hotel is now regularly charging £150+ a night for Saturdays, and that is in zone 3!

My recommendation price-wise would be to stay somewhere outside the centre, but with a quick tube or rail journey in, such as Wembley, Croydon, Stratford.  You can easily halve the hotel cost.  But that may make getting an outcall difficult.

Travelodge is the cheapest of the chain hotels, so no member discount.  Good booking engine that allows you to easily scroll through and see prices for other dates, without having to redo the search for each date (like you have to with Premier Inn for example).  They also have probably the most extensive coverage of the capital of all the chains.  So their site is a good way of getting an indication of the minimum you are likely to be paying on a range of dates in a chosen area.

Like most chains, the "headline" price is the non-refundable rate - you will pay more for a flexible rate.  How much more varies widely between the chains, but Travelodge also don't seem to whack the price up as significantly for a flexible/cancellable rate as some other chains do.

Having seemed to sign the praises of Travodge, I am not sure that I would recommend them for outcalls.  For example, all their hotels seem to have keycard entry, which would mean you would have to collect your girl from outside the hotel entrance, in full view of the throng of smokers.

Good advice.

I come into London from East Anglia so Stratford is a place I use a lot for outcalls, excellent transport connects for London, Essex and Herts, and a good range of hotels. Wembley I have stayed in the past and RB I found worked best for me there.

I use the TLs around London quite a bit, often booking for events up to 9 months in advance (I have just booked for January 2023 and got a 3 night mid-week stay for £130) and although all are carded I have never had a problem meeting an escort. Sometimes it is outside, lobby or in the bar area.

Try to avoid the big event dates if you can. I have just moved a reunion weekend for 2023 as it clashed with the London Marathon weekend and IF you could get a hotel they were astronomically expensive (PI central London £675 for 3 nights!!)

[Rayray23k]

Google

Google sucks with Hotel search because the prices are not accurate and often even when you change filter to 1 adult it quotes for 2 adults and your still have to go to the actual websites to faff about to get proper prices.

Thanks Fist and Peter. That's great advice.

[latecomer]

I never need to stay in a hotel in London so can't advise on prices but elsewhere Premier Inn is always a solid choice.  In terms of quality it will certainly beat Travelodge and may even be cheaper too.  Hope you find something suitable.

[Rayray23k]

I never need to stay in a hotel in London so can't advise on prices but elsewhere Premier Inn is always a solid choice.  In terms of quality it will certainly beat Travelodge and may even be cheaper too.  Hope you find something suitable.

Yes I think it's going to be the two. Ive registered for them both and will take advantage of their promotios.
I found Beckton to be cheapest at around £75 - £85 per night for the weekend and it's not too far into central from there.

[petermisc]

Unless you want the extra luxury, Premier are rarely competitive with TL.  Particularly for flexible bookings, where Premier really load the rates.

Accor is a brand worth considering, particularly their budget Ibis brands, and they offer members and early-booking discounts.  Again, their calendar function allows you to easily scroll through dates to see the prices.  They used to have a members sale each week to offload unsold rooms for the following week, and I got some incredible deals, but unfortunately they stopped it.  I can remember the receptionist at one Novotel saying that even staff couldn't get that rate!

One thing to watch out for is that many hotels seem to base their pricing on anticipated demand.  If bookings don't come in at the rate expected, the price will drop.  Pricing these days is very dynamic, and the rate for staying on a particular day can vary dramatically, up and down, from day to day.  If you see a bargain, grab it there and then.  I have a suspicion that prices also vary depending on the time of day you look, rising during the working day when businesses are booking, and falling in the evening.

[PumpDump]

Check my reply here https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=344457.msg3568699#msg3568699

[Rayray23k]

Check my reply here https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=344457.msg3568699#msg3568699

Thanks but I don't know what you mean by dayuse on Google map? You mean search during the day? Is there a filter option for daytime use? Or book 1 day at a time? Eg book a sat and sun separately?

[Lou2019]

Just Google dayuse it’s really not that complicated 

[PumpDump]

Thanks but I don't know what you mean by dayuse on Google map? You mean search during the day? Is there a filter option for daytime use? Or book 1 day at a time? Eg book a sat and sun separately?

I meant you will find cheaper hotels on Google maps than on dayuse.com

[PumpDump]

Just Google dayuse it’s really not that complicated 

You missed the point completely

[Lou2019]

You missed the point completely

Wrong thread oops was meant to be on the other hotel one my bad

[Rayray23k]

Just Google dayuse it’s really not that complicated 

That's not what he meant

[Rayray23k]

I meant you will find cheaper hotels on Google maps than on dayuse.com

Gotcha. But like I said with Google maps it's often misleading as it shows prices for 2ppl even if you set it to 1.
But thanks anyway

[Lou2019]

That's not what he meant

What did he mean then  I posted on the wrong thread like I said

[Malvolio]

Advance booking is definitely the way forward - you can get Premier Inn rooms for a weekend in London at £75 a night if you're prepared to take the non-refundable option.

[Rayray23k]

Advance booking is definitely the way forward - you can get Premier Inn rooms for a weekend in London at £75 a night if you're prepared to take the non-refundable option.

Are you sure? I've never been able to get it that low. Maybe per person as a group of 2 but not for 1 person.

[petermisc]

Are you sure? I've never been able to get it that low. Maybe per person as a group of 2 but not for 1 person.

I think it depends on how far out you count as London, and how far in advance.  I would be surprised if you could find anything near that for a Friday or Saturday anywhere in Central London this summer. 

The advice to book in advance applies to all chains.  However, I tend to book a flexible rate if booking far in advance, as you never know what is going to change.  It also means that you can rebook at a cheaper rate if the price falls, which they may well do unless you have got an absolute steal.  I have done this many times.  Even if the rate stays the same, and you just rebook to the non-refundable rate closer to the day, at least you have hedged your bets.

Incidentally, most if not all of the big chains such as TL, Ibis, Premier, etc charge per room, not per person.  Their standard rooms are all doubles/twins.  Except for rates that include breakfast, the price is the same for two people as one.  In which case, I always book for two people, as it means there can be no argument about a second person coming to your room, and sometimes you may even get two member gifts/freebies!

[petermisc]

Gotcha. But like I said with Google maps it's often misleading as it shows prices for 2ppl even if you set it to 1.

I agree that the prices Google present are very misleading, and often nothing like that is available when you try and book, if a room is available at all!  I have found this when booking stays of more than one night  - it is bad enough that Google shows a "per night" price, but sometimes it is the price of the first night, sometimes the average price, and so on.  I think it all depends on how different hotels present their pricing structure.

[Malvolio]

Are you sure? I've never been able to get it that low. Maybe per person as a group of 2 but not for 1 person.

External Link/Members Only

£150.50 for Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July in the City.  Avoid school holidays if you want to get this sort of price.

[sparkus]

I found some way out east (Gants Hill and thereabouts) for like 60/70 quid, right next to Central Line.  Travelodge.

[sparkus]

I also notice that tourists visiting use some quite grotty ones in Bayswater, never asked about the price but these places are seriously shabby.

[petermisc]

I also notice that tourists visiting use some quite grotty ones in Bayswater, never asked about the price but these places are seriously shabby.

Agreed, there are some seriously poor hotels in London.  People get suckered in by the rates and misleading advertising. You can waste a lot of time on the likes of TripAdvisor weeding them out.  Which is why, after a couple of bad experiences, I tend to stick with the chains.  Generally, you get what you pay for.  If a hotel is charging below market rate, and has rooms available, there will be a reason.

[Foxtail17]

It may be worth noting that PI appears to change its prices around Midday if they are going to do it. I was looking to book something for an event next February, £96 at 7am this morning, just got it for £58.
Not the first time I have managed this by checking after 12 noon.

With PI and TL it is also worth checking, especially in Greater London, if an alternative close by is cheaper. Liverpool Street/Aldegate/Tower Hill area for TL has served me well in the past.

[The_Don]

I found Beckton to be cheapest at around £75 - £85 per night for the weekend and it's not too far into central from there.

Hyde park to Beckton is around 1 hour via public transport.


By car (depending on time of day), it around 1 hour as well.  This states a lot about speed of traffic in London (as its a about  10-12 miles depending on routes).

[petermisc]

External Link/Members Only

£150.50 for Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July in the City.  Avoid school holidays if you want to get this sort of price.

Your link is just for the one night [&NIGHTS=1] Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 July.  £212.50 for Saturday and Sunday. 

Agreed that this is a very competitive rate, but this is not for a "normal" Premier Inn, but for one of their cut-price "Hub" hotels - VERY small room (not much bigger than the bed - not for nothing do they highlight the under-bed storage!).  I found it quite claustrophobic, and would not have wanted to bring an outcall there.  I think they must have been inspired by the Japanese "pod" hotels.  At one time, they were attempting to distance the two brands, by having a separate web-site for the Hubs, as they are very different to "normal" Premier Inns.

[petermisc]

It may be worth noting that PI appears to change its prices around Midday if they are going to do it. I was looking to book something for an event next February, £96 at 7am this morning, just got it for £58.
Not the first time I have managed this by checking after 12 noon.

With PI and TL it is also worth checking, especially in Greater London, if an alternative close by is cheaper. Liverpool Street/Aldegate/Tower Hill area for TL has served me well in the past.

Thanks for that noon-time tip.  As I have said, pricing can be very dynamic, not just upwards.

Where there are a number of TLs relatively close together, you will often find that you can get a cheaper rate in ones that don't have a restaurant (and therefore only offer a continental breakfast).  However, I do like the TL cooked breakfast...

[sparkus]

Hyde park to Beckton is around 1 hour via public transport.


By car (depending on time of day), it around 1 hour as well.  This states a lot about speed of traffic in London (as its a about  10-12 miles depending on routes).

Didn't need in the end as we just fucked in a park hehe but a POF meet did say most of her previous meets ended up in cheap hotels in Beckton.

[sparkus]

Agreed, there are some seriously poor hotels in London.  People get suckered in by the rates and misleading advertising. You can waste a lot of time on the likes of TripAdvisor weeding them out.  Which is why, after a couple of bad experiences, I tend to stick with the chains.  Generally, you get what you pay for.  If a hotel is charging below market rate, and has rooms available, there will be a reason.

One in Bayswater was seriously dodgy, which isn't great when you're going back with someone you only just met two hours before.

The City Hotel next to Bethnal Green station used to be cheap but again some dodgy guests and not discreet if you're a local.

[The_Don]

we just fucked in a park hehe

Can't be reviewed  then  

https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=252680.0

17 Dogging / Swinging / Webcamming / Phone Chat / Porn
Not Allowed.

[Foxtail17]

Your link is just for the one night [&NIGHTS=1] Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 July.  £212.50 for Saturday and Sunday. 

Agreed that this is a very competitive rate, but this is not for a "normal" Premier Inn, but for one of their cut-price "Hub" hotels - VERY small room (not much bigger than the bed - not for nothing do they highlight the under-bed storage!).  I found it quite claustrophobic, and would not have wanted to bring an outcall there.  I think they must have been inspired by the Japanese "pod" hotels.  At one time, they were attempting to distance the two brands, by having a separate web-site for the Hubs, as they are very different to "normal" Premier Inns.

A good call. I have only had the ‘pleasure’ of a PI Hub once. Never again. The app that was supposed to open the door, control the heating and lighting and aircon would not connect, and the heating would not work. I was only using it for about 10 hours between journeys but still not good. I would not dream about using them, or Easyhotels, for a punt.

[sparkus]

Can't be reviewed  then  

https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=252680.0

Sadly not.  Massive chebs, no arse and best remembered for the theatrics rather than the penetration.