Page 287 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - London

WHERE T O ST A Y  285

single room – so don’t accept hotel is able to re­let the
anything substandard. accommodation. Insurance
Tipping is expected in the cover is advised.
more expensive hotels, but Online booking is the easiest
there is no need to tip staff other way to book hotels, with the
than porters, except perhaps a best prices often only avail­
helpful concierge for arranging able via the internet. Many
theatre tickets or phoning hotels have their own online
for taxis. advance purchase rate
while internet travel sites,
holiday retailers and hotel
Facilities
wholesalers such as Expedia
Room sizes in London hotels (www.expedia.co.uk) and
tend to be on the small side Travel Republic (www.travel
whatever the price range, but republic.co.uk) quote good
the majority of hotels provide rates, particularly if you book a
telephones, televisions and hotel and flight together.
private baths or showers in all The visitlondon.com web­ Impeccably stylish interior at
their rooms. At the top end of site has an excellent guide to Hotel 41 (see p290)
the scale, hotels compete to finding accommodation in Disabled Travellers
offer the very latest sound and London, from self­catered apart­
video systems, computer equip­ ments and budget hostels to Information about wheelchair
ment and high­tech gadgetry. luxury hotels. To make a access is based largely on
Most hotel rooms come booking by phone, call 020 hotels’ own assessments, so
equipped with Wi­Fi. 3564 5657. The British Hotel disabled travellers should
Reservation Centre in Victoria always confirm when booking
railway station is also useful. whether an establishment is
How to Book A number of commercial suitable. If forewarned, many
Hotels rooms in Central London booking agencies operate hotels will go out of their way
do get booked up very quickly from booths in the major to help. The nationwide
so it is always advisable to railway stations, charging a Tourism for All scheme
reserve your accommodation small fee to personal callers. provides details on accommo­
well in advance. Direct bookings Avoid unidentified touts, who dation standards and facilities
can be made by phone, via the often hang around at railway for elderly visitors or those
hotel website booking form or and coach stations offering with mobility problems. For
by email. This generally entails cheap accommodation. information on hotels that
giving a guarantee: either a meet the three­tier “National
credit card number from which Special Breaks Accessible Standard”, contact
a cancellation fee can be DisabledGo or Tourism For All.
deducted, or a one­night deposit Many travel agencies carry A guide book for people with
(some hotels will expect more brochures from the major access needs, Open Britain, can
for longer stays). Don’t forget hotel chains listing special be obtained from Disability
that if you do cancel, part or offers, which are usually costed Rights UK.
even all of the room price on a minimum two­night stay.
may be charged unless the Some are extraordinarily good
value compared to the usual Travelling with Children
tariff. For most leisure travellers London hotels are very
or families with children, this is welcoming to children and
the best way to get value for many provide cots, high­
money out of London hotels. chairs, babysitting services
City­break packages are (always ensure sitters have
organ ized by specialist had a DBS – Disclosure and
operators, ferry companies Barring Service – check) and
and airlines, and some hotels. special meal arrangements.
Sometimes the same hotel may Ask whether the hotel offers
feature in several brochures special deals for children –
at differing prices and with some have special rates, or
different perks. It’s worth allow children to stay free of
asking the hotel directly what charge in their parents’ room.
special rates they offer. As Self­catering flats and private
previously mentioned, online homes are also great options
travel websites are also an for families as these are more
The Ritz (see p288) on Piccadilly, one of excellent source for great­ affordable and have far more
London’s most exclusive hotels value holiday packages. space than a hotel room.

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