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Planning to fly from T5 in June and trying to decide where to park and what hotel to stay in overnight before hand. Could I have some help please?
I know the Sofitel usually gets good reviews, but then which airport parking is reasonably priced and also safe to use?
I quite fancy using the pods, and the Thistle stay and park is reasonable, but any idea if they’re likely to be open by June or permanently closed?
Any other options that are worth investigating such as a different hotel that’s worth looking at and then using Just Park or similar? Or another stay and park offer?
Thanks in advance for the help.
I have just done this comparison for a week in March and decided to stick with the park and stay at the Sofitel as we will check our bags in the night before . The convenience was worth the £30 over most of the other options. I tried all the usual suspects, mercury, Hilton, premier inn etc plus their parking charge for staying there the first night. Thistle with parking and adding pods was way the cheapest option. Cheapest parking was official long stay, followed by official meet and greet, then when up from there. Didn’t try just park as we have children and ski stuff so wanted to be on site. Plus haven’t travelled for a few months so there was some money in the kitty. In the past I have done both options, Sofitel , which is great if it’s on offer, and parking in on the the others just outside Heathrow and driving to airport parking in the morning.
Thank you for that answer, very useful. Do I book the park and stay at the Sofitel on the Accor website or did you use another website for this please?
Usually quite a few JustParks around the A4, so you could deposit family and bags in long term T5 carpark on the northern perimeter, go leave the car somewhere then walk back to long term in about 10 minutes and shuttle to terminal. Also the only ‘official’ way to avoid the £5 drop off charge for Heathrow now… even on Christmas day, when there’s no public transport…
I’ve always found the best rates on the Accor website – ALL members get a 10% discount plus ALL points, and you can get further value by going via the BA shopping site it TopCashback.
As @lottie says, it’s by far the most convenient option and not much more expensive than the alternatives.
IHG has ‘Park Stay Go’ packages across most major airports – https://www.headforpoints.com/hfp/ihg-park-stay-go/
Thanks Rob. I’ll look at that site.
As for the Sofitel. I don’t know if I’m being thick but I can’t work out how to get a park and fly rate. I can get the the page that says you can book a package at Gatwick or LHR, but then I have to click through to the LHR Sofitel webpage and there’s nothing about it on there.
Either I book one night and it’s not an option (except car park that one night) or if I try to book longer (eg 8 nights) then it’s charging me for the room all those dates.
I’m going from this page here:
https://sofitel.accor.com/gb/promotions-offers/offers-260.shtml#
Or directly from Accor. com
On the Sofitel site, you choose a package when selecting your room. It’s a little hard to find, but it’s there.
I looked into this recently for trip next month. Sofitel was over three times the price of my eventual choice. Thistle for some reason had minimum stay 2 nights for the day I wanted to arrive, which made it not worth it for me.
Eventually chose the premier inn (opposite the thistle, and actually much closer to road/bus stop) plus YourParkingSpace at the thistle for £10/night. Total cost for 6 nights parking plus hotel room for 3pax = £108On the Sofitel site, you choose a package when selecting your room. It’s a little hard to find, but it’s there.
Thanks jj. I didn’t even spot the ‘package’ tab, on phone or laptop, until you said! Got it now
I’ll have to look at all the options carefully. Thank you everyone.
For the benefit of anyone else planning this, the member rate on the Sofitel normally works out at about £160 for the room and about £12 per night for parking. By stacking awards, you can get about 10% of that back in subsequent benefits.
So it’s not be budget option, but it is considerably more convenient, especially on the return journey or for very early flights, and the hotel is a very pleasant place to start a holiday. I always feel that the holiday starts a day early when I have a decent airport hotel to look forward to.
Only you can decide if the extra cost is worthwhile.
Yes, I forgot to mention that there is 15% c back offer on Accor Sofitel brand at the moment. Package tab is hard to spot at first.
10% cash back on Taco Bell but no doubt this post will get removed.
Thanks for the “package” tip!!
Does anyone know if the “4 days” parking is just that, i.e.
I could arrive Weds a.m. and leave Sun. p.m., or is it
exactly 4 x 24 hours? Cheers!Under packages all I can see are B&B and ‘test and rest’. Am I being dim??
Never mind I changed dates and parking appeared.
- This reply was modified 55 years, 3 months ago by .
Under packages all I can see are B&B and ‘test and rest’. Am I being dim??
I certainly was, Matt! Once you’ve clicked on “Select a rate”, just under the room photo, “Standard” is already marked (underlined): right next to it, very faintly, it says “Packages”.
Under packages all I can see are B&B and ‘test and rest’. Am I being dim??
I certainly was, Matt! Once you’ve clicked on “Select a rate”, just under the room photo, “Standard” is already marked (underlined): right next to it, very faintly, it says “Packages”.
That’s exactly the issue I had at first. It’s not obvious to see the package tab until someone tells you to look for it.
Sofitel as many have said has parking and nobody takes your keys. One reason we often pick it for early flights is the restaurant and bar are both outstanding. If you’re a foodie it’s excellent for that. I remember staying there on Feb 14 once (just randomly that day) and locals were turning up for a fancy valentine dinner.
Are you able to use one of the airport luggage trolleys to help getting to/from the hotel on the walkway?
Are you able to use one of the airport luggage trolleys to help getting to/from the hotel on the walkway?
I’ve used a trolley from the hotel to the airport though I can’t remember at which point I picked one up. It feels like a long walk first time but it’s no further than coming from Short Stay.
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