I remember Best Westerns in the US were often quite quirky, independently run properties... I used to not mind them! This experience has put me off a bit!
If you must venture out onto the streets in that part of London then surely get a Taxi/Uber Getting buses at that time of night especially in that area is just asking for trouble
Not sure I agree about that part of London at that time of night, but being 6 foot 4 and solidly built I have come to recognise that I don't look at some things the same way as others...
Matt I’ve lived in the London Borough of Hillingdon all my life and kindly take it from me hitting the streets in Hayes at that time of night with visible luggage isn’t a bright thing to do You maybe will be over 6 feet tall but that certainly wouldn’t put of any local vermin looking for easy pickings It would be you against a group of them for sure Back my original point an Uber from Hayes station to the Ariel Hotel would cost peanuts 🥜
Interesting Vlog again Matt. I much prefer an off peak cheaper train with an overnight somewhere... then see which hotel is doing a good deal... The Pheasant Inn does a good pint and generous portions... The stress of a morning flight by catching the milk train or risking the M25 Roulette... No!
Thanks Richard. Another Folkestonian pointed out a 04:42 train which would get you to LHR by 7... Investing the difference in peak to off peak train fares into a night at Heathrow still makes sense to me!
Try the Hilton Garden, a stones throw from Hatton Cross tube station. Each time I've used it, have always found it reasonably priced, really convenient for onward travel to the airport, and in plane heaven with it overlooking both BA engineering and the southern runway. Their popular bar also ensures there's no stale beer 🍺🍺
@@ianworthington2324 It seems that things have changed since I've last stayed there. In my recent searches have noticed their prices have certainly shot up and don't remember being charged for parking there in the past. I'd still favour it over the Ariel, even if it's just so I can reminisce over my days as a BA apprentice whilst overlooking what's left of the engineering base
Thanks Nick. Looked like there was a bit of life just north of the hotel. Didn't explore this time as I felt i should check out the hotel for the video but certainly would if I stayed there again!
@@MattsPlanet Cool. If you do decide to go to the Pheasant I'd advise on booking a table if you were wanting to eat. It's used by a lot of cabin crew and gets very busy.
Useful, thank you. I stayed at the Aerotel in February before a flight to Finland. It was very convenient just walking into the terminal in the morning. But you do pay handsomely for the privilege.
Love the location of that pillar at 2:50. Been a while since I've had the need to stop at a Heathrow Hotel. Renaissance - good, small rooms. Premier Inn Good, Crowne Plaza - good, Big rooms, Thistle - poor, very dated, Travelodge - OK. I find Best Westerns very variable - some of their high end properties are very nice, but the lower star properties often have owners who are not investing in their properties, or so it seems
That pillar is going to catch you out if you're retrieving your reservation on your phone at that moment... Will continue to work my way around the options - glad this one is behind me though! Unlike that pillar!
The PI at T4 maybe worth a try for a future vid. As well as T4, it works well for both T5 and T3. There are bus stops right outside, both ways, for T5 (482 or 490) or walk to T4 in covered walkways and get the tube to T3. Consistently cheap rooms, and they also have newer 'plus' rooms too.
Indeed. The crew behind the bar didn't look like they welcomed constructive criticism! A few beers were off so the only other option was a lager... When the Guinness was mis-poured, I thought "how bad could it be???"
Have you been to the Thistle heathrow terminal 5. Cheap and you get to go on the pods ro the hotel. Mind you they charge you aux quid to go through the gate
@@MattsPlanet I get the first train out of central at 04.42 change at Ashford onto the first high speed of the day at 05.15, into St Pancras just before 6 and then it’s about an hour on the tube.
@@tarquinmontague637 Thanks so much - I've been clicking back to the 6am train which gets you to LHR at 8 (with a following wind...) Hadn't gone back far enough to uncover the 4:42... That's a pretty brutal start though - I guess you have no trouble getting a seat!!! Really appreciate the reply.
I actually enjoyed my stay here mind you when I have stayed I only spent £50 a night and I didn't drink in the bar or eat .They let you eat from deliveroo so it's pretty good in that regard . The rooms are small but I don't mind that .
This was sold as a single room so you'd not expect a ton of space... I thought it would be single occupancy of a normal sized room but ended up with single occupancy of a single room!
Your hotel looked nice Matt in foyer, but the room was very poor even though it was a single room, but if you had a good night sleep that great, pity about the beer.
Regarding the LCY babybus - my reasonings behind that flight being binned are a combination of: * Corp travel having fallen off a cliff in favour of Zoom meetings * The flight is only economical at a high load factor of last minute bookings * The ongoing pilot shortage, especially considering the LCY certification required * Brexit, because of course * Increase in operating and maintenance costs of the A318 I do like LCY as an airport. It's all business people so no messing around at security or boarding. Robotrain is the icing on the cake