Book UK Airport Hotels with Airport-Hotels.co.uk

Every so often, I find myself with an upcoming flight taking off at the crack of dawn. When I’ve been able to spend the night before the flight at accommodations near the airport, it’s made those trips so much more relaxing than if I would have had to drag myself to the airport in the wee early morn feeling like a zombie.

Have you got a similar travel situation coming up? Consider booking a room at an airport hotel and cut down on any early morning stresses trying to make your airport.

A useful resource for booking your room near the airport is Airport-Hotels.co.uk, which lists every hotel available near every major airport in the UK. Whether situated within the airport perimeter (on-airport) and just a short walk to the airport terminal or off-airport and requiring a short transfer to the terminals, you’ll find the right hotel on Airport-Hotels.co.uk.

Airport-Hotels.co.uk compares relevant hotel prices from five leading hotel providers, including Holiday Extras, Superbreak, APH and FHR, helping to ensure you pay the lowest price for you room. With Airport-Hotels.co.uk, you can also choose to include dinner or breakfast, additional car parking or – of course – simply book a room. In addition to those features, Airport-hotels can be used to reserve hotel parking for up to fifteen days.

You also might want to keep Airport-Hotels.co.uk in mind to bypass any potential late night hassles associated with an upcoming flight arriving just in time for you to want to hit the sack. I’ve been in this situation a few times before too. And, when I’ve been able to simply make it to a room quick and move on the next morning after a decent night’s sleep, I’ve gotten more out of my trip. Of course, should you have an upcoming business meeting near a UK airport, Airport-Hotels.co.uk is an obvious choice for booking as well.

Le Eurostar weekend (Qype does London)

Le Eurostar weekend
by Chris Osburn
Qype does London
August 3rd 2008










I’m sure the Eurostar has its share of imperfections (one time about a year ago, my Paris-London train was delayed for what seemed an excruciatingly long couple of hours), but for the most part I’ve had pleasant experiences zipping through the Chunnel. Taking the Eurostar to/from any of its destinations is certainly more civilized and a lot more logistically sensible than getting to/from any airports these days!

Read the complete Eurostar weekend post.

Tube Strike: Here We (Don't) Go Again

Three day Tube strike announced
A 72-hour strike on the London Underground is planned by rail unions in a row over safety.
BBC News
Last Updated: Friday, 28 March 2008, 12:18 GMT

A strike from 1830 GMT on 6 April to 9 April is planned by the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA).

Click here for complete article.

London Daily Photo: Waiting for the Bus

London Daily Photo: Waiting for the Bus
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

London bus driver goes crazy: Real life version of "Speed"

WALTHAM FOREST: We prayed for our lives on ‘hell ride’
By jonathan moyes
Guardian
7:34am Saturday 9th February 2008

TERRIFIED pedestrians ran for their lives and panicking passengers were flung from their seats during "the bus ride from hell".

Click here for complete article.

London Daily Photo: Just Looking Out of My Window

London Daily Photo: Just Looking Out of My Window
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

The Tube on YouTube: Why?

Here's a link to a post from Going Underground - "the London Underground blog" - about Tube Lines' new YouTube channel. I've also included the actual YouTube clip, which seems pretty inocuous but uh, shouldn't they focus more attention on just making sure the damn trains run on time? Maybe they had to make the video for investors or some government review board and thought "since we have it, why not share it with the public?" Whatever the case, here's all you never wanted to know about "future of travel on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines." Enjoy.

Tube Lines' YouTube Channel
Annie Mole
Going Underground
Monday, January 14, 2008

Tube Lines have got all Web 2.0'fied and have launched a channel on YouTube starting off with a promotional video on the "future of travel on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines" and the ins and outs of the signalling system.

Click here for complete post.

London Daily Photo: Man on the Bus

London Daily Photo: Man on the Bus
Photography by Chris Osburn © 2008
Interested in contributing a photograph of London to this blog? Click here for details.

Olympics 2012 Security: Let's Get it Right!

Peer warns over Olympics security
The safety of the 2012 Olympics could be jeopardised if the government fails to make clear how transport security will be funded, a peer has said.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 7 January 2008, 17:28 GMT

He said: "Eighty per cent of people attending the London 2012 games will do so by using the rail network and that will require a capacity to move and ensure the security of a peak of 240,000 people an hour using rail services to and from the Olympic park."

Click here for complete article.

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Image courtesy of mysistersabarista' s photostream on Flickr.

Steer Clear of Streetcar!!!

Streetcar has made my life miserable on two distinct occasions. The first time, they cancelled my booking for no apparent reason at midnight (with no one for me to contact) the night before I was to need one of their cars early in the morning. That morning, they gave me a total run around and I got the very strong sense the person I talked to was either completely incompetent or lying (his story kept changing and changing). Basically, they wasted several hours of my Saturday morning and almost ruined my plans that had been set for weeks. I ended up hiring a car from another service and, although it was much more expensive than Streetcar’s advertised prices, everything went smoothly and I will use them again (instead of Streetcar).

The second time they screwed up was today. I was sitting in my study doing some work when I got a text that my Streetcar booking for tomorrow had been confirmed. What? Huh? I had not even contacted them at all for months. So I texted, emailed and called them to cancel and to explain that I had not booked a car in the first place. That process of correcting their mistake wasted about a half hour of my time. Then, I get a text message that said my booking was changed to a different day. Eventually, they worked out whatever error they’d made. Messing up on something that I booked is bad enough but when they start randomly confirming bookings that I hadn’t even made and wasting my time without me initiating contact … well, that’s when it’s time to cancel my membership, which I’m doing right after I post this review. Waste of time! Glitch central! And seemingly a logistics nightmare!

"Mind the Gap" Voice Sacked for Spoof Tube Messages

Announcer sacked over spoof messages
Reporting by Peter Griffiths
Reuters
Mon Nov 26, 2007 11:08am EST

An official announcer for London's Tube system has been sacked after making spoof messages mocking American tourists, peeping Toms and sweaty commuters. Voiceover artist Emma Clarke, 36, recorded the announcements in the same smooth tones that have warned millions of passengers to "Mind The Gap" and posted them on her ... site. The messages include ... "We would like to remind our American tourist friends that you are almost certainly talking too loudly" ...

Click here for complete article.

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Voice of the Tube silenced by LU
The woman who became the "Voice of the Tube" has been sacked after allegedly criticising London Underground (LU).
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 26 November 2007, 16:18 GMT

Voiceover artist Emma Clarke, 36, is the woman millions of Tube travellers hear warning them to "mind the gap".

Click here for complete article.


Photography courtesy of cacophonyx's photostream on Flickr.

Here Comes the London Overground

Mayor launches new rail service
London Overground line will take over routes from SilverlinkA new rail network for London has been officially launched by the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 12 November 2007, 16:29 GMT











London Overground (LO) has taken over the suburban routes previously operated by Silverlink which include the North London Line and West London Line.

Click here for complete article.

Single Travel Fares Across London Public Transport

Mayor freezes single travel fares
The Mayor of London has announced a freeze on all single fares across the city's public transport system.
BBC News
Last Updated: Tuesday, 30 October 2007, 13:12 GMT

Critics say the freeze will make little difference because of above-inflation prices hikes over the past three years ... Travellers paying for an Oystercard peak single fare will continue to pay 90p, while the single cash fare is frozen at £2.

Click here for complete article.


Photography courtesy of Kasper Weibel's photostream on Flickr.

Accolades for London's Public Transport? Really?

I find all of this a bit hard to believe, but here are three articles about how wonderful people seem to think public transport in London is.

London tops city transport poll
World travellers have voted London the best city for public transport, for the second year running.
BBC News
Last Updated: Thursday, 4 October 2007, 07:10 GMT 08:10 UK

Travellers also considered London to have the most costly transport system.

Click here for complete article.

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London Transport's Bronze Medal
By Cate
Londonist
October 3, 2007

Although station cleanliness and comfy seats may not initially strike you, it is, apparently, one of the most luxurious transportation systems in the world.

Click here for complete article.

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TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Top 5 Cities For Public Transit
by Jorge
Inhabitat
October 2, 2007

Add to all this the infamous double decker buses and you end up with one of the best transportation systems in the world.

Click here for complete article.


Photography by Chris Osburn © 2007

Asbo for London tagger, Raider

Top deck ban for graffiti vandal
A prolific graffiti vandal has been banned from the top deck of any public transport bus anywhere in the country.
BBC News
Last Updated: Friday, 21 September 2007, 11:18 GMT 12:18 UK

It is the first time Transport for London (TfL) has obtained an anti-social order against a "tagger" ... The order also bans Murrell from carrying marker pens or sharp instruments on public transport.

Click here for complete article

3-in-1 Oyster Card - Barclaycard OnePulse

3-in-1 Oyster card to be launched
A card combining an Oyster travelcard with credit and cashless payment facilities is being launched.
BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 10 September 2007, 07:50 GMT 08:50 UK

The Barclaycard OnePulse can be used to pay for items costing less than £10 without using a Pin number or signing for purchases.

Click here for complete article.

Photography courtesy of alexmuller's photostream on Flickr.

Another TUBE STRIKE Looming?

Tube back to normal after strike
Tube services have returned to normal but commuters have been warned of further strike misery next week.
BBC News
Last Updated: Thursday, 6 September 2007, 06:05 GMT 07:05 UK

"The three days of strike action is on next week"
- RMT general secretary Bob Crow

Click here for complete article.

Photography courtesy of jovike's photostream on Flickr.

More TUBE STRIKE Madness to Come?

Tube users warned of more misery
Tube services are expected to return to normal on Thursday but commuters have been warned of further strike misery.
BBC News
Last Updated: Wednesday, 5 September 2007, 20:33 GMT 21:33 UK

Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said another strike planned for next Monday was still going ahead.

Click here for complete article.

TUBE STRIKE Ended/Commuter Chaos Continues

Rush-hour Tube delays to continue
Rush-hour commuters are facing another morning of severe delays on the London Underground, despite the three-day strike being suspended.
BBC News
Last Updated: Wednesday, 5 September 2007, 08:02 GMT 09:02 UK

... nine hours of talks with managers finally led the RMT to halt the strike which began on Monday. Transport for London (TfL) warned that services would remain disrupted.

Click here for complete article.

Photography courtesy of Endlisnis' photostream on Flickr.

TUBE STRIKE Update

Rush-hour chaos in Tube strike
Commuters in London are enduring rush-hour misery as Tube workers continue a 72-hour walkout over pensions and jobs.
BBC News
Last Updated: Tuesday, 4 September 2007, 07:05 GMT 08:05 UK

London Underground said services may not return to normal before Friday morning.

Click here for complete article.













Photography courtesy of slakistan's photostream on Flickr.