The Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Hotel opened just before the pandemic and then became a quarantine hotel for quite a while. Since it has reopened to the public I have stayed twice and been impressed both times. This focuses mainly on my most recent visit this spring but I have used photos and references from both stays. 

Location 

The Courtyard is situated on Bath Road next to the Airport Bowl. It is most handy for terminals 2 and 3 since the bus stop is directly outside coming from the airport and only a short walk on the journey to the airport. For terminal 5 you would need the 423 bus which goes from by the Sheraton Skyline which is still only 5 minutes walk. An Uber or taxi to T5 costs from about £12-15. 

Check-in

On both occasions there was no queue and I found the check-in agents exceptionally friendly and helpful. They recognised my status as a Marriott Platinum and on both stays I got a decent upgrade. 

As there is no lounge you get a voucher for two drinks in the bar which I think is a nice touch given how cheap the hotel can be.

There is a large car park at the side of the hotel if you need it and it costs £15 which can be added to your room charge.

Next to reception is a stylish and comfortable seating area as well as a business centre with computers and printer.

Also in reception is a small shop with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and some snacks and essentials. This is open all the time as you pay at reception and it can also be added to your bill. Given that it’s a bit of a trek to the nearest shop, this is a great idea. 

The room

I was upgraded to a Premier room which felt a very generous size. I liked the neutral beige and blue decor which felt more upmarket than I would expect from a Courtyard. There was a decent size sofa, a large desk to work at and a very comfortable bed which was not too hard even for a princess like me! The rooms are slightly different even within the same category from what I could tell. 

I liked the table that went over the sofa so you could work there too if you wanted to be more relaxed or use it to eat also. 

Although it’s only across the road from Heathrow and by the Bath Road, the rooms are generally well soundproofed although you can hear the odd faint rumble from an aircraft occasionally. You get a good view of the runway from the higher floors which these rooms are on. 

I was surprised to find that there was a Nespresso maker as well as some nice biscuits and a kettle. Mineral water was provided too and there was an empty fridge. They had really thought of everything with both mugs and takeaway cups in the room. There were also proper glasses in the bathroom – one of my pet peeves since Covid is hotels that only give you disposable plastic or paper cups. 

Next to the bed, there was a double socket as well as two USB ports. Across the room by the desk, there were further sockets if you had a lot of tech to charge. As you’d expect there was an iron and ironing board provided. 

The bathroom had a large walk-in shower which was open halfway along but it did not mean that water got on the floor. It was a generous size room and had plenty of space around the basin for your own toiletries.

The hotel had a brand called Geneva Guild which I am not familiar with but it smelt refreshing and seemed reasonably good quality.

There was even a bathrobe provided in this room category. It did not feel like an airport Courtyard hotel, it felt much more luxurious in this room type. 

Here is the room I had on the previous visit which was very similar. 

Food and drink

Breakfast

On my most recent stay I did not have breakfast as I had an early flight. So I will refer back to my stay before Christmas when I did have the breakfast buffet.

This was free due to my status. I was impressed by the super friendly staff and observed one of them chatting to a couple that had obviously been to breakfast the day before and asking how their visits to various tourist attractions were. 

I thought that there was a decent size selection on the buffet and the room felt modern and bright. I liked that they had fresh, whole and stewed fruit to choose from and the pastries tasted freshly baked. As well as the cold selection there was a full cooked section as well which was all good quality and well cooked. 

There are two options for eating and drinking for the evening.

The Kitchen and Bar

Downstairs there is a bar and restaurant that I ate in the first time I visited.

The staff were helpful and friendly and the food was tasty. I thought there was a decent choice on the menu. 

My chicken wings and tuna melt:

Skybar

On my second visit the rooftop bar had just opened and this specialises in Asian small plates. I was told I could also order from the other menu from downstairs. 

It has a great outdoor terrace overlooking Heathrow and I’d recommend a visit for a drink if you are staying at a hotel nearby. 

I ordered the chicken malai tikka skewers which arrived suspiciously quickly. While the sauce was tasty and the coleslaw fresh, the chicken itself was a big disappointment. It tasted like somehow had reheated it in a pan with a load of butter. It was extremely greasy and had a very strong flavour of cloves which was very overpowering and I could not taste anything else. I left most of it.

The waitress did notice and ask if it was alright. I told her as kindly as possible what I thought and she said she would feed it back. I do think they could have taken an item off the bill as service recovery such as the sparkling water I had since I had left most of it. 

Facilities

There is also a fitness centre open 24-7.

Pricing

The hotel is great value and if you get the local bus to the airport it makes a cheap stay! Prices start from just £73 for the entry-level room for the pre-pay Marriott Bonvoy rate. On points, it costs around 22,000 points but given the cheap prices of the rooms, I don’t think it is worth it. 

Conclusion

I have stayed in almost all the 4 and 5 star hotels on Bath Road and I would say Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Hotel is my favourite for that area when you look at price versus what you get for your money. You don’t get a lounge if you have status as you would at the Sheraton or the Marriott, but you do at least get two free drinks. Personally, this is now my go-to unless I wanted to stay on-site at one of the terminals (I’d stay at the Sofitel at T5, the Hilton Garden Inn at T2/3 and the Hilton at T4). 

You can check prices and get more details on the hotel’s website here. 

Like our Courtyard by Marriott London Heathrow Hotel review? You can read more hotel reviews here. 

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This is the second part of the series of hotels that are currently open at Heathrow, since a lot are closed due to operating as quarantine hotels. You can find part 1 with Hilton and Hyatt hotels here. 

Marriott Group

Marriott Heathrow

This is one of the most modern of the higher-end Marriott’s at the airport. This Marriott feels up-to-date and has an executive lounge and a pool. If you want the bells and whistles this is probably the best Marriott choice currently.

However, it is generally the most expensive with prices from £100-180.

You can find more information and prices here.

Sheraton Skyline

This hotel holds special memories for me as a child when it was seen as the most luxurious hotel at Heathrow. It seemed very glamourous to me to go to their authentic-looking saloon steak restaurant or the Caribbean-style buffet brunch by the pool with a steel band. Sadly it is now a shadow of its former self.

The hotel is definitely dated and when I recently stayed the pool was closed, unlike most hotel pools. I did find the staff friendly and was able to have room service breakfast for no extra charge which was handy. The lounge was probably the best part in terms of style. 

Although dated (think American Sheratons), the room was perfectly comfortable and a decent size. As it is often fairly cheap, I don’t mind staying here to get my elite nights if the Marriott is very pricey.

It is down the T2/3 end of Bath road, so it’s a bit longer to transfer on the bus if going to T5. 

Prices start from £80. 

You can find more information and book here. 

Sheraton Heathrow for T5 – newly renovated

This had a well-needed renovation over the last year and now the rooms look very good – fairly luxurious and modern. It is situated near the Premier Inn and only about 5 minutes from Heathrow’s T5 by bus. 

They have installed the Sheraton Sleep Experience Bed, which I find one of the most comfortable beds around. There’s a 24-hour state-of-the-art gym, a Club lounge, Lobby Bar, and the Cast Iron Bar & Grill.

I shall try it out on my next Heathrow night stop. 

Prices start from £107. Don’t be tempted by the free parking offer. The rates are much higher than a standard rate and you could park for cheaper using one of the meet & greet companies such as FHR. 

You can find more information and book here. 

Moxy

If you just want a comfortable room for the night and to earn a few Bonvoy points, then Moxy is a decent choice. It’s better for T2/3 as it’s at the wrong end of Bath Road for T5, although still only around 10-15 minutes away from T5. 

In typical Moxy style, it’s super trendy with an urban feel. There are large communal areas and a decent gym.

Rooms are small and fairly basic but have everything you need for a short stay. A more thorough article about the Moxy will follow. 

Prices start from £62 a night. 

You can find more information and book here. 

Premier Inn

London Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 hotel

This is one of the closest hotels to T5 currently being at the end of Bath Road. It’s crazy cheap and a pretty bog-standard Premier Inn. If you don’t care about loyalty points and want something cheap and cheerful, it’s not a bad choice. Premier Inns always have comfortable beds (Hypnos) which is one of the most important things in an airport hotel.

Bus service 423 runs every 15 minutes to and from Terminal 5 (Stand 6 at T5) and it takes less than 5 minutes. 

Prices start from a ridiculously cheap £30 a night!

You can read the review here.

There’s also the London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4 Premier Inn, but with similar prices and being less convenient, I’m not sure why you would stay there really. 

Independent

Staycity Aparthotels London Heathrow

If you are looking for more space or a longer stay, there is the Staycity Aparthotels in Hayes. The other option IHG’s Staybridge Suites is currently closed. Staycity is right by the Hayes train station which is less than 1o minutes into T2/3 Heathrow Central station. You have to change for T5 onto the Heathrow Express which takes the journey time up to around 20 minutes. It’s also only 20 minutes to Paddington which could be handy if you want to pop to town.

All apartments come complete with kitchenettes, living, dining and work spaces, and complimentary highspeed WiFi. There are hotel-quality amenities including 24 hour reception, gym, on-site guest laundry, meeting rooms and Staycafé serving breakfast, sandwiches, paninis and pizzas, as well as Starbucks coffee, beer, wine and spirits. The takaa tak+ restaurant on the first floor has an outdoor terrace too.

Prices start from £95 a night. 

You can find more information and book here. 

The post What are the best hotels that are open at Heathrow in 2021? Part 2 appeared first on Turning left for less.

I had not been to the Renaissance Heathrow for many years. Since Roving Reporter had happily stayed a few times and I was keen to make the most of my Marriott Gold until it disappears in August, I decided to give it a try whilst I was speaking at the FTU conference.

Location

If you are flying from Terminal 2 or 3, other than staying in the new in-terminal 3 hotel Aerotel (edit: apparently the opening has been delayed), the Renaissance is one of the closest hotels to the airport tunnel. The Renaissance is situated on the Bath Road and has good connections to the airport. There is the pricey Hotel Hoppa which costs around £5 to get to the airport. Unless you have a lot of luggage you are much better off getting the bus from the hotel as it’s free and only made one stop before the airport. Even in the evening, there seemed to be a bus every few minutes as you can get 4 different buses to the airport. Reception will give you a list when you check in. I got from the hotel to central London in around 40 minutes using the bus and the Heathrow Express. The journey to the airport itself was well under 10 minutes.

Check-in

The hotel reception area is huge and very busy.  I was pleasantly surprised by check-in. I didn’t use the Marriott Rewards queue as there was no queue at the regular desk. The man serving me was particularly helpful and charming which is not always what you expect at an airport hotel. He gave me all the details of the Hotel Hoppa and local buses, breakfast times and gave me an upgrade to an Executive Room.

The room

The rooms have been renovated fairly recently and were modern and clean looking. I was in an executive room with a runway view.

These are the same size as the standard entry level room, the Queen standard guest room. The room was well equipped with the usual; iron and ironing board, bathrobe, tea and coffee and a fridge too.

Post from RICOH THETA. #theta360 #theta360uk – Spherical Image – RICOH THETA

I found the bed pretty comfortable and would have slept well if it hadn’t been for the noise. Despite the fact that there was triple glazing noise reduction this was still a very noisy room. The good point is that the noise isn’t all night but it did start very early in the morning. Much as I enjoyed watching the planes landing, it wasn’t very conducive to either working or sleeping! If you had an early flight the next day it probably wouldn’t be so much of an issue.

Bathroom

The bathroom also felt modern and well maintained. I liked the large area around the sink and the bath was deep enough for a soak. The shower had a rainhead and was powerful enough for a refreshing shower.

There was a particularly good range of toiletries for a 4* hotel with mouthwash and nail files also supplied in a rather bizarre towel art flower display. The main toiletry brand was the standard Renaissance Tokyo Milk which are good quality.

Breakfast and dining

I ate breakfast in the lounge the first morning and was very underwhelmed by the tiny selection. There was cheap looking meat and cheese, cereal, yoghurt, fruit and pastries/bread plus a toaster. You could get coffee from a decent bean to cup machine. Most lounges now offer some sort of cooked option but not at this one, probably due to the lack of space. It does clearly state continental breakfast on the website though and would be fine if that was all you needed.

The next day I tried the Market Garden Restaurant which had a much better selection including a couple of delicious Indian options. The plates could have done with being cleaner though.

The main continental choices were pretty much the same as upstairs but they did have a substantial and tempting looking cooked section as well as salad. Tea and coffee were brought to your table but the service was a little slow and confused although they got there eventually.

There were only a few options for eating in the hotel. The Market Garden Restaurant is only open for breakfast and dinner plus there is also a cafe, Cafe Cha, that does Starbucks coffee and snacks. During the day Bar Eleven serves lunch as well as being open for drinks and dinner too. The good thing about the Renaissance is that there are lots of other options for dining within walking distance or a free bus ride away. I ate at Madhu’s at the Sheraton Skyline which is an Indian restaurant and the other night went into London.

Executive lounge

The Executive lounge has a slightly strange layout in that it is very long and narrow, so not particularly easy for setting up a buffet. However, it does have a fantastic view of the runway and you can spend a great evening with a glass of wine watching the aircraft in comfort.

The lounge does have one other big selling point in that the drinks in the evening go on until 9pm which is unusual for most lounges. There were canapes, snack and desserts served until 7pm. Unfortunately, the drinks and the canapes had to be served to you and on the evening I visited there was only one member of staff, Anka, who struggled to keep up as everyone turned up at the start. She was very friendly though and kept us well topped up when she returned. The choice of drinks was limited but the wine was drinkable. Here are the drinks and canapes on offer on the night:

The canapes were delicious though and of a high standard for an airport hotel lounge.

Facilities

Parking is available for £15 a night although they do offer hotel and parking rates which work out better value. There is a reasonably equipped gym and beauty treatments are also available to book. In the lobby is a handy shop selling essentials and souvenirs.

Conclusion

Although the aircraft noise was an issue I would stay here again if the rate was reasonable. The easy free access to the airport and the evening drinks until 9pm are the winners for me along with a comfortable bed and modern room. I would just ask for a non-runway view to keep the noise level down and enjoy the view from the lounge instead! You can read my reviews of lots of other Heathrow hotels here.

You can find more details and book The Renaissance hotel here.

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As part of my series of reviews of hotels at Heathrow and Gatwick, my Roving Reporter and I decided to review bloc hotel at Gatwick’s South Terminal. This was because we had a hideously early start the next day and wanted to maximise our sleep time. We were flying at 6 am to Alicante to stay at the gorgeous Asia Gardens hotel, which you can read about here.

Location

The hotel is the most convenient airport hotel I have ever stayed in. No long walks across dark car parks and down endless walkways with your luggage. The hotel is very handily located next to the entrance to Security. As we were flying British Airways, we did the night before check in which meant we were luggage free by the time we walked to the bloc hotel. The next morning it took less than 10 minutes from the room to the BA lounge entrance!

Check in

The hotel is still relatively new having opened in 2014 and the entrance looks very hi tec with lots of LCD displays. The check-in staff were very welcoming and helpful. They asked if we had stayed before then explained how the controls for the room worked. We had 2 rooms next to each other on the sixth floor which we took the lift up to. If you need help you can call reception or What’s app them 24 hours a day.

Room

We each had a Sleep category room which has no windows and is the entry-level room. There is no denying the room was very small at 9.5sqm but if you are just staying for a few hours why do you need anything more? We arrived at around 8.30 pm so it was fine for just sleeping overnight. Even though the room was small it was very modern, clean and well-equipped. Although the room had no window, you can also pay slightly more to get a window with the Vista room if you prefer.

There was a king size bed which had good quality bed linens and was very comfortable – much better than some of the more pricey hotels I have stayed in such as the Hilton Gatwick. I liked the coloured mood lighting and the fact you could light the ‘window’ up separately.

There was a Samsung tablet which controlled the lights and temperature, plus you could use it to check out. In rooms with a window, it also controls the blinds. There was a decent size Samsung Smart HD TV with plenty of Freeview channels and the room had fast wi-fi.

Next to the bed 2 bottles of Hildon mineral water were provided which was a nice touch. I was also very pleased to see that I had finally found a Gatwick hotel with not one but two sockets next to the bed! There was a booklet of nearby places to eat and drink at Gatwick as well, which you could use to get a discount. Having hurriedly dumped our hand luggage and headed straight out we didn’t notice it, so don’t make the same mistake. If you do want to get something to eat or drink, there are quite a few choices just a few minutes walk from the hotel. We went to Giraffe for a quick drink and snack. 

As the rooms are small and therefore close together, you could hear some noise from adjacent rooms as people came and went, but this is a problem in almost every hotel, particularly airport hotels. However, it didn’t really disturb me much. bloc has apparently worked with a Scandinavian Sleep Institute to ensure the rooms are at the optimum temperature and humidity for sleep. This was similar to a lot of other touches in that it showed that bloc has paid plenty of attention to the small details which is great.

There is no wardrobe in the room but a couple of hooks with hangers. Again I can’t really see it being an issue on an overnight stay. There was also a decent hair dryer hanging up.

Bathroom

The bathroom is a very small wet room with a Roca monsoon drench shower and steam free heated mirrors. I was not expecting any toiletries but was pleased to see soap and shower gel by Zenology, which I liked the smell of. The shower was powerful and refreshing but as is the way with wet rooms, the rest of the room did get pretty wet. I would recommend using the shower last! At least the spare loo roll had a protective cover over it. The towels were large and good quality too.

Other room categories

If you fancy something a bit bigger or more luxurious, bloc do actually have a great selection of rooms. The next category up would be a Vista double, which is the same as my room but with a window. If you are sharing with a friend, or want a room for kids, there is the Sleep Twin which features bunk beds. There are also 2 family room categories which have a king-size bed and bunk beds.

For something a bit more luxurious, there is the VIP Double room which features Nespresso coffee-making facilities, in-room Sky TV package and a vanity area. The room has panoramic views and you can even request one with runway views.

The crème de la crème is the Runway suite which comes in around £300 a night but it is pretty impressive. The 8th floor apartment has a super king-size bedroom with separate lounge area and kitchenette. At 32sq. metres the suite also has unparalleled views of the runway at Gatwick Airport.

Facilities

There is an ironing room on every floor should you need it, as well as a phone since there are none in the room. My mobile signal was fine in the room though.

Price

We paid a very cheap £67 through Expedia.com which had reduced slightly once I had signed into my Expedia account. I then also used TopCashback to get an extra 10% off bringing it down to £60.30. You can compare prices on the bloc page on TripAdvisor as well as read what other people thought. myGatwick also often offers a 10% discount. If you haven’t joined myGatwick yet, you can read about it here. 

Conclusion

The room was small and the wet room did get wet but other than that there was very little to complain about. Compared with the other hotels at the Gatwick Terminals, the Sofitel or the Hilton, I would rather stay at the bloc if I am literally staying for a few hours overnight. The convenience of knowing you are next to security, especially if you are travelling with BA and have already checked your luggage in, is fantastic. The rooms are very comfortable and have pretty much everything you could need. You can find the bloc website here.

You can find the bloc website here.

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