Deals and discounts
VisitBritain
Americans interested in traveling to Britain on vacation should sign up for VisitBritain's monthly newsletter 'Britain Calling USA' for the best deals and discounts to destinations throughout Britain.
VisitBritain's online shop is every travelers' one-stop shop for travel needs before even leaving the country! Rail and subway tickets, attractions passes, maps and even Tower of London and London Eye tickets can be purchased in advance, online in dollars, avoiding the hassle of waiting in line on arrival. www.visitbritain.com/onlineshop
VisitBritain offers "The Essential London Kit" at just $103, which contains a three-day London Travel Card (Peak, Zones 1-2), one London Eye ticket, one Tower of London ticket and one Original London Sightseeing bus tour ticket, which also includes a Thames river cruise and two walking tours. In addition, each kit comes complete with a London Planner guidebook. "The Essential London Kit" can be purchased online at www.visitbritain.com/onlineshop.
VisitBritain offers the Great British Heritage Pass providing American visitors with unlimited entry to around 600 stately homes, castles and properties in England, Scotland and Wales. A four-day pass costs $53; seven-day $75; 15-day $99; and 30-day $132. They can be purchased through VisitBritain. www.visitbritain.com/onlineshop
Visitor Oyster Cards are the new money-saving answer for travelers using London's buses and subway. The smart card guarantees that travelers will never pay more than the equivalent day TravelCard price. They can be purchased through VisitBritain. www.visitbritain.com/onlineshop
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ACCOMMODATION
K West Hotel & Spa - Only a five-minute walk from Europe's largest inner city shopping mall, Westfield, K West Hotel & Spa in London has introduced a "StayKation" package for only $150 per room, per night. This offers a saving of $650! Available until August 31, 2009, the package includes accommodation in an Executive Room, under 12 years old sleep for free, unlimited in-room movies, 20% discount in Kanteen restaurant (not valid for breakfast) and 25% off valet parking. Press contact: Laura Smith, Luxe PR Email: laura@luxepr.com
Manorhaus - Located in Denbighshire, North Wales, this boutique hotel is offering discounted rates. Guests staying for 2 nights get 10% off, 3 nights get 20%, 4 nights get 30% and 5 nights get 40%. The rates are valid until October 17. For more information, log on to http://manorhaus1.moonfruit.com.
Dukes Hotel - This Father's Day, Dukes St James’s is offering sons and daughters the chance to really express gratitude with a spoiling experience. The Father’s Day package is $475 per night for two people and includes bed and breafast and a three course dinner for two. It also includes fun extras such as martinis and a traditional wet shave. For this special occasion, Dukes has partnered with 'Truefitt & Hill', the world famous Mayfair barber shop, offering a traditional hot towel wet shave. PR contact: Clare Bradshaw, Clare Bradshaw Public Relations. Email: ClareBradshaw@aol.com
The Halkin and Metropolitan - COMO Hotels and Resorts' two London properties have just released fixed dollar rates for the first time. Rooms at the Metropolitan start at $199 per night and The Halkin is offering rates starting at $299 per night. Both offers are based on a minimum two night stay. The dollar rates are valid now until September 6, 2009. Prices do not include VAT. The bookings must be made at least seven days in advance and are subject to availibility. For more information, log on to www.metropolitan.como.bz/london/metlondon_guaranteed$ or www.halkin.como.bz/halkin_guaranteed$. The Metropolitan London is located on Park Lane, overlooking Hyde Park. Nestled in Belgravia, The Halkin is in one of central London's most exclusive neighborhoods.
The May Fair - 5 star luxury hotel set in London's exclusive Mayfair neighborhood - is offering an Advance Purchase Promotion. Now through the end of August, The May Fair guests receive 20% off the Best Available Rate when they book 10 days in advance of arrival. Rates (with the 20% included) start at $200 per night. Guests also will enjoy 2 for 1 dining for lunch and dinner in Amba restaurant, offering 50% savings. The terms include: No minimum length of stay required, trip is paid in full at time of booking, no cancellations or amendments and does not include VAT (tax) or breakfast. For reservations, visit www.themayfairhotel.co.uk/advancepurchase.
The Athenaeum -The Athenaeum, an award-winning luxury property located in tony Mayfair, is offering a £299 (approximately $486) per night rate based on a three night weekend stay for a Friday/Saturday/Sunday night in their apartments. These exclusive rates are subject to availability and valid every weekend until the end of March. One-bedroom apartments at The Athenaeum are usually priced at £750 ($1221) per night.
Also from now until June 13th, the Athenaeum’s guaranteed US dollar rates provides affordable luxury with prices beginning at $450 plus tax for a deluxe room, $520 plus tax for a Parkview room and $799 plus tax for a one-bedroom apartment (which can comfortably accommodate a family of four). The same $799 rate applies to the property’s Green Park Suites. The current pound sterling rate for these popular room categories are £270, £315 and £520, respectively.
To make a booking at The Athenaeum, contact your travel professional (GDS Code YX); or The Athenaeum directly at 800-335-3300 or fax: 800-335-3200; or book on-line at www.athenaeumhotel.com
The Langham - 5 star hotel located on London's Regent Street - is offering a 'Sleep in Beauty' package. Stay in The Langham's Club rooms from $392 (includes tax and is based on two guests sharing). The package includes all exclusive Langham Club benefits (access to Club lounges with complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea, drinks, evening cocktails and canapes), personal express check-in and check-out and late check-out until 3pm. For more information, log on to http://london.langhamhotels.co.uk/
The Draycott - This 5 star London hotel is offering several packages in 2009. This summer, experience London in true English style at the Draycott, just a stone's throw from fashionable Sloane Square. Guests who stay at the hotel from Saturday, July 25th until Sunday, September 6th, 2009, will enjoy all the Draycott amenities--traditional English tea with all the classic trimmings, a glass of sparkling champagne at 6, and hot chocolate at bedtime—plus a hearty English breakfast followed by a flight on the London Eye (which must be booked 48 hours in advance). Special rates are $201* per person, per night (a $77* savings per room) for a Double Deluxe room, or $237* per person, per night (a $71* savings per suite), for a suite. Rates are based on double occupancy, are exclusive of VAT and are subject to availability. For reservations, please call 020-7730 or visit www.draycotthotel.com.
Eleven Cadogan Gardens – a luxury townhouse hotel in London – is offering a 20% fixed dollar rate saving on room rates. The package starts at $405 a night and includes full English breakfast and tax, valid for stays from Friday – Sunday, subject to availability. www.number-eleven.co.uk
Premier Inn is one of Britain’s leading budget hotel brands, with room prices starting from £48 a night. With 480 hotels across the country, Premier Travel Inn also has some of the best locations in London including London County Hall beside the River Thames with rooms from £99 a night. The hotel brand now offers a ‘Good Night Guarantee’ whereby they guarantee guests a clean, comfortable room and friendly and efficient service – if they don’t live up to their promise, they will refund your money. www.premierinn.com
Travelodge – a budget hotel chain in Britain – claims to have 1,000,000 rooms priced at £26 or less (around $50). These ‘Saver’ rooms can be booked online at www.travelodge.co.uk. With 320 hotels across Britain, Travelodge offers good quality, good value, modern accommodation. Ideal for families, the rooms include TV, tea and coffee-making facilities, comfortable beds and private bathrooms. www.travelodge.co.uk
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AIR / PACKAGES
Save up to $485 on London with United Vacations. Sample London vacations include roundtrip economy airfare, four-night hotel accommodations, complimentary daily breakfast, tickets to the show Wicked, fuel surcharges, Trip Cancellation waiver and the services of United Vacations' European Service Office in London. Prices are based on internet pricing for Wed or Thurs departures in economy class of service for March 11, 2009 as of December 16, 2008 and are subject to change without notice. Other dates are available but prices may vary. London vacation packages with accommodations at the 4 star Grosvenor Hotel start at $769 from New York, $799 from Washington D.C., $814 from Boston, $824 from Chicago, $944 from Portland, OR, $959 from San Francisco and Los Angeles, and $1,059 from Denver. Vacations can be purchased online at www.unitedvacations.com, by calling 888-328-6877 or by contacting a local travel agent.
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TRANSPORT IN BRITAIN
First class gets more affordable with Heathrow Express' free upgrade offer during summer 2009. Heathrow Express is offering a free upgrade for travelers booking online at www.heathrowexpress.com/US09. The offer is bookable from April 1st and is valid from June 15 to August 31, 2009. Starting on June 1, Heathrow Express will launch in-flight ticket sales with American Airlines. Also this summer, children travel free when booked online after April 1st for travel from July 1st to August 31, 2009. The offer is for children between five and 15 years old. Heathrow Express is a 15 minute non-stop service between central London's Paddington station and London's Heathrow International Airport. PR Contact: Clare Bradshaw, Tel: 718 237 4541, Email: ClareBradshaw@aol.com
With Homecoming Scotland 2009 drawing Americans to Scotland, the BritRail Scottish Freedom Pass offers exceptional value for money. It includes unlimited train travel on any four days (out of an eight-day period), as well as transportation on Caledonian MacBrayne and Strathclyde ferries linking many of the islands, and travel on some bus routes to explore sites off the beaten path. The pass costs $247 and is available through VisitBritain’s online shop at www.visitbritain.com/onlineshop. For travelers spending longer in Scotland, an eight-day version of the pass (for travel during any eight days out of a 15-day period) costs $331. Passes for children (5 - 15 years old) are approximately half the cost of the adult pass. www.visitbritain.com/onlineshop
Heathrow Express is offering free upgrades to gay travelers. Heathrow Express, the fastest, most stylish and hassle-free way to get from central London to Heathrow Airport, is offering a free upgrade to travelers who book a standard fare ticket online. In a special promotion aimed at the gay market, travelers are encouraged to click on a special link at http://gaylondontravel.com/mailer/heathrow/ on the VisitLondon website, which will take them through to a booking page. A one-way ticket in Express class is $24 and a round-trip ticket is $45. Buying tickets online through the link will automatically upgrade the traveler to the First Class Cabin. First Class accommodation also stops by the station exits, guaranteeing you quicker and easier access to the terminals. For more information on this promotion, contact Clare Bradshaw T: 718 237 4541 E: ClareBradshaw@aol.com
The Original Tour’s famous open-top bus tours of London include a River Thames cruise and walking tours with a ticket valid for 24 hours. A 20% discount is available by using the promo code “bestbets8” when booking online at www.theoriginaltour.com.
Big Bus hop on hop off tours in London offer outstanding live-guided open top tours of London. A 24 hour ticket costs £20 and allows unlimited use on a wide variety of routes and entitles the ticket holder to take part in all five guided Big Bus Walks, a 30 minute river cruise on the Thames and includes a Big Bus bonus card for discounts at London bars and restaurants. Receive a £2 discount if ticket is purchased online. www.bigbustours.com
Big Bus also offers a Walking Pass which entitles visitors to five guided walking tours of the capital for £10. Valid for two days, pass holders are led on themes including The Beatles, James Bond, movie locations and ‘ghosts by gaslight’. www.bigbustours.com
Britrail passes are an excellent way to save money on the trains in Britain, and the Heathrow and Gatwick Express service can be included in the price of a pass making entry into the center of London a lot cheaper. www.visitbritaindirect.com
The UK's low-cost motor bus service, with bookings made online, offers travel between many of Britain's cities from just £1.50. Megabus.com operates routes including: Birmingham - London; Bristol - London; Cardiff - London; Portsmouth - London; Glasgow - Edinburgh; Manchester - Leeds. More information online at www.megabus.com
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