Fab2008 From United Kingdom, joined May 2008, 19 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 5 months 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 5906 times:
As promised, here is my report. The package/offers says:
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A fantastic runway view of the world's busiest international airport. An Ideal weekend break for any plane enthusiast; a guaranteed room with an uninterrupted runway view.
Our offer includes:
• Club bedroom with tea and coffee-making facilities, soundproofing and air-conditioning
• Access to the club lounge, complimentary soft drinks and a fantastic view of the airport
• Full English breakfast in the Brasserie Restaurant
• Return tickets to the airport on the Heathrow Hoppa Bus
• Overnight parking
• Complimentary use of the health club
From only £96 GBP per night, you can't go wrong!
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Arrive at the hotel about 4pm and checked in. Lobby pic below:
Upon check in, we were offered a non Club bedroom, on the 2nd floor. Was unhappy as we wanted the third floor. We were told rooms on the third floor were not ready and we could have one about 6pm...We agreed. Here is a view from the room on the second floor:
And then we moved to the third floor...Here is what you get and the view you have:
You'll note that there is not much difference by moving one floor up. The Club Lounge was disapointing and with limited choices of juices and drinks. I thought we havd a better view from our room as it was closer to the runway. Below, pic of the lounge and view:
Good thing I found was one of the channels in the hotel showed arrival and departure times. See below:
Breakfast was good and we also used the transfer to the airport (T5).
We found this spot for some pics at T5. Not much choice!.. (Departure level on top floor.) See pics:
Pics taken from there with a basic camera:
Overall, very pleased an happy I finally did it. I would recommend a couple of things though:
1. Don't get the Plane Spotter Package, just ask for a room on the third floor and as far a possible to the right of the hotel, so you are closer to the middle of the runway rather than the beginning.
2. Don't bother with rest of the stuff offered by the package, not really worthed.
Enjoy and share your experience too!
I hope this report helps thoses interested in something like this.
TupolevTu154 From United Kingdom (England), joined Aug 2004, 1663 posts, RR: 38 Reply 1, posted (1 year 5 months 1 week 1 hour ago) and read 5875 times:
Nice overview of what the hotel offers. I have one question, do the windows in the rooms open?
Cgnnrw From Germany, joined May 2005, 728 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (1 year 5 months 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 4970 times:
Interesing report. I've wanted to make a trip to LHR for some spotting but could never really find any useful information. Is this hotel package always on offer? Is it cheaper to just book a room directly with hotel as you mentioned. Where at T5 did you spot? Are there signs inside the terminal?
DFW13L From United States, joined Aug 2005, 902 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (1 year 5 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 4741 times:
I've now stayed at the Renaissance something like 4 times and only my most recent time did I pay extra for the plane spotter's package. When I arrived, they told me I had not requested a room with a view of the runways. I said the whole point of paying extra for the plane spotter's package was to get a room with a view of the runways. Finally they gave me a great room on the 3rd floor, but they made me feel like I did something wrong.
All other times that I've stayed there, I've gotten club rooms on the 3rd floor. Sometimes paying for club access and sometimes not. The first time I "discovered" the hotel was when I was on a BA flight from GLA and saw from my window seat how close it was to the runways. I didn't have a reservation at the time, so I got on the "hoppa" and checked in at the Renaissance. I asked for a room with a view of the runways. They gave me one on the first or maybe ground floor with a view of a tree, beyond which, was probably the airport.
I went back to the front desk and complained that I would like an unobstructed view. They gave me one of those rooms on the 3rd floor. I think the best ones are 3200-3220 or something like that if I remember.
I've always been rather happy there, even though my most recent one had some disappointment. They landed on 09L the whole time, so most of the traffic turned off the runway before getting to my room. It's best if they land or takeoff on 27R.
See, I knew American Eagle was first class all along!
MadameConcorde From Monaco, joined Feb 2007, 4582 posts, RR: 17 Reply 8, posted (1 year 5 months 5 days ago) and read 4299 times:
The Renaissance!
Reminds me of my Concorde days at LHR! Oh... Happy Days!!
Thank you for posting this report. Yes, there is the eternal problem with the windows that are not always clean! Still what a great place to watch the planes!
Concorde g-boab is sitting outside not very far from there. She is now looking at all her other aircraft friends flying around and taxiing not too far away, including the Singapore Airlines A380s.
There was a better way to fly. It was called Concorde.
Crownvic From United States, joined Oct 2004, 1154 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (1 year 5 months 4 days 16 hours ago) and read 4189 times:
I just came back from a long weekend at the Renaissance on the spotters package and loved it..I recommend the spotters package because the full buffet breakfast for two is included which was excellent and you can snack in the lounge early evening...that does save you some money as dinning can be quite costly. Only alternative is the McDonalds across the street..The coolest spotting to me was the first bank of arrivals about 5:00 am as all the Asia arrivals started to pour in including the A380...You could set your watch to their consistent arrival sequence every morning!
DFW13L From United States, joined Aug 2005, 902 posts, RR: 17 Reply 10, posted (1 year 5 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 3989 times:
Quoting Crownvic (Reply 9): I recommend the spotters package because the full buffet breakfast for two is included which was excellent and you can snack in the lounge early evening.
Yes, that covered most of my food for the weekend I was there as well. The food is very good too. Heavy appetizers at night and a full buffet breakfast in the morning. Free sodas and bottled water whenever you want to go in there and grab one from the club. Also there's a computer where you can use the internet for free, which was important for me, being a nonrev, keeping up with which flights looked OK for travel.
See, I knew American Eagle was first class all along!
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(Departure level on top floor.) See pics:
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