Contract Staying Away: Hotel Tips

[unixman]

Not stayed in Basingstoke. Go for a reasonable hotel, say Premier Inn standard. The better the accommodation the less stressed you will be. PI is good standard and they usually have a well populated bar/restaurant where you can make friends or at least acquaintances. Pretty waitresses too. Travelodge is borderline and just becomes stressful over time.

Renting would be great but I never managed it for one reason or another.

Gym in the evening is a winner. Followed by food shopping or restaurant meal, surfing the hotel wi-fi, reading in the bar, TV. One place I was at ran a good 5-a-side. Drinking with contractors is preferable to all the above, obviously.

[rob s]

I vary between renting a flat (6month+ gigs), renting a room in a shared house (spareroom.co.uk), finding a nice quiet B&B (bedandbreakfasts.co.uk or airbnb.co.uk) or going for a decent citycentre hotel.

If I'm new to a city, then I'll go with the city centre option for 2-3 weeks as I'd rather be right in the middle of the action (which may not be desirable for basingstoke) and then go for longer term option nearer to where I'm working (so I can sleep in later).

If it's a complete hole, and client has parking, then I'll take a B&B in a nearby nice village / countryside or above a pub.

In dead/winter season, I've had 70-80% discounted block rates at country hotel/spa places as their weekday occupancy can be shocking. Useful to book a week first, then have a chat with the manager.

[yasockie]

What would you guys recommend for 3 month contract in central London (City of Westminster, WC1).
I'm thinking of finding a room or a flatshare via gumtree, airbnb etc rather than a hotel but staying somewhere very central so I can walk or cycle to work and bugger off for the weekends?

[alreadypacked]

What would you guys recommend for 3 month contract in central London (City of Westminster, WC1).
I'm thinking of finding a room or a flatshare via gumtree, airbnb etc rather than a hotel but staying somewhere very central so I can walk or cycle to work and bugger off for the weekends?

When I work in the city I stay in Docklands, the catch the Thames Clipper to work.

P.S. virgin active, canary wharf. your very own spa on your doorstep.

[cojak]

When I work in the city I stay in Docklands, the catch the Thames Clipper to work.

P.S. virgin active, canary wharf. your very own spa on your doorstep.

I've not stayed East, I normally get digs opposite St Pancras and walk to work.

I might try that if I have the misfortune to take another London Contract.

[Lockhouse]

I've not stayed East, I normal get digs opposite St Pancras and walk to work.

I might try that if I have the misfortune to take another London Contract.

East London is pants (and I was born there). Stick to St Pancras. I rented in Canary Wharf and it's rubbish in the evenings.

[Sysman]

I vary between renting a flat (6month+ gigs), renting a room in a shared house (spareroom.co.uk), finding a nice quiet B&B (bedandbreakfasts.co.uk or airbnb.co.uk) or going for a decent citycentre hotel.

If I'm new to a city, then I'll go with the city centre option for 2-3 weeks as I'd rather be right in the middle of the action (which may not be desirable for basingstoke) and then go for longer term option nearer to where I'm working (so I can sleep in later).

If it's a complete hole, and client has parking, then I'll take a B&B in a nearby nice village / countryside or above a pub.

I'll start out in a city then look for the nice village / countryside spot.

In dead/winter season, I've had 70-80% discounted block rates at country hotel/spa places as their weekday occupancy can be shocking. Useful to book a week first, then have a chat with the manager.

I have done some excellent deals there, the best of which was a country pub which had empty rooms for the winter months. It was only an hour from home but it was a hard drive. Once I subtracted the fuel money I was saving I was only really paying for breakfast. The company in the evenings was good too.

Another good one was a cheap winter let of a holiday cottage. Very reasonable rent as the owners just wanted the place keeping warm. The furniture was only average so I imported my own telly, video and hifi.

[norrahe]

I've not stayed East, I normal get digs opposite St Pancras and walk to work.

I might try that if I have the misfortune to take another London Contract.

Try Aldgate, and do not go any further east than that. There are a lot of new builds there, and some nice flats. No matter how trendy they say Shoreditch or brick lane is, do not even think about there as its mostly council estates.

Docklands is ok, if you've got a gig there, but it is expensive and you need to ensure you're not near a tulipty area.

[OwlHoot]

What would you guys recommend for 3 month contract in central London (City of Westminster, WC1).
I'm thinking of finding a room or a flatshare via gumtree, airbnb etc rather than a hotel but staying somewhere very central so I can walk or cycle to work and bugger off for the weekends?

Working in towards central London, try any of Camden Town, Mornington Crescent, Bloomsbury, or Soho. Or from other directions, Pimlico or Elephant & Castle.

Shouldn't be hard to find a spare room in one of those places, although the first few may be harder due to all the students at Imperial College.

[TheFaQQer]

What would you guys recommend for 3 month contract in central London (City of Westminster, WC1).
I'm thinking of finding a room or a flatshare via gumtree, airbnb etc rather than a hotel but staying somewhere very central so I can walk or cycle to work and bugger off for the weekends?

I did a house share near Canada Water - near enough for a long walk home after work in Westminster in the summer, straight in by jubilee line otherwise.

The 21 year old Australian model / gym instructor who lived there was just another bonus of the location.