Hilton London Stansted Airport, Stansted

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Near airport
Disadvantages:	"airport hotel" but 4  *  hotel

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

* HILTON *
Hilton, well everyone knows the Hilton name some better because of Paris Hilton (best know in her TV-program The Simple Life, an heiress to a share of the Hilton Hotel fortune ), but if there is still some one who really don't know history behind this huge multi million hotel chain short info to all of you. Hilton brand is over 80 years old. It was founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton (great-grandfather of Paris). And it offers for guests clamour city centre hotels, all-suite hotels, destination resorts, airport hotels and even vacation ownerships. Hilton got nearly 3000 hotels in over 80 countries. One of best known Hilton hotels is Hilton hotel in Amsterdam and specially room 902 in there. In that room John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their first ever Bed-In For Peace in March 25 to March 31 1969. But I was in Standsted, UK. And not even room 902, actually now when I wrote this I can’t even remember my hotel room number. I think it’s one of those things you just don’t put in your mind.

* Booking *

You can book hotel rooms from Hilton Hotel web page or using another travel agents and their web page. I didn't need to book room because my company did it for me. Room prices are around 65 £ and up. My room was 50£ per night when two person is sharing, so I ended to pay only 25£ per night. It was my company's special deal with hotel chain.

* How to get there: *

Hilton Stansted Hotel is just 10min by shuttle bus from Stansted airport and its well "airport hotel" even it has whopping 4 stars!! (* * * * ) Shuttle transfers are charged at £2 per adult return (going to airport was free!!!!), children 16 or under travel free. Coach Service runs 04.00 - midnight, to the airport every half hour on the hour and the half hour and from the airport, every quarter past and quarter to the hour. For a service from the airport, you should go to the Hilton Stansted bus pick-up point (Bay 28). This was easy and cheap way to travel between airport and hotel. I use it nearly daily and save lot of money with it.

Hotel is around 30 miles from London city central and 20min from Cambridge and only 3 miles from the busy market town of Bishop's Stortford.

* Parking *

Hotel Hilton Stansted Airport hotel got huge parking area there are 574 parking spaces onsite. Parking is charged at £12.00 per 24 hour period. And you need to check in before parking. Very near Hilton Hotel where two other parking areas if you don’t want use hotel parking area. I didn't have car with me at this time.

* Rooms *
Hilton hotel had 2 different rooms:

- Deluxe Rooms is bright and airy 17m² rooms with high-speed internet access and a separate working area. The modern room is decorated in cool, calm tones. I room there is chair and Sony PlayStation for relaxing. Some rooms have wireless internet access.

- Hilton Room
Choose this bright and airy 17m² rooms for high-speed internet access and a separate working area. The contemporary room, in cool, calm tones, has double-aspect opening windows. Get to work at the desk or entertain yourself with the Sony PlayStation. Some rooms have wireless internet access.
I stayed this hotel summer 2006 for nearly 2 weeks and well...it was expensive but same time, nice. And my room was Hilton Room; we didn't got Sony PlayStation, what would be nice, after all 2 weeks is long time. And believe me after one week you need some entertainment for keep you happy.
Rooms where clean and always tidy (after maid!!!)

Rooms include:
- Clock (god, I hate that alarm sound)
- Hair Dryer (very powerful!!! +++l)
- Ironing Board (very handful for long period stay +++)
- Pay TV
- Radio (music was quite good, not just normal hotel piano music as normally, but actually real radio channels as well)
- Tea and Coffee Making Facilities (This was excellent, even I was hoping that hotel give some tea pag's in rooms, well it didn’t but we bought our own teas and make cuppa when ever we want it, with out paying lot in restaurant. And we even use tea kettle to heat our tin can pasta meals, excellent idea to make your stay more budget friendly)
- TV + TV Games
- Air Conditioning (why they never work as you want, it always too hot or too cold???)
- Direct dial line
- Trouser Press
- En suite shower and bath (and our room got cute little Hilton bath duck!!! Very nice bonus, well got kids or playful adults)
- BT Open zone - wireless broadband internet access

And as most of hotel rooms in world wild, I found Gideon Bible in my hotel room and also Hilton's book Be My Guest.

* Health Club *

Hotel got wonderful Living Well Health club with gym with indoor swimming pool and kid’s pool, and JACUZZI!! Living Well Health Club had cardiovascular and weight equipments and fully equipped Gym with on site trained fitness staff where always ready to help you. I use gym and sun beds daily, with nice relaxing time in Jacuzzi and pool. There was lovely young man working in Health club, ten points for him!! In "spa area" there was also sauna and steam room.

* Bar and Restaurant *

Hotel got bar and restaurant. Amy's Bar is VERY expensive and I eat in Amy's Restaurant only once (fish and chips, quite nice plate and not too expensive). Even restaurant said that it is à la carte I think it was quite far away it. It offers fish and sips and other dish where little bit other side of a'la carte. Restaurant is open everyday from 6.30 till 23.00 (last orders 22.00). Except Saturdays when it was closed for lunch. Bar staff where very friendly and ready for help you. We had one, two, ok, few drinks on couple night in bar. Drinks where very expensive. Pint of lager was nearly 4£ and cocktails 5£ and over.

* Room service *
Hotel got excellent Room service what was available 24 hours. I use it ones and it was not that expensive to use as I was expect. You can order same food than in restaurant not like some hotels got own room service menu.

* Breakfast *

Breakfast is served in Amy's Restaurant. Early as 06.30 when you can have Restaurant B'fast (Sat & Sun), Continental Breakfast: 05.00-07.00 and Full English B’Fast:07.00-10.00. Continental Breakfast: £11.50 English breakfast: £14.95. I hade breakfast only twice, but really enjoy it. Even I got discount for breakfast I think it was very expensive. I paid 9 pounds for my huge, full English breakfast with fruits and cakes, everything what you ever want eat, they got it.

* Other hotel areas *

- Lobby: Hotel lobby was good looking and there was lot of chairs to relax, it turn big meeting place for me and other friends who where staying there. There was also internet access. Minus point was that internet was not free. You bought card where was passport to internet from hotel reception and card what I bought was 15min card an it cost 10 pound. EXPENSIVE!!!!

Hotel book also said that there are free magazines...well during two weeks I didn't see any.

- “Garden”: From restaurant was access to “garden”, well lawn, and some trees. Nice wooden chairs for relaxing and enjoy sunny day. You could even enjoy your meal outside. I really was looking for bigger garden even I don’t think it would be too enjoyable because of huge air traffic above it.

* Hilton Fire alarms *

One funny accident happen while our stay, I was in Jacuzzi ( I was only one in spa area) when fire alarm went on and this lovely (good looking as well) guy who work in gym came to say that I need to go out for evacuation and out side (well, I was only one with towel,heheh). He made sure that I was warm, and I got bath rope and slippers from him. Still got those!! So there we where I and all hotels guest out side of hotel waiting for fire service arrive. Luckily they came very quickly and after quick check and all clear we get back in. Hotel offer hot drinks to everyone after this accident. There was not any fire just steam in kitchen made fire alarms on. I think staff handle evacuations very professional and without panic. And very quickly!!! I really felt safe in there after this. So fire alarms in Hilton really work. Later in our room I spoke with my friend who I was sharing room with. She said that she was polishing her nails when she hear fire alarm and blond as she is she really though that she set alarm with her nail polish. God I laugh!! Especially when she said that she was standing on bed and tries to get nail polish “gas” away near fire alarm.

* Finishing word’s *

Two weeks in any hotel is too much. I really was hoping to have that play station or some other games. Because just watching TV is not what I want to do every evening. And expensive bar is not ideal nether. I was expecting teabag’s with my tea-kettle from Hotel and microway. Ok now I want too much, after all I did get my very own Hilton bath duck and slippers and bath rope…what else you want. Staff was very nice and helpful. Hilton Stansted Hotel was not typical Hilton hotel, well not for me. It was just normal hotel with Hilton name on it. Nothing too posh, even you could accept more. After all it is Hilton, The Hilton. I don’t think I will stay in this hotel again, because if I need airport hotel near Stansted I will use another chain’s hotel, that one, next to airport. But I do recommend hotel to people who want cosy business hotel stay.

Thank you for reading this, again!