Posting here because at least one person has requested further details about a stay in the Yotel - mods feel free to move if it should be somewhere else...
I've known about the Yotel concept for a few years but never had the chance to stay there. When I changed my travel plans a week or so before flying, I decided to try out the concept as I would be getting to LHR late in the evening and then knowing me and my usual hyper state before travel, up very early in the am. Given that I was in UC, I also didn't need to pay for a breakfast that I wouldn't eat at the hotel.
I consequently booked my standard cabin from 22.30 hrs to 07.30 hrs. Bookings are for a minimum of four hours and rates are calculated on the actual time between check in and check out.
I printed out my confirmation invoice (standard reaction these days and a good job I did so!). Eventually collected my bags at T5 at about 22.10 ish. From there it took less than 20 minutes to get across to T4 - much less than I had originally estimated.
The Yotel is situated on the mezzanine level of the departures area of T4. You have to exit the train station, walk through the terminal and then take another lift up opposite check in area E, if I recall correctly. The Yotel itself is tucked away by the pub on the mezzanine level. This was obviously closed by the time I got there as the staff were putting chairs on tables and cleaning up.
Turning into the Yotel, you come across two computer screens on your right, if everything is working correctly, you should check in here and then swipe the card delivered to get through the door. This is where the system fell apart. One screen wouldn't respond and then when I tried the next, it was slow and the keyboard clunky and old fashioned... Got part way through the process, had entered ref number and my cc details and then the screen just froze, wouldn't reboot, move etc. Spent a few minutes studying the screen and willing it to move and then turned around and saw a woman move back behind the counter visible through the clear entry door. I waved to her and she let me through.
After checking in, I grabbed a bottle of water and a can of diet coke, didn't feel hungry just very thirsty. Found my cabin very easily. Standards are classed as upper and lower, depending on where the bunk lies. I had an upper cabin, so my bed was like the top deck of bunk beds. There is a fold down step to allow you to get up, looks more flimsy than it is. So there was a bunk, a small space - enough to stand in and put a case / bag in. I had a medium trolley bag and there was enough space to fit it in standing and lengthwise. The bunk became home to my laptop bag and handbag as it was more than big enough to house both me and them. I spread my self around it!
I checked in with home but my phone connection came and went. Wifi connection was good and easy to connect to. Didn't switch on the tv that was fittted into the bulkhead space. There were at least two plugpoints available and a variety of lighting combinations. A small blind pulled down over the windo in the door.
After checking the NATS / Virgin websites once more, I settled down to an anxious sleep. Didn't sleep well but not the room's fault, more the tension caused by the encroaching ash cloud. Woke up just before my alarm on my phone (5.45 ish) and checked the Virgin website with trepidation - YAY!
Got up and had a lovely long shower. Bathroom is small - wide enough for one person but fitted in sink, toilet and a lovely, powerful rain shower. And was very clean too. The water came up to the lip between the roomspace and the bathroom but didn't go over. Nice big towel provided.
Packed up, final check of the presence of all my documents and case keys etc and headed out to the desk. Different staff, checked out, headed down the ramp and found that my details were still visible on frozen screen....Turned round and informed her and she went to restart it there and then. Headed off to T3.
I'd stay there again but next would consider upgrading to a Superior cabin - from the website it appears that these are on one level and have more space. I didn't find any lack of height space when standing but I'm only 5ft 4 so may be claustrophobic for someone taller. I'm wider than average
and didn't feel as though I was short of space in terms of either the bed area of the cabin space. For me it was perfect, I was on my own, didn't have very much luggage (relatively speaking) and was only going to be there for a short time overnight.
If circumstances were different (different flights to LHR, no CH access after check in etc), I'd probably consider one of the more 'normal' hotels around LHR.
(edited date of stay!)
I've known about the Yotel concept for a few years but never had the chance to stay there. When I changed my travel plans a week or so before flying, I decided to try out the concept as I would be getting to LHR late in the evening and then knowing me and my usual hyper state before travel, up very early in the am. Given that I was in UC, I also didn't need to pay for a breakfast that I wouldn't eat at the hotel.
I consequently booked my standard cabin from 22.30 hrs to 07.30 hrs. Bookings are for a minimum of four hours and rates are calculated on the actual time between check in and check out.
I printed out my confirmation invoice (standard reaction these days and a good job I did so!). Eventually collected my bags at T5 at about 22.10 ish. From there it took less than 20 minutes to get across to T4 - much less than I had originally estimated.
The Yotel is situated on the mezzanine level of the departures area of T4. You have to exit the train station, walk through the terminal and then take another lift up opposite check in area E, if I recall correctly. The Yotel itself is tucked away by the pub on the mezzanine level. This was obviously closed by the time I got there as the staff were putting chairs on tables and cleaning up.
Turning into the Yotel, you come across two computer screens on your right, if everything is working correctly, you should check in here and then swipe the card delivered to get through the door. This is where the system fell apart. One screen wouldn't respond and then when I tried the next, it was slow and the keyboard clunky and old fashioned... Got part way through the process, had entered ref number and my cc details and then the screen just froze, wouldn't reboot, move etc. Spent a few minutes studying the screen and willing it to move and then turned around and saw a woman move back behind the counter visible through the clear entry door. I waved to her and she let me through.
After checking in, I grabbed a bottle of water and a can of diet coke, didn't feel hungry just very thirsty. Found my cabin very easily. Standards are classed as upper and lower, depending on where the bunk lies. I had an upper cabin, so my bed was like the top deck of bunk beds. There is a fold down step to allow you to get up, looks more flimsy than it is. So there was a bunk, a small space - enough to stand in and put a case / bag in. I had a medium trolley bag and there was enough space to fit it in standing and lengthwise. The bunk became home to my laptop bag and handbag as it was more than big enough to house both me and them. I spread my self around it!
I checked in with home but my phone connection came and went. Wifi connection was good and easy to connect to. Didn't switch on the tv that was fittted into the bulkhead space. There were at least two plugpoints available and a variety of lighting combinations. A small blind pulled down over the windo in the door.
After checking the NATS / Virgin websites once more, I settled down to an anxious sleep. Didn't sleep well but not the room's fault, more the tension caused by the encroaching ash cloud. Woke up just before my alarm on my phone (5.45 ish) and checked the Virgin website with trepidation - YAY!
Got up and had a lovely long shower. Bathroom is small - wide enough for one person but fitted in sink, toilet and a lovely, powerful rain shower. And was very clean too. The water came up to the lip between the roomspace and the bathroom but didn't go over. Nice big towel provided.
Packed up, final check of the presence of all my documents and case keys etc and headed out to the desk. Different staff, checked out, headed down the ramp and found that my details were still visible on frozen screen....Turned round and informed her and she went to restart it there and then. Headed off to T3.
I'd stay there again but next would consider upgrading to a Superior cabin - from the website it appears that these are on one level and have more space. I didn't find any lack of height space when standing but I'm only 5ft 4 so may be claustrophobic for someone taller. I'm wider than average
and didn't feel as though I was short of space in terms of either the bed area of the cabin space. For me it was perfect, I was on my own, didn't have very much luggage (relatively speaking) and was only going to be there for a short time overnight. If circumstances were different (different flights to LHR, no CH access after check in etc), I'd probably consider one of the more 'normal' hotels around LHR.
(edited date of stay!)
Last edited by Mandy Hall on 26 May 2010, 10:08, edited 1 time in total.
