Somewhere to stay near Gatwick...

Sure I could stay at the Hilton again, but the facilities inside Gatwick airport in early september for eating etc was the Giraffe cafe, the one next door and a small Wetherspoons. Even less on the North side...

Is there some town close by, not too much by taxi, with a decent hotel which anyone has stayed in recently? I'm not fond of hotel food, and sure the place is getting worked on, but its not got much really...

Or is it Hilton and Wetherspoons again?

[Darren Wheeler]

Last stay there for me was at the Holiday Inn.

As it's an airport hotel. it won't win too many prizes but was comfortable enough for one night. There's also a Tesco within walking distance for any last-minute bits. It's on the shuttle bus route.

Horley is the nearest town, but apart from a few takeaways, it's best avoided.

There is a Hilton with a direct connection to the South Terminal, but you will pay for the convenience.

The local town is Crawley which offers a lot of the usual mainstream eateries in close proximity to each other, taxi is £5.50ish, town - Gatwick.
The Arora in Crawley is ideal, in the town centre. There is also the Ramada a little further out but close to Sainsburies. The Sofitel is situated towards the North terminal of the airport which means I guess, it may be pricier.
There are lots of well travelled visitors to this forum who could give you the low down on the hotels. I can only give a low down of Crawley - living here myself!

The Copthorne in the village of the same name. Village pub not so far either.

I have stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott the last couple of times and really enjoyed it, it is a walk down to the South Terminal or you can catch the shuttle. It does have a lively bar and restaurant. Failing that a M&S Food store is across the road.

My vote goes to the Crowne Plaza.

Nice comfortable rooms and a good pool. The Cube restaurant is pretty good too.
If you dont fancy eating in then there is a Toby carvery 5 minutes walk away or Crawley town centre with lots of choice for places to eat is only ten mintes away.

Thanks everyone, I came to the conclusion as to the Arora perhaps but its shuttle was once an hour. But I suppose its that close that a taxi isn't that expensive...

[mitchja]

Another vote for the Courtyard by Marriott. That's always my hotel choice now if I fly from LGW. It's only a 10 minute walk to McD's and a Petrol station.

Be warned though that hotel is in a mobile phone network black hole. None of the networks work very well inside the hotel (although last time I was there the manager did say they where addressing this issue)

[Scrooge]

Another vote for the Crown Plaza, we always stay there, mostly because if you hop over one of the walls your in my nans back garden, but it's close to a few shopping places.

There is also a shuttle that runs to LGW.