I flew into London-Gatwick from Belfast one night, and my consequent flight from London-Heathrow to Doha wasn’t leaving until the next morning. I was flying standby on the London-Heathrow to Doha leg, so I needed an early start to queue for a flight. Given this, instead of staying in the city, I found it more prudent to stay at the airport or near it. Unlike the other airport hotels that charged per night, YOTELAIR London Heathrow had rates in blocks of hours, so it was the most economical choice for me.
Being the cheapskate that I am, I took the Southern Railway and the bus to connect between the airports of London-Gatwick and London-Heathrow instead of the direct express bus—and goodness, to say it was a challenge with luggage in tow would be an understatement. But the good thing was that the bus stopped right in front of London-Heathrow Terminal 4, where YOTELAIR London-Heathrow was situated and, fortunately, where I was flying from the next morning with Qatar Airways.
From the bus stop, it wasn’t hard to find the hotel, thanks to the many signs leading to it. If my memory serves me right, it was just one level up from the arrivals floor.
Coming in, I already knew what to expect—a futuristic, funky hotel—and it was exactly how I envisioned it. A lovely lady who was cheery and friendly despite it being late night welcomed me into the hotel and checked me in quickly. Due to limited space, carts are not allowed in the premises, so I had to leave mine and take only my luggage into my room.
I was billeted in a Premium Cabin, which followed the futuristic theme of the hotel. A room good for two, it came equipped with a cozy double “SmartBed,” which with a press of a button awesomely retracted from a full bed into a sofa. The bed also had storage space underneath, which was perfect for all my luggage.
The room had a desk with a chair, a TV, lots of power points, super fast wi-fi, and cool mood lighting. The bathroom was separated by a glass partition and had a shower with great pressure. Bottled water and earplugs were provided, and tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and additional bottled water may be requested for free 24/7.
The hotel offers food and drinks for purchase but only from a limited selection, so already anticipating this, I brought in a full dinner from Marks & Spencer, which the lady at the reception kindly heated for me.
After eating, watching TV, and answering emails, I was able to get more than four hours of sleep out of the six hours I stayed there. Even without earplugs, my sleep wasn’t disturbed by any noise from the hall, but then again, I’m no light sleeper.
The next morning, I woke up well-rested, and thankfully, I had the chance to take a nice shower before the long journey home ahead.
WHY STAY THERE?
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It’s the most economical option for short daytime or overnight layovers.
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It’s conveniently located inside London-Heathrow Terminal 4.
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Rooms are clean and appointed perfectly for layovers.
Note: YOTELAIR London-Heathrow is located at the landside area of London-Heathrow Terminal 4. Therefore, those wanting to stay there must satisfy entry requirements of the United Kingdom and clear customs, immigration, and quarantine—even when only transiting to a third destination outside the UK. Philippine passport holders require a visa to enter the United Kingdom.
YOTELAIR LONDON HEATHROW
Arrivals Mezzanine Landside, London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4, Hounslow, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 207 100 1100
Email: customer@yotel.com
Website: www.yotel.com/en/hotels/london-heathrow-airport
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
