New Harbour Hotel Southampton

[Stephen]

Opens this Autumn.

It will have to be competitive with the other nearby hotels, but it looks pricey.

http://www.southampton-harbour-hotel.co ... er-signup/

[Dancing Queen]

Yes I looked at this a couple of months ago and it is pricey looks lovely though ( sorry can't remember what the room rate was ) but the Grand Harbour was pricey when it first opened, I remember paying £300 + there just because I wanted to try it, I would add I wouldn't normally pay that for an overnight stay give it twelve months and the prices will probably come down just as the GH did.

[GillD46]

There are starting to accept bookings in about 10 days as I emailed them about a December booking.

[Manoverboard]

I made an advance booking at the Heathrow Sofitel Hotel many months before it opened, I was one of the first to book ... and to pay c £200 for the privilege. Much closer to the booking date I checked on Holiday Extras and the same room grade was £99 for the same date so I booked at that price and cancelled the direct booking with the Hotel.

Don't say you didn't get a heads up

[GillD46]

I made an advance booking at the Heathrow Sofitel Hotel many months before it opened, I was one of the first to book ... and to pay c £200 for the privilege. Much closer to the booking date I checked on Holiday Extras and the same room grade was £99 for the same date so I booked at that price and cancelled the direct booking with the Hotel.

Don't say you didn't get a heads up

I do that all the time. I booked the Sofitel at T5 almost a year ago for next month. It was over £200. We now have it at just over £110!

Likewise, I have a booking for the Shangri La in Hong Kong for next March, I am sure nearer the time I will be able to reduce the cost.

[Dancing Queen]

I made an advance booking at the Heathrow Sofitel Hotel many months before it opened, I was one of the first to book ... and to pay c £200 for the privilege. Much closer to the booking date I checked on Holiday Extras and the same room grade was £99 for the same date so I booked at that price and cancelled the direct booking with the Hotel.

Don't say you didn't get a heads up

I do that all the time. I booked the Sofitel at T5 almost a year ago for next month. It was over £200. We now have it at just over £110!

Likewise, I have a booking for the Shangri La in Hong Kong for next March, I am sure nearer the time I will be able to reduce the cost.

So do I I secured our booking for December at the GH on a free cancellation so I knew I had a room as very often they do get booked up in December with Xmas parties, we later decided to do the cruise package as it was a great price plus the last time we did the cruise package we were upgraded to a junior suite so I'm rather hoping it might happen again as I've also booked an extra night too, unfortunately whilst it is on a free cancellation if I cancelled I would lose the £50 deposit so the new one will have to wait for the next one.

Will be really interested to hear your opinion of the new hotel if you book it Gill.

[GillD46]

Jo - if it's at all within a reasonable budget, we'll definitely be giving it a try. I do have the GH booked on a free cancellation basis, just in case, as like you, it's for December.

[Stephen]

From the email reply I recieved today from Harbour Hotel central reservations it will be opening the 2nd October.

[Mervyn and Trish]

We'll be booking a hotel with parking for our next cruise as we don't have free parking on this one. Probably the Hilton again as they do a good deal with efficient transfers included. Might try this one in the future though when we do have a parking inclusive cruise deal

[Stephen]

We're keeping an eye on the Hilton Doubletree prices just outside of Southampton city centre for our October cruise. We stayed there last year when it was being refurbished and got a really good price for db&b. Unfortunately not any more.

[Boris+]

I suspect that in the fullness of time things will get sorted out, but calling this new place Harbour is going to create confusion with passengers and non-local taxi drivers alike; and for some passengers this is going to start right at the point of booking.

We are content with the Grand Harbour (at the moment)- we like the parking there, we like the closeness to amenities, and we're not willing to opt for a brand new gussied up gin palace. However, if (and that's a big IF) we see a decent tariff at this new place, and if we think that their parking is ok, we might chop and change from our current GH booking for later this year too.

[david63]

It is not something that will affect us as we prefer to stay outside of Southampton on the night before a cruise and have a leisurely hour's drive down to the port - it fills up the time!

Strangely we were in the area of this hotel last week and whilst we were not looking for it there was no sign of it - perhaps we had not gone far enough out of town.

I suspect it will become a "favourite" for some especially if they are embarking from either Ocean or QEll Terminals but seems some way from Mayflower and City Terminals.

[GillD46]

Not far, certainly walking distance to West Quay. Harbour hotels are a brand and are lovely and it will definitely become our choice if the price is acceptable. Having said that, we do like the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl - NOT the other Hilton! And the Grand Harbour if we need an alternative.

[Stephen]

Like you David we prefer to stay outside of Southampton, away from the riff raff

[david63]

Doesn't look as if they will be doing "Park & Stay"

Valet parking is available on site and we have space for approximately 40 cars. There are an additional 80 secure spaces in a local multi storey car park located nearly. If you require parking please let our team know when making your booking.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Seems to vary from time to time. We stayed there in January and got d,b&b plus 30 nights parking and transfers for less than parking alone at the port.

[david63]

Seems to vary from time to time. We stayed there in January and got d,b&b plus 30 nights parking and transfers for less than parking alone at the port.

You probably would - in fact I am surprised that they even charged you as it would have been a building site

[Mervyn and Trish]

No that was the Hilton! Doh!

But although the new one doesn't have prices yet it does have vouchers on sale and you can buy a voucher for Sunday night for two people in a marina view double with b&b and £27.50 each towards dinner for £109. That's cheaper than the Premier Inn!

[Stephen]

Seems to vary from time to time. We stayed there in January and got d,b&b plus 30 nights parking and transfers for less than parking alone at the port.

You probably would - in fact I am surprised that they even charged you as it would have been a building site

My thoughts too

[Boris+]

I don't like the idea of leaving our car keys for hotel parking, and not willing to park in a multi storey either.

[wolfie]

The one time we stayed at an hotel with free parking, Holiday Inn, Herbert Walker Avenue, we did not have to leave our keys but, we also preferred, when we used to drive down, to stay a short drive away, say Winchester.

Now we just book our usual driver to take us down so we have no worries about car parking at all.

[david63]

What is the difference with leaving your car keys with an hotel and leaving them with CPS?

[Stephen]

I can sort of understand it. With CPS your car is parked up and that is it. With a hotel you never know who is going to be moving it around.

[towny44]

I can sort of understand it. With CPS your car is parked up and that is it. With a hotel you never know who is going to be moving it around.

You don't think that maybe at busy times CPS might need to move your car around?
However I do much prefer the ABP system used at City Terminal where you park up and your car stays put the whole cruise, you would think with so much derelict space around the current terminals, especially Mayflower, that P&O could somehow operate the same system. Maybe its because customer service is not part of P&O's DNA. ( Ooh sorry but I just can't help myself sometimes. )

[david63]

I do much prefer the ABP system used at City Terminal where you park up and your car stays put the whole cruise

That's all well and good just as long as you are returning to the same terminal otherwise the CPS system is better where your car is waiting for you at the terminal into which you return.