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London

BOSTON

Staying At The Holiday Inn Express Luton Airport

If you are taking an early morning flight out of Luton Airport – this hotel review blog post is for you! To save on sleep, I booked myself in at the Holiday Inn Express at Luton Airport, and wanted to share my experience with you. You can read my review below or watch me give a room tour and review in the YouTube video below.

Why The Holiday Inn Express?

I chose the Holiday Inn Express because it is literally the closest walkable hotel to Luton Airport. It took me about seven minutes to walk there, with a straightforward path through an underpass that felt safe and manageable. There’s also a shuttle bus that runs if you prefer not to walk but I recommend you get the shuttle schedule in advance.

Room Tour Overview

You can see all of these in greater detail with my video above. Upon checking into my room, here’s what I found:

  • Living Area: The room features a small table and chairs with handy outlet sockets, and a couch that might double as a sleeper sofa.
  • Bed: The bed comes with both firm and soft pillows, catering to different preferences. I’m team firm, so I appreciated this touch.
  • Amenities: There’s a luggage rack, a trash bin, a set of mugs, a kettle, a flat screen TV, and a few menus. The bar downstairs was lively, suggesting it’s a popular hangout spot.
  • View: The window offered a view of some old-school airplanes and the airport itself, which is right next door.
  • Closet Space: A mini ironing board, iron, hairdryer, and a modest number of hangers were available.
  • Bathroom: The bathroom was basic but clean, with a simple vanity area, generic soap dispensers, and towels.

Rates and Booking

At the time of my stay, I booked my room for around £100 per night. I have also used my IHG points for subsequent stays, taking advantage of my IHG Gold status.

Breakfast

Breakfast starts early at around 4 AM, catering to travelers with early flights. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a chance to try it due to my 6 AM flight. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the food options at Luton Airport itself, including a fantastic Spanish place offering freshly sliced cured meats and delicious baguette sandwiches.

Final Thoughts

Would I stay at the Holiday Inn Express at Luton Airport again? Absolutely. Its proximity to the airport—just a seven-minute walk—is incredibly convenient for early flights or late arrivals. The hotel met all my needs for a short, restful stay before my flight.

There were no significant issues or nitpicks during my stay. While I didn’t use the shower, the bed was comfortable, and the overall experience was as advertised.

For more of my travel blog posts and hotel reviews, please visit: https://thesavvybostonian.com/category/travel/

LONDON, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL

New On My London Guide: Clipstone, E&O, Coya, Pret A Porter Tea at The Berkley, The Wallace Collection Museum

As an American expat living in London, one of the most-asked questions that I get is…what should I do when I’m in London? As a result, My London Guide was born. My London Guide is a never-ending list of all of the places I have been to in London and would recommend. On a regular basis, I audit the list for places that have gone out of business and add new places in. In my latest round-up, I am adding:

  1. Clipstone – A charming bistro in Fitzrovia with excellent food
  2. E&O Notting Hill – A delightful pan-Asian restaurant
  3. Coya – A splurge-y Mayfair Peruvian restaurant, but well worth it
  4. The Berkley Pret A Porter Afternoon Tea – A fashion-themed afternoon tea that makes for the perfect girls afternoon out in London
  5. The Wallace Collection Museum – A somewhat hidden gem of a museum in London’s Marylebone that often gets overshadowed by the city’s more famous ones
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LONDON, RESTAURANTS

New On My London Guide: The Elgin, BananaTree, Il Trillo, Azteca, and Bluebird

Even with all of the upheaval this year, I am still enjoying many lovely meals out in London. The restaurant industry has been hit hard by COVID-19, and I believe it is important to support local restaurants, as the government guidelines allow.

If you’re new to The SavvyBostonian Blog, I keep a massive London Guide which links to all of my recommended places in London. From restaurants to excellent cocktails, things to do, and more, I’ve got you covered. For my latest additions to my London Guide, I’m adding:

  • The Elgin – A lovely local pub in Maida Vale
  • BananaTree – A Pan-Asian chain with delicious food
  • Il Trillo – A chic Italian restaurant with outstanding food
  • Azteca – A Mexican restaurant with dangerously good cocktails
  • Bluebird – A trendy Chelsea spot made famous by reality TV

Read on – but be warned, the food photos will make you hungry!

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LONDON

Snippets of My Life In London During COVID-19

Like many of you around the world, my life has changed during COVID-19. I’m grateful to be healthy and at home self-isolating. As the guidance in the UK is that we can leave the house once daily to shop for essentials and for a walk or run, I have occasionally been leaving the house. During this time, I have captured photos to showcase what my life has been like here and wanted to share them with you.

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