By Lakshmi:
This year, I wanted to wake up in London on my birthday. And since it was my birthday, I wanted to start the day some place nice. There was only one obstacle to this beautiful dream. Given my aversion to paying sky-high prices for hotels and my desire to be at the heart of the city, getting a lovely room appeared impossible.
We arrived at London Paddington at noon, the exact time that the Hotel Tonight app releases last-minute hotel deals. Could Lady Luck favor us? There were indeed a few hotel rooms available in London that night. Scanning through a list, the Montagu Place Hotel caught our eye. It would cost us under $200. The hotel was a lovingly restored townhouse conveniently located to four tube stops. There was more….the hotel had fantastic reviews, had earned a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2013 and carried Molton Brown toiletries in the bathroom.
My fingers worked quickly to snag the deal. It was one of the easiest hotel bookings to make. Within nanoseconds, I had my confirmation and we boarded the tube to Marylebone from where the hotel was a quick 5 minute walk. Situated among beautiful homes in a leafy, upscale neighborhood, the Montagu Place was easy to miss. The lobby was intimate and lovely, stocking some of the latest magazines and maps. The staff was incredibly welcoming, acknowledging my upcoming event and even remembering to wish me the next morning.
The room was spacious and well-appointed; the bathroom huge by European standards. We indulged in every ounce of the Molton Brown toiletries and were so so grateful to snag a beautiful room in the heart of London for a bargain.
If you are an impulsive traveler, do check out the HotelTonight app. You can learn more about HotelTonight at
If the Montagu Place Hotel intrigues you, please do visit their website at
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