2012 Olympics Accommodation

With the Olympics just around the corner at less than 3 weeks away, time is really starting to run out for making those last minute arrangements if you're visiting the games. Most importantly is of course making sure you've got your tickets for the events! Coming after that, but possibly being just as important, is making travel and accommodations arrangements.

It was originally not recommended to wait until last minute to book London 2012 Olympic accommodation, as London anticipated a huge surge of visitors flocking to the city. Indeed it is expected that 294,000 visitors will be coming from overseas, and 587,000 UK visitors, all needing overnight accommodation. However, to put it plainly, the bookings have just yet failed to materialise. Part of the reason for this may be because of the huge increase in room rates for the Olympic Period. Compared to last year's rates, most London hotel's prices have gone up by 75%. A study conducted by which? Travel finds some hotel chains have put their tariffs up by a ridiculous 400%. With prices that high, no wonder visitors are being put off staying over in the city and are looking elsewhere. Due to the lack of interest, many city hotels have since dropped their rates taking them to on average £160 per room per night, a drop of 24%.

This pricing is still unreasonably high for many people though, and so they are doing what is viewed as the sensible thing to do, and looking in the surrounding areas of the capital for their Olympic accommodation. After all there is plenty of it, and much more reasonably priced, as hotels in the surrounding areas have to compete with each other by offering the best deals.

Hotels in Berkshire are being praised for their locality with excellent transport links into London. Stirrups Country House Hotel near Bracknell for example has the benefit of being close to both Bracknell and Ascot train stations which get you into London in less than an hour, whilst remaining in the scenic Berkshire countryside away from endless crowds and noise. Other such hotels in this area are also close to Windsor, perfect for the Olympic rowing at Dorney Lake. These options may involve a little more travel time, but you are rewarded with wonderful views of two sides of Great Britain; glorious countryside for your overnight accommodation, and the hustle and bustle of the city during the day. A beautiful way to celebrate the games being in our green and pleasant land.

So the lesson to be reminded here is: booking your 2012 Olympic accommodation last minute and getting a good deal is achievable, but don't be fooled by the sudden drops in rates for London hotels. There are much better deals in the vicinity of the capital where you are likely to be a lot more comfortable and experience better value for money.

Olympic Accommodation London

When I think of the Olympics in London this year, my first thought (just after sports and athletics of course) is - people. There are going to be lots, and lots, of people coming to London and it is going to be very, very busy... During the Summer, London is busy enough as it is with tourists travelling from all over the world to see the capitals historical monuments. It's easy to believe that London is the second most visited city in the entire world, sitting just behind Paris. But I think with the influx of people swarming to the Olympics this year we may manage to steal the title of first place!

With so many people due to be in the city at the same time, there is a high demand for hotel rooms, and I've seen some hotels charging absolutely extortionate prices purely because of their locations - not because they're any good. While looking for my Olympic accommodation in London, I just wasn't prepared to pay above the odds for a below average room. I really wanted to get my money's worth and believed accommodation that was good and reasonably priced could be found, if I was just prepared to widen my search area a little. I realised that I didn't need to stay right in the centre of London surrounded by people all the time, just so I could be close to the Olympic stadium. I could just as easily stay in the surrounding areas where good transport links could take me into the city every day.

I'm glad I thought like this as I believe I've found the perfect place for my Olympic accommodation near London. A countryside retreat called Stirrups Country House Hotel will be the perfect haven to come back to after what is bound to be a hectic day in the city. Nestled in the Berkshire countryside close to both Bracknell and Ascot, this traditional hotel can offer me a luxuriously styled and furnished room for as little as £125 a night. Travelling into London on the train from either Bracknell or Ascot takes less than an hour into Waterloo, where I can hop on the Jubilee line straight into Stratford. Even with the costs of travel it will still cost much less than a hotel room in the city! I know I'll be getting my money's worth with this hotel, it looks simply beautiful with fantastic grounds and gardens, and a bar and restaurant with prices that will be easy on my wallet - especially when compared to what I expect the food to cost at the Olympic stadium!

I would urge anyone looking for cheaper Olympic accommodation London for this year to cast their net a little further and be prepared to find gems in the surrounding areas - and everyone's first stop should be Stirrups Country House Hotel.

Book Hotel for London Olympics

What a fantastic year for sportsmen. The Olympics coming to London in 2012. I can't quite believe the time is finally here myself, even after 4 years of build up it seems like only yesterday it was announced. Following the announcement everyone's immediate reaction was to begin worrying. The whole nation worrying over money and spending, building the stadium, public transport... "What hell it's going to be!" exclaimed everyone I spoke to about it after the announcement. But that's just a typical depiction of Britain as a nation isn't it? A nation of worriers bonding together over an event that is, quite frankly, a fantastic opportunity for our country. But that wasn't me, I was beyond excited. As a youth I was an athlete and competed in my fair share of competitions across the UK and even stretching into Europe. An injury forced me into early retirement from sports but my love and interest in Athletics has never faded. The Olympics coming around every 4 years has kept me an avid fan and I could not be more pleased and proud that it's come to London again for the first time in 64 years.

Often I go the distance and travel to the host country to watch the events, so I'm grateful this year it's a lot closer to home! Though not quite close enough; I still had to book a hotel for the London Olympics, as it isn't feasible for me to travel there and back in a day for each event. This isn't a problem though, I'm looking forward to travelling across the UK with my wife and family to show my dedication and pride in British athletes.

In particular I'm looking forward to the rowing. I managed to get tickets for Olympic Rowing at Dorney Lake - what luck! Following the rowing I have tickets for the Men's 100 metres, the day after in London. What a spectacular event that's going to be. But once I'd found out what tickets I had and where I had to be in a tight timescale, it was clear whatever hotel I chose to book for the London Olympics had to have a great location with easy transport links in and around Berkshire and into London.

Luckily I've found just the place. Stirrups Country House Hotel in Berkshire is situated perfectly for me to drive to Eton Dorney for the rowing, and to catch the train from Bracknell or Ascot into London the next day for the running. What a perfect hotel to book for the London Olympics! My family have got a fantastic deal on a room for less than £160, I dread to think what kind of prices people might pay in the centre of London! There's simply no need to stay surrounded by the hustle and bustle all the time, when you can have a peaceful countryside retreat to come back to after a hectic day. A perfect mix of comfort and relaxation after what are bound to be thrilling days.

See, I told you there was nothing to worry about.