London FOAKs - Hotels around Leicester Square ?

I'm looking for something for FrightFest this year, anyone know of something
close to Leicester Square for 4 nights that won't break the bank, but
doesn't have cockroaches coming out of the skirting boards ?

 

Define "close"
Define "break the bank"

Cheap, Ibis Euston (sometimes).

 

Strand Palace

 

Inbetween Kings X and Leicester Square.
I hate paying more than £60 a night if I'm in the UK and its my own money,
and not the company credit card.

 

That should be interetsing, try for a B&B ?

Start Couchsurfing ?

 

MmmmHmm.... that's the fecking problem, Smooth Hound/Expedia etc list a
fucking shedload, but it's finding one that isn't sticky that is the
challenge ;-)

Also, I suppose it doesn't have to be in the vicinity; if it's no more than
3/4/5 tube stops away from Leicester Square.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, "Brownz (Mobile)"

There are two Travellodge hotels near Kings Cross.

They are both absolutely fucking shite.

 

Extraneous verbiage removed.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Ace

Heh. Fair-ish point. I've stayed in a couple that were tolerable for a
night.

The London ones were both filthy, with mould in the first room that one
offered me, and a cigarette stub behind the secondary double glazing in
the second.

I got a total refund for that episode. I'd have preferred a clean room.

 

Ah. Well we'll see for ourselves in three weeks time.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Colin Irvine

Ah.

My strong recommendation would be to cancel and rebook elsewhere.

In fact, we're 35 minutes from King's Cross by train from the nearest
town, and you'd be very welcome here.

 

That's a kind offer, and I shall consult. I suspect, however, that
since we just need somewhere to park up between the train from
Newcastle that evening and Eurostar to the Alps the next morning, and
we'll be loaded with ski stuff, we'll probably decide just to grin and
bear it.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Colin Irvine

No worries. If you want to change plans, give me a shout. For reference,
we're near Hitchin / Stevenage. So you could probably bail out from your
train at Stevenage and we'd collect you and drop you back there in the
morning.

Entirely up to you, we'd not be offended either way. :^)

 

Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury, Coram St. I've just spent the night there
and it was decent for a 4 star hotel. Nice room sizes. £90 it cost me.
Just next to Russel Sq tube station, so is in really easy reach of the
west end.

It's a bit more than you've budgeted for, but is worth the extra, IMO.

 

Where?

 

Meribel. Having stayed in Val Thorens early season a couple of times,
with many of the connections not working, we thought we should see the
whole 3V at least once in our lifetime.

 

Ahh, right. If you're not feeling rich at the mo I suggest taking a
packed lunch.

I've never had a problem getting all the way from VT to Courcheval and
back, but clearly YMV. Some great skiing there, no question, and
you'll soon find out where the regular icy patches develop on the
pinch-points around Meribel and Mottaret ;-)

Enjoy.

 

Given we're at a chalet with free wine [1] we won't have much to spend
our money on other than soup, chips and vin chaud at lunchtime.

Quite, but at Pat's speed and strength it wouldn't have given us much
time to explore once there.

No doubt.

Ta!

[1] using the term loosely

 

A week earlier and I would have bought you a beer.

 

Pity. I hope you've noted Ace's comment about icy spots - reinforced
over in rec.skiing.resorts.europe.