Our long-awaited trip to the USA was finally on the horizon, and to make things even smoother, we decided to travel down to Heathrow the day before our flights. This gave us a chance to relax, avoid the dreaded early-morning rush, and even squeeze in a little fun along the way, it also saved us around £700 versus flying direct from Manchester.
Our first stop? Stevenage! We had a fantastic collaboration planned with the wonderful team at Creams Cafe. If you know us, you know we have a serious sweet tooth, and Creams certainly didn’t disappoint. We indulged in a glorious array of their signature desserts – think towering sundaes, warm cookie dough, sweet waffles and luxurious hot chocolate. It was the perfect sugar rush to kick off our pre-holiday adventure. A huge thank you to Creams Cafe Stevenage for their warm welcome and delicious treats!
With our sugar levels sufficiently elevated, we continued our journey towards Heathrow. Our accommodation for the night was the Hilton London Heathrow Terminal 5, a choice we were incredibly pleased with. We managed to snag a brilliant deal: a family room with 15 days of parking, all for just £223! This was a fantastic value, especially considering the cheapest park and ride at Heathrow was around £200 for 2 weeks.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a lovely surprise. Our family room had been thoughtfully decorated for Mark’s birthday! Balloons, a towering towel cake, and a special birthday message added a personal touch that made our stay even more memorable.
We dropped our bags and headed down to the hotel's bar & restaurant. The atmosphere was relaxing perfect for unwinding after a day of travel. We ordered some nachos to share and enjoyed chicken kebab wraps whilst the boys tucked into a pizza, it was all delicious.
Our flight the next morning was at 10am so we were planning to arrive at the airport for 7am ready to check our bags. We headed back to the room for an early night although it was a little difficult with everyone buzzing with excitement. The comfortable beds at the Hilton ensured a restful sleep, leaving us feeling refreshed and ready for our flight.
The next morning, we woke up feeling fresh and energised at 5am. Heathrow T5 is only a short drive away and the hotel run a shuttle bus every 30 minutes which costs £13 for a family ticket. We planned to get the 6am shuttle, which arrived promptly outside the hotel lobby. It meant that we were at the airport before the check in desks opened but i would rather be early to the airport and leave time in case of any unexpected delays
Travelling down to Heathrow the day before our flight was a fantastic decision, as it allowed us to:
- Avoid the stress of a last-minute rush.
- Enjoy a fun stop at Creams Cafe in Stevenage.
- Relax and unwind at the comfortable Hilton London Heathrow T5 Hotel.
- Celebrate Mark’s birthday with a special touch.
- Secure, convenient and affordable parking.
We highly recommend this approach to anyone embarking on a long-haul flight. It truly made the start of our trip smooth and enjoyable. And with the fantastic deal we found at the Hilton, it was also incredibly budget-friendly!
Now, it’s time for us to dive into our American adventure! Stay tuned for more updates from across the pond.
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