Looking for inexpensive accommodation in or near London during the Olympics

Big Zeb wrote:

Why would someone (and admittedly I'm making the assumption this person is not European, therefore does not usually 'operate' in euros) quote a price that wasn't a) their own currency, or b) the currency of where they quoting?

Fair point, but you are making the assumption (perhaps incorrectly) that he/she is not European. A lot of times people assume that everyone here lives in the US (which I haven't for most of the past 5 years) when saying stuff like "it's on ESPN now." Another possibility is that the price, for whatever reason, was quoted in euros. I live in Asia and travel frequently, but when I make bookings for flights or hotels it is often in the currency of the country in which I'm staying, not traveling to (going through local/regional websites or being defaulted to that country's page of something like Travelocity). And while maybe I wouldn't expect everyone on a message board to know the exchange rate for Sing dollar or Korean won, if I booked a London room in euros because I was traveling through Europe - which I have done, incidentally - I probably wouldn't bother quoting the rate in dollars.

:)

nikeman wrote:

a friend and I are giving some serious consideration to going to London for the track and field portion of the Olympic games. Does anyone know of any places that are offering inexpensive accommodations or have a rental that they are interested in splitting the cost with ?

Have you ever been to London before?

just had a quick look on Travelodge

you could - for example - get a room in Croydon for £58 per night. The hotel is five mintues walk from East Croydon station which is on the mainline from Gatwick airport to Victoria in central London. Takes less than 20mins to get Victoria and trains run 24hrs a day.

http://www.travelodge.co.uk/search_and_book/index.php?action=search&check_from=&locationCode=0&quickform=Y&location=croydon&checkInDate=27%2F07%2F2012&checkOutDate=31%2F07%2F2012&no_of_rooms=1&adults_1=2&children_1=0&adults_2=1&children_2=0&adults_3=1&children_3=0&x=53&y=10

Bingo Jim wrote:

just had a quick look on Travelodge

you could - for example - get a room in Croydon for £58 per night. The hotel is five mintues walk from East Croydon station which is on the mainline from Gatwick airport to Victoria in central London. Takes less than 20mins to get Victoria and trains run 24hrs a day.

http://www.travelodge.co.uk/search_and_book/index.php?action=search&check_from=&locationCode=0&quickform=Y&location=croydon&checkInDate=27%2F07%2F2012&checkOutDate=31%2F07%2F2012&no_of_rooms=1&adults_1=2&children_1=0&adults_2=1&children_2=0&adults_3=1&children_3=0&x=53&y=10

yeah, but its in freaking croydon. hell on earth.

Email former Razorback runner Adam Dailey, he might be able to hook you up. He's the Managing Director at Ludus Tours.

(I'm not Adam, just a friend)

No, I've never been to London (or anywhere in Europe) before, just Australia and New Zealand.

I'm not 100% sure that I'm going, trying to see if it's financially possible for me. Still a chance that I might work for NBC while I'm there (I worked for them at the U.S.Trials)and if that's the case I'll definitely go.

I had already looked at the Travelodge sites on the edges of London and that seems like the best bet right now.

London, even without the Games, is one of the world's most expensive cities.

nikeman wrote:

No, I've never been to London (or anywhere in Europe) before, just Australia and New Zealand.

I'm not 100% sure that I'm going, trying to see if it's financially possible for me. Still a chance that I might work for NBC while I'm there (I worked for them at the U.S.Trials)and if that's the case I'll definitely go.

I had already looked at the Travelodge sites on the edges of London and that seems like the best bet right now.

If you are working for NBC,accredited staff are lodged at the

Broadcast Centre next to the BBC. Getting accredited was a 6 week process. UK immigration services,work Visa's,IOC approval. You will need a UK Tier 5 Visa , where NBC prepares the sponsorship paperwork. I hope this was submitted weeks ago.

Try student halls. eg these at UCL, prices around £40:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/residences/information

UCL Schafer House, Euston

Aug 4th - 12th

2 single rooms total £640 ($1000)

I stayed at one of these places, Ifor Evans Hall in Camden, but that was a while ago, it seems to be only group bookings these days. For the rest I'm surprised they still have rooms but it seems they do.