h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's lots of accommodation options in Manchester, if you want to let others know where you've found a good deal, or somewhere you've stayed before that's nice, stick a post in here.

Or, if there's somewhere to be avoided like the plague you're likely to get from their beds, let fellow researchers know too!

The hotel a whole load of us stayed at during the previous Man meet was actually pretty good - hotel bar open until 3 am, and *very comfy beds. I slept like a baby.

Ibis, wasn't it?

Yes the one on Charles street / Princess St.

One of the front office staff even, with some gentle and very innocent looking persuasion, gave me Witty's room number.

'Do you want me to call her up?' she asked.

'Hell no! She's probably sleeping off the jet lag!'

Hah! I was probably already at Port Street!

It was just past noon local time, Witty... so probably very late in the evening for you

On the Friday, I think...

The other away around, noon in Manchester would be 7:00 am back home. I slept on the plane over night and took a short nap after I checked in in the morning. Then I met Phil at the Font around 4:00, I think.

I stayed at Premier in, Deansgate locks, last time. Was fine. The whole town is walking distance!

I stayed in a hostel, which was grand, but I think I'll spring for a hotel this time. If I remember correctly, the cost wasn't really that different.

TRiG.

I'll stay wherever there's a good contingent of hootooers.

And a good hotel bar, of course.

I suppose with a Mouseling in tow it will have to be a hotel this time. A very very cheap hotel.

Recommendations gratefully considered.

The cheapest decent hotel I know of is the Accor on Salford Quays

OK... I'm starting to schedule things now. First on my schedule is my flight. I've been looking at flights.google.com over the last few weeks and I've got a good idea of my base price for my flight. Whether I fly directly into Manchester and then take the train to Edinburgh is a decision I'm still working on. The easiest flight plain is to fly into Edinburgh and take the train to Manchester. (Also, the idea of flying into London and taking the train is an option. I think I've ruled that out as the extra train time makes up for the time saved for the direct flight. Either way, I'm looking at between at least 11-15 hours.) Ideally, I believe I'll try to arrange my flight into Manchester on the 4th, then fly out of Edinburgh two weeks later.

Whatever I decide, I've set a deadline of the end of the month to book my flight.

So...


Do any of you have some advice?

Don't fly into London if you're basing your trip around Manchester and Edinburgh.

No UK (or European) airport is actually in the city it's named after, they're miles away. Manchester airport is about 10 to 15 minutes on the train from the city centre, but it's a very frequent service and the trains are geared up for people with luggage. I don't know about the Edinburgh ones, but with London you'd have to get a train into London, then the tube across London (which are definitely not geared up for luggage), probably with a couple of changes and then another train from London up north, and they aren't geared for luggage either. So if you can, fly into where you start, fly out of where you end. As long as the cost doesn't outweigh the inconvenience.

Also, before buying any train tickets in the UK, check back in here with the UK based researchers. We'll be able to tell you if you're being ripped off.
Trains like the ones from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccaddily you can just get the tickets from a machine on the platform, but for longer trips I would really advise booking in advance. This guarantees two things, first is that you'll actually get on the train, and second that you'll have somewhere to sit. Getting a seat booking doesn't cost any extra, they're free with the tickets.

Very helpful information.

Hmmm... I'm glad I double checked this page. There is another Hotel Ibis Manchester Centre on Princess street at Portland.

Has anyone made their reservations yet? Is the Ibis Charles/Princess the one to book?

Anyone staying at other hotels in the area?

It's probably best to wait until a venue for the meet is selected so a nearby hotel can be booked.

I really ought to go book that hadn't I?