Published by Andrew on 29 March 2017
We review the easyHotel in Luton – a budget hotel option for cyclists flying to and from France from Luton Airport in the UK. Review by Lyn.
In response to queries from cyclists who have had trouble finding bike-friendly hotels before their departure to France, we have started covering hotels near non-French airports, ferry terminals and Eurostar stations that are on routes to France. See here for our full list so far.
easyHotel London Luton
40A Guildford Street, Luton LU1 2PA, United Kingdom
Map
Book online
There aren’t too many reasons you’d want to stay in Luton if you’re on a cycling holiday. The airport, however, is one of them.
With budget airlines flying in and out of Luton to destinations all over France, there’s a chance you’ll find yourself here at some stage if you’re a frequent flyer to France.
There are a few airport hotels closer to the airport than this Luton Town option. But if you’re passing through and you’re on a tight budget, then the price here is hard to beat.
The hotel is just as you’d expect from the brand that made budget airline travel an artform. I paid £46.95 for a super clean room with a fine en suite shower. There was a side table and a few hooks for my coat but that was about it. You can pay extra for a window, but as I was arriving after dark and leaving first thing in the morning, I didn’t see the point. Oh, and everything was very orange in the way of all things easyJet.
But for £46.95 I had no grumbles about the hotel itself. The bed was comfortable, the staff allow bikes (boxed or fully assembled) to be taken into the bedrooms.
There’s a snack and coffee machine in reception and free wifi throughout the hotel, though is did not work for me. The staff, however, were very apologetic when I reported it as apparently good, fast wifi is the norm.
The hotel is a short 50m bimble from the main Luton train station, and there is a Starbucks opposite the station and a few other café options in the area for breakfast.
I arrived late on a Monday night when there wasn’t much open and made do with an almost inedible curry from a takeaway place a minute’s walk from the hotel. I'd advise eating at the airport if you’re arriving late.
If you’re riding, the hotel is a about a 20 minutes ride from the airport, just remember if cycling in winter to bring lights as it gets dark early.
If you’ve got your bike boxed or bagged, it’s more of a hassle because the airport at Luton does not have its own train service. You need to get a bus shuttle to the Luton Airport Parkway station and then a train to Luton Town from there.
There are a few other hotel options in the area. I looked at the Comfort Hotel, which had great reviews and a comparable price, but it didn’t meet my bike-friendly criteria. When I emailed them, they said while they accepted boxed/bagged bikes, they couldn’t store fully assembled bikes overnight. Still, it looks like a good option if you’re boxed and ready to fly.
There are Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels closer to the airport and also a Hampton by Hilton near the Luton Airport Parkway railway station – all would be more convenient for late arrivals/early departures. However the prices the night I stayed were between two and three times what I paid at the easyHotel, though they would become more affordable if you’re travelling with a friend or partner. Those hotels though DO, however, also guarantee safe bike storage, and would doubtless have more creature comforts.
easyHotel London Luton
40A Guildford Street, Luton LU1 2PA, United Kingdom
Book online
