Transfers from Gatwick to Southampton

What is the best way to get to Southampton from Gatwick -

bus or train? Also have a 1 pm flight out of Gatwick on the return.

What time should we leave the pier?

We are looking at staying at either the Mercure or the Jurys Inn.

Thoughts on either?

Thanks.

Which cruise line are you going with ? Some cruise lines have transfers to and from Southampton.

I'm not sure but 1PM might be a little early.

http://www.nationalexpress.com/home.aspx are your best bet. Reasonably frequent and cheap at around £22.00.

The trip takes about three hours so okay for LGW to Soton but a bit tight for the return to catch a 13:00 flight. You need to be there by 11:00 at the latest so it would be safest to book a private car and arrange an early unassisted departure from the ship. Try http://www.smithsairportcars.co.uk/ for a quote.

Which hotel would you reserve - Jurys Inn, Mercure or Holiday Inn? They all have good and bad reviews!

Which hotel would you reserve - Jurys Inn, Mercure or Holiday Inn? They all have good and bad reviews!

I rate Jury's Inn as a bit too "corporate".

Not a great location either - it's close to the city centre but on the opposite side to the cruise, bus and train terminals, the big West Quay mall, and the city's best pubs & restaurants and few old-town sights

More important, it's in the middle of a traffic roundabout (traffic island) though most guests cross without getting flattened by the traffic. ;)

The Mercure Dolphin hotel is in old-town. A convenient location but can be noisy if you have a room at the front. It's an old coaching inn with a great history so if you want a "British" experience it's a good choice. That's what we try to do when we travel (Miami art-deco in South Beach, Istanbul Ottoman house, Glacier Nat Park log cabin, South African rondeval etc.) But bear in mind that history comes with its downsides - rooms of mixed sizes, sloping floors, rabbit-warren corridors and such.

Rooms at the front in Holiday Inn in Herbert Walker Avenue overlook Southampton Water, those at the back look over City cruise terminal & ship. Very popular with those cruising from City Cruise Terminal (mainly RCI, NCL, Celebrity), but also convenient for the city's old-town waterfront and shopping.

Has a very 1970's look, but public rooms got a long-overdue make-over last year.

nb. The city also has two HI Express's. Both are on the city limits, not convenient esp for those without a car.

Consider also

Premier Inn West Quay. Britain's best budget chain, the excellent West Quay location is between Hol Inn and city centre.

Ennios (Italian) and Pig-in-the-Wall (set into the city wall) are two excellent boutique hotels if you're prepared to splash a little more cash. Both are near HI and Premier Inn, again excellent locations. (nb - location of Pig-in-the-Wall on TripAdvisor was totally wrong, at long last now corrected)

I know that Hilton/Doubletree is a popular chain in the US. But both Southampton hotels are on the city limits, same as HI Express's.

JB :)