Helipads, hotels and Others: Requests, Recommendations & Rip-offs
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Manoir aux Quat'Saisons charges £25 inclusive of the landing and take off (I asked today)
They couldn't give me any information about whether they provide any safety crew, security, escort to the building etc., but did say their movements are limited due to the nearby village. I guess you get nothing.
Even £25 is irritating when you are going to pay big bucks in the hotel anyway: I was going to head over there with some friends, but I've been before and there seem to be plenty of alternative hotels which allow you to land free whose lunches I can try before getting round to going back to the Manoir or any other pay-per-landing site.
I dare say they won't miss me or the 3 minutes flying time they would bill me to land, but it's the only way I can make the point!
BW
They couldn't give me any information about whether they provide any safety crew, security, escort to the building etc., but did say their movements are limited due to the nearby village. I guess you get nothing.
Even £25 is irritating when you are going to pay big bucks in the hotel anyway: I was going to head over there with some friends, but I've been before and there seem to be plenty of alternative hotels which allow you to land free whose lunches I can try before getting round to going back to the Manoir or any other pay-per-landing site.
I dare say they won't miss me or the 3 minutes flying time they would bill me to land, but it's the only way I can make the point!
BW
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I agree with bladewashout and rotorboater.
I'm not prepared, as a point of principle, to pay more than a nominal amount if it's simply for landing on a lawn, provided I'm using and paying the hotel for other services. I don't consider it any different from parking a car in the hotel car park, and don't expect to be charged for that. (Although some City centre hotels around the world do.)
Disappointed to learn Le Manoir charges, even though a modest amount compared with some other country house hotels. I've only flown there once, about 10 years ago, and they didn't charge a landing fee then.
A few years ago, I rang the Heythrop Park Hotel near Chipping Norton to enquire about landing there.
And the 'event' at the hotel that weekend?
The 2004 British Open Helicopter Championships!
So much for the hotel's explanation for their rip-off landing fee.
I didn't fly for other reasons but, in the meantime, had found out that I could use nearby Enstone airfield. Landing fee £7.
FL
I'm not prepared, as a point of principle, to pay more than a nominal amount if it's simply for landing on a lawn, provided I'm using and paying the hotel for other services. I don't consider it any different from parking a car in the hotel car park, and don't expect to be charged for that. (Although some City centre hotels around the world do.)
Disappointed to learn Le Manoir charges, even though a modest amount compared with some other country house hotels. I've only flown there once, about 10 years ago, and they didn't charge a landing fee then.
A few years ago, I rang the Heythrop Park Hotel near Chipping Norton to enquire about landing there.
Do you charge for landings?
Yes, it's £100.
How much???!!!
We charge that because we don't want too many helicopters landing at the hotel. A few people came in helicopters for a conference held here last year and we got lots of complaints from the local village about the noise.
When were you thinking of coming?
Well, I was thinking of Sunday 8th August.
Ah, I'll have to check if you could land then, and call you back. We have an event on that weekend.
Yes, I know, I'm planning to attend the event. Thank you anyway, but don't worry about calling back, I wouldn't pay £100 on principle.
Yes, it's £100.
How much???!!!
We charge that because we don't want too many helicopters landing at the hotel. A few people came in helicopters for a conference held here last year and we got lots of complaints from the local village about the noise.
When were you thinking of coming?
Well, I was thinking of Sunday 8th August.
Ah, I'll have to check if you could land then, and call you back. We have an event on that weekend.
Yes, I know, I'm planning to attend the event. Thank you anyway, but don't worry about calling back, I wouldn't pay £100 on principle.
The 2004 British Open Helicopter Championships!
So much for the hotel's explanation for their rip-off landing fee.
I didn't fly for other reasons but, in the meantime, had found out that I could use nearby Enstone airfield. Landing fee £7.
FL
Last edited by Flying Lawyer; 13th Sep 2007 at 09:26.
The Original Whirly
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So even if I win untold millions of ££££, and even if I give lots of it away, I want to decide myself who I give it to. And greedy money-grabbing hotel owners don't come anywhere in my list. So however rich we are or aren't, let's boycott these places that think they can charge extortionate landing fees just becasue helicopter owners are - possibly - super-rich.
So even if I win untold millions of ££££, and even if I give lots of it away, I want to decide myself who I give it to. And greedy money-grabbing hotel owners don't come anywhere in my list. So however rich we are or aren't, let's boycott these places that think they can charge extortionate landing fees just becasue helicopter owners are - possibly - super-rich.
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I have never, and will not pay a landing fee for a hotel. I'd rather drive and stay at a different hotel, being a cheapskate.
There are plenty of places will let you land for nothing. All I have ever needed to do to find a free one is check on Pprune. Fantastic.
When I do phone up to be told there is a landing fee I tell them "No thanks - and you have just lost my business for ever". They may not care but it makes a point.
There are plenty of places will let you land for nothing. All I have ever needed to do to find a free one is check on Pprune. Fantastic.
When I do phone up to be told there is a landing fee I tell them "No thanks - and you have just lost my business for ever". They may not care but it makes a point.
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This could be a useful thread to which we can add names for future reference.
Heliport
Back to the topic!
- No more vulgar boasting about how rich you are, your various expensive toys etc etc etc.
- No more responses to that issue.
Starting with post 23, I've edited or deleted posts as required to get back on track.
This could be a useful thread to which we can add names for future reference.
Heliport
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Ok,
Marriot, Preston. £60
Last Drop, Bolton £50 last time I asked
Guys Thatched Hamlet, Bilsborrow FREE
Swan, Newby bridge FREE
Old Stone Trough, Earby FREE
Inn at Whitewell, FREE
Stables LLanwnda FREE
Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey FREE
Fayrer Garden, Windermere FREE
Springfield House, Pilling FREE
Gibbon Bridge, Chipping FREE but not been for years so not sure now.
I'll keep adding them as I think of them.
I haven't been to them all recently so check for fee when getting PP.
Marriot, Preston. £60 Last Drop, Bolton £50 last time I askedGuys Thatched Hamlet, Bilsborrow FREESwan, Newby bridge FREEOld Stone Trough, Earby FREEInn at Whitewell, FREEStables LLanwnda FREEDevonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey FREEFayrer Garden, Windermere FREESpringfield House, Pilling FREEGibbon Bridge, Chipping FREE but not been for years so not sure now.I'll keep adding them as I think of them.
I haven't been to them all recently so check for fee when getting PP.
Last edited by Gaseous; 13th Sep 2007 at 17:22.
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Manoir
FL and BW, I visited Le Manoir 1 month ago and was advised that their site was not available (for reasons they seemed reluctant to divulge). The alternative presented to me was a farmer's field a taxi ride away - I think the farmer was the one trying to make a profit.
I chose not to pay - if you do it just encourages them to try it on with the next person.
So if we all feel the same about these ripoff sites, who does actually pay what the hotels request?
SB
I chose not to pay - if you do it just encourages them to try it on with the next person.
So if we all feel the same about these ripoff sites, who does actually pay what the hotels request?
SB
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Lake Vyrnwy hotel in Wales doesnt charge for landing and has the worlds most impressive burgers on sale in their bar at a very reasonable price...
Pad is interesting to get on to...but thankfully they have just replaced the camoflage green windsock for a dayglow orange one
With carefull parking you could get 4 whirlychoppers on the pad...
Pad is interesting to get on to...but thankfully they have just replaced the camoflage green windsock for a dayglow orange one
With carefull parking you could get 4 whirlychoppers on the pad...
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Some freebies in my neck of the woods
Callow Hall, Ashbourne
Isaak Walton, Dovedale
Shottle Hall nr Belper
Cavendish Hotel, Baslow
Barnsdale Lodge by Rutland Water
Callow Hall, Ashbourne
Isaak Walton, Dovedale
Shottle Hall nr Belper
Cavendish Hotel, Baslow
Barnsdale Lodge by Rutland Water
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Bovey Castle on Dartmoor
Great spot, never been charged (mind you, you wouldn't land there unless going to eat, golf or stay over) - send a car upto meet you - very civilised and friendly
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Lythe Hill Hotel, Surrey, Near Haslemere, happy to let a local resident who uses them occasionally to be picked up on their helipad and dropped off later in the day, no charge, not even using the hotel that day!
BW
BW
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Chaps,
It really gets on my nerves when someone tries to charge a landing fee for parking on a patch of grass. Here's a couple that are free (usually if you are using the facilities ; something as simple as a quick lunch will do)
DeVere Carden Park, Chester - Free
Holt Lodge, Holt, near Chester - Free
Rookery Hall, Nantwich - Free
Pear Tree Hotel, nr Droitwich - Free
Marriot Hanbury Manor, Hertfordshire - Free
It really gets on my nerves when someone tries to charge a landing fee for parking on a patch of grass. Here's a couple that are free (usually if you are using the facilities ; something as simple as a quick lunch will do)
DeVere Carden Park, Chester - Free
Holt Lodge, Holt, near Chester - Free
Rookery Hall, Nantwich - Free
Pear Tree Hotel, nr Droitwich - Free
Marriot Hanbury Manor, Hertfordshire - Free
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Its not just hotels that rip us off, just been into Barton and as a helicopter under 1200Kg it is £19.52 inc vat, my weight fixed wing is £12.99, a Jet ranger is looking at £31.77 against the same weight plank of £21.38.
The really annoying thing is we don't even use their short bumpy waterlogged muddy bit of grass either!
I agree. Never understood why many airfields charge helicopters more than fixed-wings of the same weight.
Not even sure weight should come into it at all for helicopters.
But let's keep this as our hotel landing fees thread.
You could always start a rip-off airfields thread.
Heliport
The really annoying thing is we don't even use their short bumpy waterlogged muddy bit of grass either!
I agree. Never understood why many airfields charge helicopters more than fixed-wings of the same weight.
Not even sure weight should come into it at all for helicopters.
But let's keep this as our hotel landing fees thread.
You could always start a rip-off airfields thread.
Heliport
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Forte Post house in Newcastle under Lyme (just by the M6) has a nice big field attached and was free the last time I was in there (along with JetRanger). Good to see the Swan at Newby Bridge is still free - I think Roland Bardsley bought the place a few years ago. Last time I looked his company was running an A109. Beautiful hotel and location
The Veloceraptor of Lounge Lizards
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Bravo73;
You are very right about the Monkey Island site. Not for the faint hearted, in fact when I went two years ago and did a full ground survey we decided as a company that it was not suitable for Public Transport and dropped it completely.
The duty manager couldn't get his mind around the fact that painting an H on a tiny piece of grass did not a heli-pad make.
Just up the road at Bray Cricket Club is a good site, £50 but they really look after you. I was sitting there for four hours on Salsa Night and had a great time (too many lady dancers hardly any blokes
)
At the other extreme I took a familly to Millfield school a few months ago. Called the school to arrange the day before and spoke to the foreman of works to be told "As it's a normal term day and we're not expecting anyone else I'm afraid I've got no fire cover or GPU, will that be ok for you?"
Nearly had to tear up my medical from the shock.
VH
You are very right about the Monkey Island site. Not for the faint hearted, in fact when I went two years ago and did a full ground survey we decided as a company that it was not suitable for Public Transport and dropped it completely.
The duty manager couldn't get his mind around the fact that painting an H on a tiny piece of grass did not a heli-pad make.
Just up the road at Bray Cricket Club is a good site, £50 but they really look after you. I was sitting there for four hours on Salsa Night and had a great time (too many lady dancers hardly any blokes
)At the other extreme I took a familly to Millfield school a few months ago. Called the school to arrange the day before and spoke to the foreman of works to be told "As it's a normal term day and we're not expecting anyone else I'm afraid I've got no fire cover or GPU, will that be ok for you?"
Nearly had to tear up my medical from the shock.
VH