Accommodation Information
Before you book a hotel.......
Please be careful not to make a hotel booking which cannot be cancelled, because in the unusual situation that a course is cancelled or postponed, you could lose your money. The special rate that we have with the Ramada Encore Hotel allows you to cancel up to 4pm on the first day of your booking.
Occasionally they offer a special rate which is a little cheaper, but they ask you to pay in advance and you waive your right to cancel. If you take this deal and then cancel, you lose your money. They won't give you a refund, and the reason for this notice is that neither will we! Please be careful.
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Preferred Accommodation
Ramada Encore Hotel
Ramada Encore Chatham
Western Avenue
Chatham Historic Dockyard
Chatham
Kent
ME4 4NT
Tel: 01634 891677
Fax: 08448 010314
email: reservations@encorechatham.co.uk
Distance from Laserchrom: 1 mile
Car Parking: Yes
Our customers give this hotel 8/10
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Ramada Encore is a chain of business hotels, but without the health spa and other facilities of the normal Ramada hotels. Rooms have a TV with pay per view movies. They have a 'wet room' rather than a bathroom, so you get a shower but no bath. WIFI internet access is free in the bar and reception, or about £4 per hour in the room, although if you bring a pc, you can log onto the WIFI at Laserchrom for free during the day! There is a daily rate for movies and internet if required. Parking is free, round behind the hotel through the entrance to Chatham Historic Dockyard.
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This is our recommended choice of hotel. It is new, fairly comfortable, very close to Laserchrom, and they offer us a special deal!
Normal prices for 2010 are £109.95 + £10.95 breakfast, but we have negotiated £75.00 including breakfast. For two people sharing, the cost is £85.00 per night for the room including breakfast. If you are not that friendly with the other person, twin rooms are available as well as doubles!
As an extra bonus, if you book Monday to Thursday (4 nights) at the Laserchrom special rate you can have the preceding Sunday or the following Friday night free.
Occasionally they have special offers. You can check via the link to their website on the left. But remember that you will have to pay in advance, the rate may not include breakfast, you lose your right to cancel, and you could lose your money if we have to change the date of the course. At the Laserchrom special rate you can cancel up to 4pm on the first day of the course.
The hotel is situated opposite the University of Greenwich in Chatham Historic Dockyard, and is next to the Dockside Outlet Shopping Centre, an Odeon cinema and several restaurants including a Mexican, Chinese, Nandos, Porters and Pizza Hut.
If you stay in this hotel we can usually offer you transport to and from Laserchrom on the days of the course, although capacity is limited so please notify us in advance if you require transport. You can't walk though the Medway Tunnel - no pedestrians are allowed through the tunnel.
Terms and conditions of the special price we have arranged with this hotel:
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Please quote the Laserchrom special rate at the time of booking
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Bookings may be cancelled up till 4pm on the day of arrival without charge. However after this time, the full cost of the room will be charged, even if you do not arrive.
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Bookings are released at 4pm on the day of arrival unless guaranteed by a credit card.
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If making a cancellation, be sure to obtain a cancellation number.
Holiday Inn, Rochester- Chatham
Maidstone Road
Chatham,
Kent
ME5 9SF
Tel: +44 0871 9429069
Fax: +44 1634 673673
Website (incl photos, maps and reservations)
Distance from Laserchrom: 6 miles, (longer but quicker around the motorway.)
Car Parking: Yes (free)
No customer rating as yet
This hotel is a distance from Laserchrom and from Rochester town centre. However it is quite close to the M2 motorway and very easy to find.
You will need to be travelling by car to stay at this hotel. It will take about 15-30 minutes to drive to Laserchrom in rush hour, and a taxi would be quite expensive.
Why you might like to consider this hotel it that they offer full leisure facilities and have much more of a restaurant and bar than the Ramada. So if you are planning on staying in the hotel in the evenings instead of visiting local restaurants etc, this hotel is possibly a better choice.
They have offered us a discounted rate of £70.00 including breakfast, so please ask for the special rate when booking.
We understand that the Holiday Inn chain are undergoing a re-branding exercise during 2010, so you may find the hotel very new inside when you visit!
NB. Because of the distance we cannot offer to collect you from this hotel. If you wish to be collected each morning, you need to stay at the Ramada!
Other Accommodation
St George's Hotel
7-8 New Road Avenue,
Chatham,
Kent. ME4 6BB
Tel: +44 (0) 1634 841012
Fax: +44 (0) 1634 812109
Distance from Laserchrom: 4 miles
Car Parking: Yes but limited
Our customers give this hotel 8/10
This hotel is located between Rochester and Chatham, equidistant from Rochester and Chatham Railway stations.
Theoretically you could walk it from the station to the hotel, but its VERY hilly so you would need to be fit. Its the furthest from Laserchrom although there is a bus. Its only 4 miles, but in rush hour traffic this can take 40 minutes!
The price is competitive, and it gets good reviews with our customers. Price per night £40.00 including breakfast, £62 for a double room. If you don't come by car, you need to allow about £12 each way per day for a taxi to Laserchrom though.
King Charles Hotel
Brompton Road
Gillingham
Kent
ME& 5QT
Tel: 01634 829 303
Fax: 01634 829 430
reservations@kingcharleshotel.co.uk
Distance from Laserchrom: 2 miles
Car Parking: Yes
Our customers give this hotel 6/10
This 3-star hotel is about a 15 minutes walk to Gillingham town centre and its resturants and pubs.
Its about a 10 minute drive to Laserchrom. The nearest railway station is Gillingham (20 minutes walk, 5 minute taxi).
Price per night £45 for a single room (£56 for a double) including breakfast. No extra discount for visiting Laserchrom though! A taxi to Laserchrom should cost about £7 each way.
Ship and Trades Hotel
The Ship & Trades,
Maritime Way
Chatham Maritime,
Kent,
ME4 3ER
Tel: 01634 895200
Fax:01634 895201
www.shipandtradeschatham.co.uk
Distance from Laserchrom: 1 mile
Car Parking: Yes
No customer ratings as yet
Its not as bad as it looks in the picture. Its owned by Shepherd Neame, and has its own bar and restaurant. The food is nice and good value but the drinks are expensive.
Located right next to the Outlet centre in the Dockyard.
Price £60.00 per night including breakfast. A taxi to Laserchgrom should cost about £6 each way
Gordon House Hotel
91 High Street
Rochester
Kent
ME1 1LX
Tel: 01634 831000
Fax: 01634 814769
Distance from Laserchrom: 3 miles
Car Parking: Yes
Our customers give this hotel 6/10
This is a 2-star hotel, but has an excellent location right in the centre of Rochester High Street, directly opposite the cathedral, and the people in the hotel are very friendly.
Parking is available, breakfast is included, but the rooms have only basic facilitites. However, you will appreciate the location! The nearest railway station is Rochester (10 minute walk) A taxi to Laserchrom should cost about £10 each way.
Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel
16-18 High Street
Rochester
Kent
ME1 1LX
Tel: 01634 826693
Fax: 01634 814769
Distance from Laserchrom: 3 miles
Car Parking: Yes but limited
Our customers give this hotel 7/10
This is also a 2-star hotel, also in an excellent location in Rochester High Street, not far from the castle. Parking is available, breakfast is included, but the rooms have only basic facilitites. However you will appreciate the location! The nearest railway station is Rochester (15 minute walk) A taxi to Laserchrom should cost about £10 each way.
Please note that the main pictures on their website are the castle, not the hotel, and they have a feature which disables the use of the back button to leave their site!
B&B
Details of cheaper B&B accomodation can be found by ringing the Rochester Tourist Information Service.
Telephone: 01634 843666
Local Information and places to see while you are here!
Rochester Castle
Built in Roman times, the castle is the tallest in England. It provides amazing views of the whole of the Medway Towns and an insight into a period of history when "redistribution of wealth" was not even an idea!
In July each year, open air concerts are held in the castle grounds and various other festivals during the year have the castle as their focal point. It is maintained by English Heritage and open almost every day of the year.
Rochester Cathedral
Originally built in 604 AD, the present building dates from 1077.
It has been extended several times over the years and the different architecture used are clearly visible it is an amazing building and well worth a visit.
Historic Dockyard Chatham
Chatham Dockyard used to be the home of the entire British navy. Even now it is a working Museum with loads to do, including warships, a submarine, 18th century ships, a lifeboat exhibition and more.
It is a full day out on its own and is less than a mile from Laserchrom! If you are staying at the Ramada Encore, its situated right in the Dockyard.
Fort Amherst
01634 847747
Baggins Book Bazaar
Royal Engineers Museum
01634-822839
This interesting museum has an excellent website giving full details (see link).
It is situated just along the road from the King Charles Hotel.
Kingswear Castle Paddlesteamer
Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle,
The Historic Dockyard,
Chatham
Kent
ME4 4TQ
01634 827648
Diggerland
Diggerland Limited,
Whitewall Road,
Strood,
Kent
ME2 4DZ
Tel: 08700 344437
Fax: 09012 010300
Upnor Castle
Upnor Castle,
High Street,
Upper Upnor,
Rochester,
Kent
ME2 4XG
