Serviced apartment in london
Visiting the city where the residence of the royal family is located and hotel rates are beyond your budget? Looking for good accommodation in London, but don t want the hassles of cleaning chores? Well, you have a great option: stay at a serviced apartment in the city.
Reasons for taking a London Serviced Apartment
You want a less expensive option to a hotel.
You would like to have flexible schedules, and do not wish to be restricted by fixed timings. For example, breakfast in a hotel may be available only at fixed times in the mornings. Similarly, you may prefer to have dinner after 11p.m., but a hotel schedule may not permit that dinner could be served only before that time.
You would prefer to stay in a roomy place than be restricted to a single room in a hotel or a bed and breakfast.
You are shifting your residence to another area and are looking for a temporary place for yourself and your family to stay till the new home is ready.
Types of Serviced Apartments in London & Rates
Lets suppose you wish to stay in a serviced apartment in South Kensington, within reasonable distance of the Chelsea shopping district and in the same area as the Royal Albert Hall. Here are your options:
A Studio Apartment can accommodate one to three persons. The living room and bedroom is a combined feature . Individual twin beds can easily be converted to a large king-sized bed for two parents and a toddler. Approximate Rate: a little over ?150.
A One-Bedroom Apartment can accommodate up to four persons.">"> Adults can sleep on the twin beds, which can be converted to a king-sized bed, while a teenager can sleep on the sofa bed in the living room . Approximate Rate: less than ?220.
A Two-Bedroom Apartment can accommodate about five persons. Each of the bedrooms is furnished with twin beds that can be combined . There is also a sofa bed in the living room for children . There will be only one bathroom. Approximate Rate: nearly pounds300.
A 2-bed / 2-bath Apartment has the same sleeping arrangements as above, but with an additional bathroom. Approximate Rate: a little over pounds 350.
A 3-bed / 2-bath Apartment can comfortably accommodate a large family of seven. Each of the three bedrooms has twin beds, and there is a sofa bed in the living room . Approximate Rate: about pounds 400.
A Penthouse Apartment can have a 2-bed / 2-bath set up for a group of five, or a 3-bed / 2-bath set up for a larger family of seven. It has the additional feature of a private balcony. Approximate Rate: less than pound 430 for the first type, and over ?460 for the second type.
Note: The prices mentioned are per night and are approximate, not actual, rates. Also, confirm if rates include VAT and service taxes .
The above rates are for an elegant area of London . You are quite likely to find a serviced apartment for less than 100 pound per night with fewer amenities and in an area where there may not be easy access to the subway . Select a serviced apartment depending not only on your budget, but also on your interests . For example, if you have come to tour the city and wish to visit the Science Museum, locate an apartment in that area.
Features in a London Serviced Apartment
A serviced apartment in London has practically all the features that are provided by a hotel for their guests .
Feel secure in the presence of an efficient security service.
Watch you favorite programs on Cable TV & enjoy some superhero flicks on the DVD player
Stock the refrigerator with your favorite foods & beverages
Have a shower and use the handy hair dryer
Iron your shirt for that all-important business meeting.
Lock all your valuables and important documents in the safe.
Use the dial telephone to keep in touch with friends and your family as well, if youve not taken them along on your trip.
Cook your favorite meals in the fully equipped kitchen that has a microwave and oven / hob. (In a studio apartment, it is likely to be a smaller area but has the basic requirements) .
Most important: You can avoid the daily cleaning chores that you do back home by utilizing the daily maid service (remember: this is a serviced apartment!).
Other Facilities in a London Serviced Apartment
probably less than 10 pound for each day, and less than 40 pounds per week.
You can catch up with local and international news with a complimentary morning newspaper.
You can take videos to watch from the library when the weather outside is too rough to venture out on a tourist excursion.
You can request for the babysitting service when you wish to go shopping without the kids.
You can fax important documents to a client.
You can avoid the daily cleaning chores that you do back home by utilizing the daily maid service (remember: this is a serviced apartment!).
Useful Tips
By trawling the World Wide Web, you can not only compare rates, but also find out the less expensive areas to stay.
Confirm what are the check-in and checkout timings.
You will most probably have to pay some security deposit (maybe ?150 to ?200, or even more) on your arrival.
It is likely that you may have to pay an extra charge for use of the sofa bed in the living area of the apartment for every night of your stay.
If you are planning to stay for more than a week, you could ask for a rate reduction.
The maid service will likely not be available on Sundays and public holidays.
There may not be parking space available in the basement or at the curbside of the apartment. You could, though, pay a nominal charge for availing use of a nearby parking facility.
Find out about cancellation policies? How many pounds you need to pay if you cancel within a certain number of days before you arrive ?
Ask the apartment manager about day passes to clubs, museums and any other tourist spots that you would like to visit quite likely, you will obtain discounted passes !
If you are staying for just one day and would like to see as much of the charismatic city as possible, you could consider utilizing the services of a London Bus Tour operator. You can get off the bus any time you wish, and hop back on the next bus of the tour company .
So if you are having a brief stay in London, wish to have hotel-like amenities but not hotel rates, choose from the various types of serviced apartments that are available in plenty. Browse the World Wide Web or the city s Business Directory ? you are bound to find a serviced apartment within your budget !
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