Some weeks ago a secretary telephoned me in absolute desperation. She was desperately looking for accommodation in central London for some VIPs from abroad. She stumbled onto my web site, not genuinely understanding what the service was about. I feel the words ‘free service’, ‘apartments’ just helped her to determine that Top quality London Apartments had one thing to complete with accommodation. Apologies for my lengthy opening, however it is really a prime example of how small travellers within the UK and Europe know concerning the serviced apartment business. Following explaining the idea of serviced apartments and helping her locate an apartment, I realised that I required to share this understanding further afield. Therefore, this post is my contribution to open up this elusive market and provide guidelines to travellers.

What exactly is a serviced apartment?

A serviced apartment is actually a flat in a block, which features a separate bedroom, sitting room/lounge, completely equipped kitchen, your personal private keys to own door. Serviced apartments may be within the kind of a studio flat (all in 1 space having a kitchenette), 1, two or 3 bedrooms.
All apartments take pleasure in maid service, utilities along with a management team to assist….just like a hotel. Guests only spend for a nightly rate and may live in a flat with almost everything they would have in their very own property.

Pros: Serviced London Apartment vs Hotels
Much more value for cash and less expensive. In a hotel, regardless of which star rating, you spend per night for 1 space which will have a Television, bathroom, sofa along with a bed. This can be comparable to a studio apartment! In an apartment there’s a separate bedroom, kitchen, sitting space, bathroom and dining table (exception is studio)

Spend per apartment and not per individual. An example will be paying £250 per night for a two bedroom apartment, which could accommodate as much as four individuals, that functions out at £62.50 per individual.

Freedom and privacy. An apartment is like getting within your own property and there is certainly a lot of space. You might have your personal keys for your own door.

Booking is simple, just like hotels. The majority of apartments call for a credit card to guarantee, pre-payment prior to you arrive and that is it. No deposits, no tenants’ contracts.

Cons: Serviced London Apartment vs Hotels
Apartments lacks the buzz and services of a hotel including restaurants and Space Service. Albeit some apartments are owned by hotels and provide you the use of their restaurants as well as other services.

No 24-hour service about the clock. The apartments are ran by a modest team who function Monday to Friday 9:00am – 6:00pm, so you’re on your personal throughout the weekend. You will find emergency numbers to call must you suffer an electric cut, but no 24-hours hotel Duty Manager to run for your space.

No pool, massages, saunas like hotels

What to appear out for when booking a serviced London apartment?

1. High quality from the apartment – make certain you locate out if they’re clean, nicely furnished and properly maintained. How? Check the pictures, and ask in the event you can book an appointment to view the apartment. This can be extremely critical if you’re staying more than a extended time period.

two. Do they’ve a friendly and effective management team? In case you want the comfort of a welcoming face to greet you on arrival, then ask for an apartment having a reception. Some apartments give crucial boxes, so it is possible to arrive any time, but there is certainly no-one to meet you. A friendly and little team is going to be in a position to provide you with an extremely individual touch.

three. Opening time from the apartments workplace – does not sound essential? Nicely it truly is since the majority of apartments’ operations team open Monday to Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm. In the event you arrive at your apartment throughout workplace open hours, then fine, but any other time and weekends will mean that you simply will must choose up the keys from a various location.

four. Important delivery by auto in the airport? – If you’re flying from abroad to London, and don’t fancy traipsing all through London at night to choose up keys, the majority of apartments will employ a taxi to deliver your keys for the airport upon your arrival. Hassle-free for a tiny charge.

five. Payment process and cancellation policy – each apartment differ in their guest terms and circumstances. All will accept a credit card as a guarantee of reservation, some will ask for 100% pre-payment a minimum of 7 days before arrival and cancellation can range from 12:00pm on the day of arrival to 28 days. So, just before you confirm the reservation, be really clear regarding the terms and circumstances. Ask your apartment agents to clarify the process to you and read the terms and circumstances on your confirmation emails. It’s going to save you a fantastic deal of trouble and headache later.

6. Apartments are constantly allocated on arrival. This policy could be the exact same as any hotel, so unless you’re a normal guest to a certain apartment, apartments are on allocations. Within the very same breath, some apartments only have a tiny number of flats, so if you’re reserving the only three bedrooms penthouse in their collection, then you’re guaranteed that distinct apartment.

7. Rates turn out to be much more competitive the longer you remain. In this, we mean you might have far more bargaining energy if you’re staying for 1 month or longer. This can be when your apartment agent can actually assist you to by negotiating using a assortment of apartments to obtain you the top deal.

8. Utilizing an apartment agent will also save you time looking, but most importantly they’ll function together with your spending budget and negotiate an excellent deal for you. Obviously, you also must be realistic about what you are able to book, do not anticipate to devote £80 per night for a luxury apartment. As an example, 1 of our customers had £300 spending budget per night for a two bedroom apartment and he wanted one thing luxury. For all those readers who know London nicely, also understands that this spending budget is truly quite little. Regardless of that, we booked him and three buddies into the Victoria Park Plaza luxury apartment (£150 per night much less than the usual cost) for £300 per night with free of charge breakfast, fitness center and access for the executive lounge. Any apartment agent worth their salt can and will move mountains to assist you.

What if I do not like the apartment when I get there?

In case you truly really feel that you simply happen to be tough carried out by, tell the apartment management team and ask to become moved to yet another apartment. All the apartments that we function with are extremely client focussed and attempt to assist guests appreciate their remain. If this will not function, speak for your apartment agent, if that’s how you booked. Greatest suggestions although, is usually to ask all of the correct concerns just before you book an apartment.

Your appetite for apartments is now whetted – how do you uncover London apartments?

1. As already explained, you’ll be able to decide on a totally free search and book service of an apartment agent or go direct to a particular apartment that you simply know. Each approaches are completely fine, dependent of one’s information of London apartments. Utilizing an agent will mean that they’ll search far across their portfolio and present you using a selection of alternatives…all inside 10-15 minutes. Agents are impartial and will only (excellent agents anyway) advocate the high quality apartments for the demands.

two. You’ll be able to use search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN to locate apartments. Sort in key phrases like ‘London serviced apartments’ or ‘quality London apartments’ and so on.

three. Stating the apparent but, ask for a recommendation from pals and acquaintances.

four. Check on Tripadvisor.com along with other consumer evaluation sites.