plafield

DH and I will have only a few days for our first time in London so want to be central where we can easily get a taste. We'll arrive on a Sunday and leave on Wednesday so 4 nights but only 2 full days in London. We're trying to keep it under $200 a night so I'm between these 2 flats and would love some input.
https://www.vrbo.com/1101060ha
or
https://www.vrbo.com/826459

Any and all comments/advice welcome. Thanks!

Christina

I'm no London expert but the locations both look okay to me, certainly central enough.

I really dislike the first one, it's got like foil wrapping paper all over the walls, and the sofa looks uncomfortable. Not a big fan of white sofas, anyway, and it doesn't look comfortable to look at the TV. Of course yo uare only there a few days so maybe don't care. The kitchen looks quite nice but can't imagine that is so important for a short stay like that.

I like the second one better in terms of not being so garish decor and it looks more comfortable to sit around that living room, and it has the terrace. Good area for bars and restaurants.

surfmom

I'd also vote #2.

Did you notice that the first is on the 4th floor? So, with European floors... that is 5 flights of stairs. The second is on the 1st floor.

Also - from reading reviews, certainly seems like people preferred the second one.

good luck!

jubilada

surfmom, did you notice there is an elevator?

BigRuss

That first one seemed ok until I saw the pic of the living room. Weird. It's in a better location but the other one is central enough that you're in good stead. And the second one isn't so dang ugly in so many spots.

Kathie

If you are arriving on a Sunday and leaving on a Wednesday, you have three nights (not four) and as you said two full days. The second apartment looks better to me, though both are well-located.

PatrickLondon

I would have said the second, too, on the grounds of the street being more likely to be quieter than the first. Depending on exactly where it is in Rathbone Street it may be close to a pub or two, though - hard to know how much noise their customers might make at night, if any at all.

Weekender

Go for the second one. Great location and the nearby Charlotte Street Hotel is my all time favorite London Hotel. Lots of restaurants the area as well.

janisj

The first one is more central, but the 2nd one looks better/more comfortable to me.

plafield

Thanks. How does this apartment compare with the location of the Strand Palace Hotel?

I'm balking a bit because that second apartment has a no cancellation policy. You pay in full up front and if you have to cancel, you're out the 475 pounds. I hope not to cancel but the trip is almost a year away.

surfmom

@jubilada, excellent reading comprehension. much better than mine : )

Seamus

#2 and a good trip cancellation insurance policy.
#1 is small, appears to be decorated with leftovers from a disco, the pub noise is worrisome, and elevators DO break.

Re: Strand Palace - both places are better located, though the Palace is not in a bad location.

janisj

>>Re: Strand Palace - both places are better located,<<

Many people would disagree w/ that statement.

Christina

There were numerous complaints about the noise in the first apt., several guests said the noise was bad and they couldn't even sleep well. I would never even consider an apt that had numerous comments like that. One comment I might consider but discount, but several people said that.

I have never seen a vacation rental apt where you had to prepay the entire amount a year in advance, though! That is quite unreasonable. I've seen plenty where you had to pay in full 30-90 days in advance, but never a year in advance if that is when you booked it. I've always seen some kind of deposit to book it and then payment in full 30-90 days in advance. That would take me back a bit. Yes, I'd get travel insurance no matter what, but still, I think I might seek something without that kind of policy if it is really clear that ios what the owner demanded. There must be more than those two apts in that budget in a central area?

If those really were the only two that seemed to fit the criteria, not sure--I really wouldn't book any apt with numerous complaints about noise, though.