janisj

check out Scala House and E & E Apartments in London.

http://www.scala-house.co.uk/
http://www.eandeapartments.co.uk/

nelcarp

I received an email back from E&E Apartments with a quote of £114 p.n. That price seems quite low compared to 2-3 price lists I've seen elsewhere.

Janisj, have you stayed here? I'm sorting out exactly where we should be in London that offers reasonable access to tube, etc. Good local shopping for food and some activity near by in the evening. I appreciate your feedback, it has been very helpful. (well on our way to booking B&Bs in Scotland now)!

janisj

I have used E & E many times (probably 10-12 times over the last few years)

It isn't a "there" in terms of a block of flats or apartment bldg. They are an agency that handles privately owned flats throughout Pimlico and Victoria. Each flat is entirely different - but they price them the same for the same number of rooms. For instance all 2 bdrm flats will be one price. Some will be more basically furnished and some quite posh. But all are in a very convenient area of town, all have pretty much the same equipment, and all will be clean.

nelcarp

Sorry about that, I realized that they handle multiple units/apartments within these areas. Should I be able to get information as to a specific apartment prior to reserving (from your experience).

In your travels, what is your definition of convenient (with respect to transportation access, access to to central London, etc.)

Thanks

janisj

No - e&e doesn't book you into a specific flat. That is one way they can keep their rates so comparatively low. They fit the flat to the number of days booked. In fact if one books a 1-bdrm and on the day you arrive if all the 1 bdrms are full they'll upgrade you to a 2 bdrm.

For some that is too "shot in the dark" to be comfortable booking. But I've used them so many times it doesn't bother me at all. Maybe in Paris I would want a specific flat, but in London I mostly look for size/price/location and don't care the specific property. If you are the sorts who want photos of every room and of the view out the window - then e&e might not be the best way to go.

As for the area. Most of the flats are in Pimlico and a few are closer to Victoria. This is a really convenient area. Pimlico is fairly residential w/ a few pubs and restaurants, whereas there is a lot of hustle/bustle around Victorial. You'd be walking distance to Victoria tube/rail/coach stations, Pimlico tube sta, Buckingham Palace, the river/Tate Britain, Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, etc. There is an easyEverything internet cafe across from Vic. Station,

nelcarp

This sounds like a very convenient area and very workable for what we need. It sounds like their flats are a good value, clean and reliable (some nicer than others but all just fine).

I'm not too concerned with the view, etc. We mostly need a comfortable place to rest and sleep; the views will be had when we're out and about.

nelcarp

janisj-

I initially got a prompt reply by email from E&E. I've sent two follow-up emails asking them how best we proceed for a reservation. No response.

Did you find phone was best to deal with them? Is this communication unusual for them? Appreciate any insight.

janisj

No - I haven't had any problems - sometimes I e-mail them and sometimes phone. W/ the 1010 phone access numbers a call is just pennies so when I haven't heard from a place in Europe, I call. It is fairly common to have UK (and European in general) co.'s take a day or 2 or longer to respond to e-mails. Just not the same urgency that many in the States are used to. Plus w/ all the spam filters everyone now has some messages just don't make it through.

I'd give them 2 or 3 days to answer - maybe try a 3rd e-mail - and then call if no response.

nelcarp

I think our initerary is shaping up well. I'd welcome any feedback!

1. Arrive Glascow (we arrive at 10am; I will be spending the remainder of that day and next morning there with my two kids).
2. Next day pick my wife up at Oban (she will have been at Iona for a weeK) continue North and find a place to stay enroute to Sky.

3. 2 nights Skye
4. 2 nights Highlands (staying outside of Inverness)
5. 1 night Sterling
6. 3 nights Edinburgh
7. 3-4 nights Lakes District
8. 5 Nights London
9. 4 nights Paris

We really have an extra flexible day on both sides of Edinburgh. I'm still wondering if we should shorten the Lakes District for an additional day in London OR stay a night outside London (insteady of making a day trip out later). Welcome any feedback!

Thanks

janisj

In general the itinerary looks fine. How are you getting to London - driving down or dropping teh car and taking the train?

If driving - then I would cut 2 days from the Lakes and take your time driving south. You could see Warwick, and bit of the Cotswolds.

If taking the train, I might cut one day from the Lakes and add it to London.

Also, you really don't need to stop enroute to Skye. Glasgow > Oban > Glencoe > Skye is a totally doable day. So you pick up another night w/ that.

1 night Glasgow
2 nights Skye (or you could stay 3 nights)
2 nights near Inverness
1 night Stirling
3 nights Edinburgh
2 nights Lake District (or 3)
2 nights enroute south
6 nights London
4 nights Paris.

janisj

Oops - hit post too soon

Meant to add -- if you are taking the train south, then I'd do this:

1 night Glasgow
3 nights Skye
2 nights near Inverness
1 night Stirling
3 nights Edinburgh
3 nights Lake District
Drop car in Liverpool, Mancheater or elsewhere and take the train to London
6 nights London
4 nights Paris.

nelcarp

I should have added that we planned a stop enroute to Skye as we're not yet sure when my wife will be in Oban. If not until early to mid afternoon, we thought a stop on the way may be warranted?? Would you still suggest just moving on to Skye (better use of our time)?

Sounds like 2 nights in the Lakes is adequate? However, we also want to be sure to have enough time to just "hang out" and not be constantly on the move. I worry the kids will get burned out of we're always driving, walking, sight seeing rather than just take a couple of hours to just sit on a beach (when there is one).

BTW, booked E&E; helpful folks; I think that will work out well. Thanks for the tip!

nelcarp

...also janisj (and others) interested in your thoughts on accomodations/location in Ediburgh. See our other post on that specifically.

Thanks!

janisj

3 days on Skye, 3 days in the Lakes, AND a stop enroute to Skye would all be good if you have the time.

The best way to get that extra time is to not drive to London. So if you drop the car up north and take the train from Manchester or even Carlisle - it would gain you enough time to add a couple of days to Scotland/the Lakes.

And cutting London to 5 days you get one additional day. Taking the train to London means you'd have nearly as much time in the city w/ 5 days as you would w/ 6 days if you drove in.