mclaurie

Friends of mine are taking their 10 year old granddaughter to London next April. My friends are more comfortable in 2 twin or 2 double beds. Granddaughter can sleep on a sofabed. They'd prefer a 1 bedroom set up but would take 2 bedrooms if that was the only way to get a comfortable sleeping arrangement. The wish for an apt. is more about space and budget (would like to spend $200-250/night but will spend more if necessary) than need for a kitchen although kitchen is nice amenity.. Is there any way to search for apts. with this type of set up? Anyone know of some? Short of that, recommended websites for this search? Any hotels that might work? Added complication is they likely won't be in London for a full week as they'd like to go to the Cotswolds for a night or two and the total trip is a week. (April 5-12 if that matters). Tia for ANY and all help.

nytraveler

Many apts rent only from Sat to Sat - but quite a few will rent for fewer days - but it is probably a good idea to keep them within one Sat-Sat week.

If you search London apts here there will be a bunch of threads listing legitimate rental services.

You are VERY unlikely to get 2 double beds in one bedroom but might get 2 or 3 twin beds or 2 twin beds and a sleep sofa in the LR.

Tulips

Try www.onefinestay.com. You can rent for a few nights. It's a great service, like a hotel service in a private home. They give you an iphone to use during your stay. I have used them.

You will not find 2 double beds in an apartment bedroom. Even in London hotels you don't often see that.

janisj

>>Many apts rent only from Sat to Sat - <<

That is often true of country cottages . . . but I have not found that to be the case w/ London flats. (And have rented MANY over 20 years - probably 25 or more different properties). A set start date would be very rare indeed.

Some flats do have king sized beds that can be set up as a king or two twins.

These for instance would meet your friends needs.

http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~hamlet_uk/

RoamEurope

I think a vrbo search (www.vrbo.com) can be configured to generate an answer for you, although, honestly, it sounds like a hotel room may be an easier option given the listed criteria.

For a family hotel search, I generally suggest www.4inEurope.com because it targets what you are looking for and links to TripaAdvisor.

I know Luna Simone has 3 beds in some rooms.

Also, I recall from years ago that some places will bring in a roll-away bed for the child (make sure it is not a "cot"- that is an American crib!). Maybe Premier Inn does that these days? You might check.

Also, I know from our London trip earlier this summer that TripAdvisor now has more detailed apartment listings and email inquiry features.

janisj

Meant to add -- the flats I linked do have a one week minimum (but any start date) but they will rent for shorter periods if it fits between other bookings.

But IME flats are such a bargain vs. comparable hotels -- especially when needing 3 beds -- it is often cheaper to rent a flat for 7 nights even when one s only using it for 6 or even 5 nights and eating the rest. For example - the one I linked runs £740 a week for a one bedroom sleeping 4. Prorating that £740 over 6 nights is only £123.33 per night so much cheaper than most nice hotels sleeping 3. And they'd get the extra space, a kitchen, a washer, etc.

mclaurie

2 twins would be fine. I did search for apts. on the forum but the were no mentions I saw of ones with 3 beds. Are there suite hotels with 1 bedroom suites that might work? I think they'd really like the equivalent of the Beacon hotel in NYC but in London.

janisj

did you click my link?

Christina

Perhaps I'm unclear on what you want, but it seems fairly straightforward to me. Many vacation rental apts have one bedroom and then a sofabed for another party. So that is common, I guess you think it is hard to find one with twins in the 1 BR, rather than a double/queen? As noted, I think many have twins as they try to appeal to those who want a double bed or twins (they push them together for the double, which I dislike but many do it). This is really common in central European countries, although that doesn't help you (finding a real double bed there is hard).

I think a lot of British people advertise on www.homeaway.com The problem is you can specify budget, number to sleep, and area, but will have to wade through them to find the proper bed arrangement, it appears. I did find one on there that fits the bill, I believe (it sounds like a business apartment, not sure)
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p1214473

Other than going through tons of listings, the easiest might be to find an agency you trust and ask them to tell you which of their listings would have twin beds in the bedroom and a sofabed.

janisj

also . . . If you do search some of the large rental databases -- it might be good to specify sleeping 4. Doesn't mean the flats will necessarily be larger but its more likely they'll have 3 separate beds.

mclaurie

Many thanks to you all, esp. janis. Sorry I hadn't read your post before I posted again. That flat you linked does have the sleeping arrangements they wanted. What do you think about the location? Tulips, onefinestay seems much more expensive than what they wanted to pay.

I have read that there is a law against vacation rentals in Kensington and Chelsea. Is this true? I warn people about NYC rental laws and wouldnt want to inadvertently not follow those in London. Ay further leads for specific apts. or sites gratefully accepted.

Tulips

No, that is not true. But of course whoever is letting a flat, must be allowed to do so.
If you are renting a flat, you will normally not be allowed to sublet to someone else. But the council does not get involved in that. The only thing the council does require is that there is an annual gas safety certificate.

Onefinestay is more expensive, but they take higher end properties, and offer great service.
Nice bed linnen, some food (coffee,tea, cereals...), the use of an iphone with free uk calls and internet during your stay, all properties have wifi.

We let a flat through them, so I know them well.

janisj

>> What do you think about the location?<<

I LOVE the location -especially for a family since there are 1) a supermarket on site, 2) many casual restaurants and a Starbucks on site, 3) it is very quiet and safe since there is no car traffic at all, 4) it is next door to the Tower of London and the river, and 5) is walking distance to Borough Market and Southwark.

My very favorite neighborhoods are Pimlico and Belgravia. But I've stayed at St Katharine's 3 times now and enjoy it a lot. At first glance it is too far east, but w/ Tower Hill tube station, the #15 bus which crosses London past St Pauls and to Trafalgar Square, the boat pier and the Tower Gateway DLR station, one can easily get anywhere.

mclaurie

Janis, I sent my friends the link to the St. Catherine apts. and they think it looks good and say "tell janis we say thank you!" On emore question though. Question from the Granddad od the family...

" I have difficulty walking on hilly terrain, although I can handle a modest amount of stairs OK. Would I have a problem walking in this area?"

janisj

Walking around - no problem at all. It is at River level so the whole area is essentially flat. And walking across Tower Bridge to Borough Market, the Shard, Southwark Cathedral is all pretty flat.

However the climb up to Tower Hill tube station is a pretty long flight of stairs.

But . . . it is easy to get around this issue because the very VERY useful #15 bus runs right by at street level. They can take the #15 to where they are going or to a mid point like St Pauls or Charing Cross/Embankment and jump on the tube there. http://www.tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/15/

mclaurie

You're a star! Thank you so much.

mclaurie

Janis,just wanted to report back and say my friends just got back from their London trip and were very happy with the flat. The only downside was the stairs you mentioned to the tube station. Not sure if they tried the bus or remembered it. They had a great time though and found the sleeping arrangements just fine. They had a lovely view of the marina from the flat and apparently great weather every day. Thanks again.

janisj

Thanks for checking back in. When ever I've stayed there w/ anyone the least bit 'physically challenged ' I've taught them about the #15. Saves a LOT of climbing up to Tower Hill station, which definitely can be a slog.

I love sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine looking across the marina, and some of the east end skyscrapers. And being basically in the center of London with no street noise at all. Plus just a super bargain.

elberko

My son and I will be staying at the Katherine's Dock apt. in Sept. after reading janisj's recommendation on a number of threads. Appreciate the additional info in this thread.

mclaurie

Elberko, my friends got an email before arriving asking for prefences on stocking the refrigerator for them before their arrival. They found this very helpful and had breakfast at the flat every day.