My husband & I just returned from London and stayed at the Pembridge Palace Hotel in Bayswater. It was run by surly, rude Middle Eastern men who ignored women or were condescending to them. Our linen was changed 2 times in 8 days, our electronic room card failed 3 times and when I complained, was told it was my fault the cards didn't work and one man even said I was too stupid to know how to use it. They said the linen was changed every other day, but the same coffee stain was there for 4 days. They said there was an electric kettle in the room, but it was an urn in the lobby that never had hot water in the morning because the night clerk was asleep on the sofa. They bill themselves a a three star--no way. Certainly no place for women traveling alone.

Just got back (Yesterday!) from London. The 6 of us (2 adults, 4 teenagers, don't even try to imagine it!) stayed at the Jarvis Marylebone right next to Marylebone Train Station and Underground. The hotel was warm, clean and friendly, AND only about $70 a night! We booked it through go-today.com along with the inexpensive air tickets, but the post a rate of only 23 pounds per person in their lobby (2 PP equals 46 pounds which is well under $70 a night. We had 2 people per room, continental breakfast was pretty good, and great service from the bell hop. (One of our teenagers accidentally took the wrong suitcase off of Airbus, so we had a real rigamarole returning it to the owner. All efforts were successful!) Anyway, the only drawback about the place was the selection of nearby eating places - a few pubs, a few Italian restaurants, and fast food. But accd'g to our guide books,there was a good Iranian restaurant, 'Wagamamma' and 'Giraffe' nearby - we were just too addled to get there! Good luck!

ucsun wanted to know the place that I was referring to that didn't meet the criteria of the person who asked the original question.<BR><BR>It's the Kandara Guest House at<BR>http://www.comestaywithus.com/london-hotels/kandaragh.html<BR><BR>There are others at the comestaywithus.com website. The Kandara's innkeepers are nice. Some may not like it because there is no tube station nearby. (20 min. walk according to the Mr. Harmon, the husband)

Sue57 - just so you are not shocked when you get your credit card bill, since you just got back...46 GBP at today's exchange rate is about $74, not &quot;well under $70&quot;, unless I am misreading what you meant. <BR><BR>Hope you had a good trip. I went last month, and tried to ignore the terrible exchange rate!

Kaudrey: Thanks for the slight correction on the pounds/$ conversion rate. Perhaps I should say, 'well under $80'. But as for the credit card shock...well, the trips to Lush, Harrods and World Duty free should just about do me in before I get to the hotel details!