Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Overwhelmed--please help! London accomodations

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Overwhelmed--please help! London accomodations

Here's the story. Two adults, mid 30's. Budget up to $1300 for accomodations for 7 nights, late december, early january. interested in an apt but a good b and b would b fine--really want to have laundry facilities or easy access. planning on doing all the tourist things--as we are unabashed and unashamed tourists--would like a central location from which to branch out but somewhat leary of being in a "busy" part of town. Would really like to have some of the amenities of a hotel insofar as it would be nice to have help getting theatre tickets, etc. Have seen Nick Price mentioned a couple of times--but can't tell from postings or website if his rentals include any sort if "service" or if they are totally do-it-yourself type arrangements. Comments? Info? Help????

good luck getting any sort of feedback

hi i suggest that you email nick price with all questions. many, many people on these travel message boards have been very happy with price services. i wrote back and forth a few times and they were extremely quick to respond and helpful

Perhaps I wasn't clear. I am not asking for advice on how to contact Nick Price--clearly he would only offer information on his apts. I am asking for adivice on what neighborhoods are best, other apts people have chosen that offered hotel-like amenities, b and b's people liked with good services, etc. Thanks.

I've recommended them to someone else on this forum, but do look into the Citadines apartments in London www.citadines.com The Gloucester Road location is excellent, near Hyde Park, Kensington Palace, Knightsbridge, etc. The studio apartments would probably make your budget, and the benefits are: very attractive premises with hotel-style facilities, communal laundry room and a small kitchenette in each unit which means you can prepare your own breakfasts and light meals - so nice when you're far from home.

I have two suggestions: believe it or not but in New Kensington, close to Harrod's, is a lovely Holiday Inn. It's close to two tube stations but is a lovely hotel. Easy access to everywhere. Not inexpensive as nothing there is but they have a concierge, restaurant, etc. and it is safe, clean and tastefully done. For $160 a night you can stay at the Comfort Inn and the accommodations are like a prison cell or dorm room and that is down the street from the H.I. Also, you can go to www.gonative.com and get an apt. that is really inexpensive in New Kensington or other nice neighborhoods. They are nice apts.

We've stayed at some of Nick Price's apartments and they do not include "service" as you call it. The majority of apartments do not provide daily cleaning or housekeeping. Usually when I recommend an apartment (and Elvira also says the same thing) we clearly state that if you want to have daily maid service don't go the apartment route unless you go for some of the really expensive ones where they do include it. With Nick's apartments you get towels, clean bed linens and they are changed after a week. You can however make specific arrangements with him for more frequent service. He has a cleaning women who is in the buildings regularly on Balcombe St. I am not sure about some of the other locations but just ask,he's very nice and easy to work with. We've gotten extra towels with no problem at all. Remember also, in an apartment you are responsible for taking out the trash (not a big deal, there are "dustbins" as they call them to deposit your trash in) but if you don't want to do this then opt for a hotel. Several of Nick's apartments are "basic", i.e. no frills meaning fancy furniture etc. but they are clean and have small kitchens, bathrooms etc. He also has several he has recently remodeled. There is a very nice 2 bedroom apt. at 31 Balcombe St. and was completely redone in April when we were there (and we saw it so I know what I'm talking about). There is a complete kitchen with washing machine, one full bathroom and another with a toilet and sink, one bedroom has twinbeds and the other a queen size I believe. The living room/dining area is in the front of the apartment facing the street (Balcombe). It's a couple of blocks to Baker St. (several tube lines) and around the corner to Marylebone Station. There is a small laundermat around the corner on Ivor St. altho we did not use it. There is a small grocery store on Melcombe St. (Shepard's Market) and another small grocery in Marylebone Station. Regent's Park is about 3 blocks away. It's a very central and convenient area. I am not sure about the price of the apt. but it was about 800 pounds per week when we were there and that would fit your budget. He also has another flat that was recently redone on Balcombe you can check with him about that. If you do tellhim Lori & John said hello. Nick also acts as an agent for several other places that may fit your needs as well, there are several places near Picadilly and that is very central (too busy an area for us, but each to their own). As for getting theater tickets - trust me you need not worry about getting a hotel to help you get them. We go to London every year and every year I log on to Ticketmaster and buy tickets on line. No fuss, no bother! You get a confirmation number, you print out your confirmation sheet and you pick up the tickets at the theater. Last year I bought tickets for 3 shows and a concert and had no problems. So far I've already bought tickets for two shows for April 2001 when we are there again. There is also Global tickets (Edwards&Edwards) as well as Albemarle and several others. Albemarle has great seating charts so you can print them out too (they are better charts then Ticketmaster has). We've stayed in apartments and hotels and found we like having more room which apartments have, London hotel rooms are small! We also like having a kitchen for making breakfast, not only saves on money but it's nice to not have to get dressed to go down/out to eat. I would suggest e-mailing Nick and be specific in your questions. He's an honest guy. Also, I'd recommend hving his associate Michael pick you up at the airport (it's a set fee, about 30 pounds). Michael is marvelous, droll sense of humor and very punctional too. He's driven us back and forth to Heathrow several times and it's well worth the money not to hassle public transportation or a regular taxi into London. If you have any other questions just ask, there are plenty of us willing to help.

Check out this webpage: www.astons-apartments.com. I'm going to London next month and had originally booked a room here. I found out about the place because their hotel is featured on the back cover of the Frommers 2000 guide book on London (London on $85 a Day). I decided to cancel the reservation though because I found something a bit cheaper for myself (The Garden Court Hotel, www.gardencourthotel.co.uk) but Astons seems to be in your budget. Hope this helps, Vanessa

Like Hazlitt's in Soho near theatre district.

Susan, where on earth is 'New Kensington'? I've lived in Kensington for 16 years and have never come across this term. Is it tourist lingo? Overwhelmed, I would advise you not to use this term when making your enquiries, as nobody will know what you mean.

Susan: www.gonative.com is a gardening site! I tried www.go-native.com and got a US bed and breakfast site. Can you clarify?

Hi I have notes on London, if you are interested, email me. London is a large busy place so any neighborhood that is central and convenient for tourists is also going to be "busy". For neighborhoods and moderately-priced places to stay, Bloomsbury and Kensington/South Kensingtion are good (I don't know what New Kensington is either.) I have often stayed in South Kensington and really like it. Convenient tube line, walking distance to several large museum and other sites. Here are some websites www.kgp-publishing.co.uk b&bs www.infotel.co.uk discounts off rack rates www.b-and-b-online.com http://www.s-h-systems.co.uk / http://london.hotelguide.net/ http://www.demon.co.uk/hotel-net/ hotels plus links to maps, sightseeing http://uk.multimap.com/all-hotels/ places.cgi?db=london www.dogpile.com Search hotels www.travelinn.co.uk a chain of moderately-priced hotels(see notes on a specific one in London below) www.aboutbritain.com www.hotels-london.co.uk www.theaa.co.uk/region9/98647.html you'll find information regarding hotels, including Travel Inns, at this site. The site is that of the Royal Automobile Association which has other useful info as well www.visitbritain.com British Tourist Authority Just a few hotels that have been recommended on this forum and in other resources (I have not stayed in them).You can Search by name for them on this forum if you want to see more of the remarks Euro Hotel in Bloomsbury -- 35 rooms, some ensuite, and an English Breakfast is included in the tariff. The web site www.eurohotel.co.uk/index.htm; The Rembrandt in South Kensington; Thanet Hotel, 8 Bedford Place, Bloomsbury: Said to be charming, quiet, and well-run by a friendly staff. Someone on this forum submitted this earlier this year: "We rented a one-bedroom, 1 ½ bath apartment in Mayfair. It had full kitchen and washer-dryer. Maid service Monday-Friday. 100 pounds per night. Minimum 7 nights. No a/c. Company is London Pied-a-Terre. Email [email protected]. Telephone 207 499 692 Fax 207 491 7273 good luck

My mom stayed at the Rueben Hotel - right by Buckingham palace , and LOVED it a few years later , she and I stayed at the HARCOURT HOTEL ( B&B) and it was HORRIBLE - the lesson - be careful where you stay and whose recommendation you take Karen brown does have a good rep for listing worthy B&B's though. you might try her website.

try these sites for london apartments http://www.vacationspot.com http://www.london4rent.com

What ever you do, do not stay at Astons Apartments. It is expensive, poor service, crap tiny rooms with tiny bathrooms and they lie about all the facilities that they have.

Does anybody know about MORGAN Hotel? Is it clean and convenient? It's about the cheapest I've found in a good location (I guess it's a good location.) Libbie

Need help also. We are looking at two hotels-London Guard near Lancaster Gate and RAdisson Vanderbilt near Gloucester Road station. Which one??

I would definitely recommed the Ridgemount Hotel at 011 44 207 636 1141. I stayed at this hotel in august 1999 and loved it. It is located in Bloomsbury just off of tottenham court road. It is near the warren street tube station. For a double with a private bathroom was only 55 pounds. I am staying there June 20, 2001 for 65 pounds. It might be cheaper when you go. I first found the hotel in a frommers book. The hotel is in a safe neighborhood (student area) and you will feel welcome. The price includes breakfast which is really all you can eat if you ask for more, and they will do your laundry for a fair price. The hotel does NOT have a/c, but I doubt that you go. The beds, although a double, are very small, but the rooms have a color tv and hairdryer. It is located just north of piccadilly circus and leister (sp?) square.