Please review London apartment VRBO 108571 near Trafalgar Sq
Dec 12th, 2007, 06:19 AM
#1
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Please review London apartment VRBO 108571 near Trafalgar Sq
We've looked at a lot of holiday rentals, and have finally narrowed down to this:
www.vrbo.com/108571
http://www.cityholidayhome.com/id10.html
We are 2 adults, staying 1 week, who may be joined by a grown son(who would sleep on the sofa bed) for a few days.
A huge factor in our decision is closeness to the museums and other attractions in the London center--National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, a concert at St. Martin in the Fields, a couple of nights at the theater, etc.
Please comment on this apartment's location, and it's nearness to restaurants, and other amenities.
Thanks, Barb
www.vrbo.com/108571
http://www.cityholidayhome.com/id10.html
We are 2 adults, staying 1 week, who may be joined by a grown son(who would sleep on the sofa bed) for a few days.
A huge factor in our decision is closeness to the museums and other attractions in the London center--National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, a concert at St. Martin in the Fields, a couple of nights at the theater, etc.
Please comment on this apartment's location, and it's nearness to restaurants, and other amenities.
Thanks, Barb
Dec 12th, 2007, 07:42 AM
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Barb - it looks like a great location to me. You're in easy walking distance of Trafalgar Square (National Gallery and Portrait Gallery, St Martin), Covent Garden, and Leicester Square. I'd walk to the British Museum, Westminster and Piccadilly Circus as well (those will be longer walks but still definitely doable, in my book). You're close to lots of theatres and restaurants as well. Not sure about groceries, but Sainsbury's has several locations in central London.
Dec 12th, 2007, 08:18 AM
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I'd like to know how many square feet (or meters) the apartment is. Looks smallish.
As long as you're in central London, you can get around easily on the tube and bus. And get plenty of walking in too -- while staying in a more residential neighborhood, i.e., one with a supermarket. I always regret not spending more time in the parks, which are a great feature of this dense city.
As long as you're in central London, you can get around easily on the tube and bus. And get plenty of walking in too -- while staying in a more residential neighborhood, i.e., one with a supermarket. I always regret not spending more time in the parks, which are a great feature of this dense city.
Dec 12th, 2007, 10:21 AM
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This is in Adelphi, which was an early "planned development" in the late 18th century. It is an oddly residential-seeming area in the middle of central London, well-placed for transport and entertainment. Fairly ordinary but OK restaurants and cafés on Villiers St and Strand, but you can walk for 10 minutes or so up Charing Cross Road and into Covent Garden and find all sorts of options.
There's a small-ish supermarket on the other side of Strand, behind St Martin's, but you'd probably be going up to Marks and Spencer the other side of Covent Garden or Sainsbury's at the top of Kingsway.
There's a small-ish supermarket on the other side of Strand, behind St Martin's, but you'd probably be going up to Marks and Spencer the other side of Covent Garden or Sainsbury's at the top of Kingsway.
Dec 12th, 2007, 04:25 PM
#6
Which flat are you considering? Flat 11 on the city holiday site you linked or flat 9 (which matches the vrbo info)
The location is great, the kitchens are good, the view is good.
The lounges (living rooms) - not so hot. They are very sparsely furnished w/ only one place to sit that I can see. Plus a card table/chairs in flat 9 and not even that in flat 11.
The rates are decent for that location - just don't expect a lot of comfort.
The location is great, the kitchens are good, the view is good.
The lounges (living rooms) - not so hot. They are very sparsely furnished w/ only one place to sit that I can see. Plus a card table/chairs in flat 9 and not even that in flat 11.
The rates are decent for that location - just don't expect a lot of comfort.
Dec 12th, 2007, 05:18 PM
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I'm not sure when you are going. I'm used to the summer, when the rates for both of those places are over 900 pounds. Somehow that amazed me as we stay near there (actually, I think an even better location) right on a quiet street in Covent Garden. There is no comparison between the places -- "our flat" is gigantic by comparison and beautifully furnished in style, with two baths, and a huge extra "comfortable" sofa in the living room (not a pull out, but an oversized sofa which has a full sized mattress for its basic seat. We pay 900 pounds a week for it!
Here's a link. Ask me more if you're interested:
www.farnum-christ.com/Floral%20Street.htm
Here's a link. Ask me more if you're interested:
www.farnum-christ.com/Floral%20Street.htm
Dec 12th, 2007, 05:37 PM
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Thanks, everyone for the input, I've booked this apartment.
Neopatrick--I looked at the Floral Street listing, and got a reply back from them that the flat at Floral Street was for 2 adults only.
It really looked good, but I had told them there was a 3rd adult, and they gave me the above message.
Neopatrick--I looked at the Floral Street listing, and got a reply back from them that the flat at Floral Street was for 2 adults only.
It really looked good, but I had told them there was a 3rd adult, and they gave me the above message.
Dec 12th, 2007, 05:58 PM
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Hmm. That surprises me, unless they didn't realize it was a couple with an adult son for just part of the visit. I do have friends who rented the same flat once and they had a third friend with them for part of the stay. That's particularly suprising since there is full bedding for that sofa.
Dec 18th, 2007, 07:34 AM
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I was curious about that comment from Farnum and Christ, so emailed and asked. They remember the request, but never understood it to be for a "possible third for a few days" but rather a request for 3 adults. The owner does prefer only two, but is fine with a couple nights of a third. Perhaps this was a communication problem, or maybe you don't really know if he will join you for the full time. Sorry, that flat didn't work out -- I LOVE it, obviously.
It's especially too bad, since it has a full bath with shower off the living room, while the master bath is through the master bedroom. It really gives a third person great privacy and convenience.
It's especially too bad, since it has a full bath with shower off the living room, while the master bath is through the master bedroom. It really gives a third person great privacy and convenience.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 10:30 AM
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NeoPatrick,
Thanks for the recommendation on that apartment. I was just about to give up on going to London as I was not finding any apartments that I liked. Out of all the Farnum-Christ apartments, do you think that the Floral street is the best location? All of their apartments seem pretty nice and reasonably priced. If any other locations are better, I would like to stay whereever is best. Thanks.
Thanks for the recommendation on that apartment. I was just about to give up on going to London as I was not finding any apartments that I liked. Out of all the Farnum-Christ apartments, do you think that the Floral street is the best location? All of their apartments seem pretty nice and reasonably priced. If any other locations are better, I would like to stay whereever is best. Thanks.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 12:47 PM
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For ME, it is the best location. I tend to go to the theatre twice a day, plus normally hit the TKTS booth in the morning. Staying in Knightsbridge or Sloane Square is NOT so convenient for me -- too much back and forth or having to go out for the day. I love being able to walk the couple blocks to TKTS and get my tickets, and also to be able to go "home" between a matinee and an evening performance. And I love being able to eat out in the theatre district after an evening play and not worry about a longer tube trip particularly with connections after that at night.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 12:55 PM
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When I was trying to work with F&C for my upcoming trip some of the apartment owners were VERY specific about only wanting 2 adults - even in cases where it could have comfortably slept 3 or 4. I have a girlfriend that is meeting us for the last 2 evenings of our time in London. This was one of the reasons we had to go with another agency for this trip.
Jan 22nd, 2008, 03:31 PM
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London Guest Suites -- property 838 if you're interested. Our trip isn't until March so I can't comment on the property yet, but I am familiar with the 'hood. LGS has been really great to deal with so far.
Dealt with another property rental place (can't remember the name right now!) but they were really slow in getting back to me, etc. Properties just didn't seem as nice either.
When we rented with F&C we used the Pembridge Crescent flat. It's listed as a one bedroom, but the owner opened up the back room for a small extra fee. It was a wonderful flat and great location.
Dealt with another property rental place (can't remember the name right now!) but they were really slow in getting back to me, etc. Properties just didn't seem as nice either.
When we rented with F&C we used the Pembridge Crescent flat. It's listed as a one bedroom, but the owner opened up the back room for a small extra fee. It was a wonderful flat and great location.
Feb 2nd, 2008, 05:53 AM
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Late reply to Barb in GA - I have stayed in flat 9 and it was perfectly fine. The furnishings in the lounge have been replaced with two leather settees (one is a sofabed I believe).
The location is perfect. Embankment Tube is right around the corner; St. Martin's and the National Gallery are nearby and Covent Garden a short walk down the street. We would cut through Embankment Gardens to get to the Thames for a trip across the bridge to the South Bank.
I loved staying here and if available will be there again this summer.
Additionally, the owners are great to deal with. The washer/dryer was the best we have used on our many trips to the UK.
The location is perfect. Embankment Tube is right around the corner; St. Martin's and the National Gallery are nearby and Covent Garden a short walk down the street. We would cut through Embankment Gardens to get to the Thames for a trip across the bridge to the South Bank.
I loved staying here and if available will be there again this summer.
Additionally, the owners are great to deal with. The washer/dryer was the best we have used on our many trips to the UK.
