debstajm

Does anybody have an opinion on Egerton Gardens sw3? We (husband and I) are looking at an apartment there for 7 nights. Budget around 700 pounds. 1/06/2008-07/06/2008.
We found this one on VRBO, never used them and have always gone through a holiday company.

Any advise?? Thanks Deb

Carrybean

I've stayed on that street several times. I didn't rent through VRBO, though. The location can't be topped. A block from the V&A, short walk to S. Kensington tube station or in the other direction, the Knightsbridge station. Tons of restaurants in the area.

Very quiet area for being 1/2 block south of Brompton Rd. Does the flat back onto the garden?

Carrybean

Oh, and there are a couple of small grocers nearby, including a mini Marks & Spencers.

debstajm

Hi there, that was quick! It has 2 gardens around it. Sounds pretty good for the price. A bit wary.

Carrybean

There are several self-catering flats in that area but as long as it's clean, it should be fine with that location. What's the VRBO number?

debstajm

Sorry if I took so long I was actually about to log off. You may be gone now but it is 139002.
thanks D

KayF

Hi, I had a look on the VRBO website out of curiosity and we stayed here, briefly, last Christmas. The flat is lower ground, not sure if you are aware of that. That makes it a little darker than if it was on a higher floor. The bedroom was also very small, the bed fit in the room but not much else, quite cramped. We also could not get the TV to work, the rental people came around to fix it and left an aerial outside on the windowsill, with the cord leading in to the TV. This meant the window had to be open so we were quite angry, from a security point of view. We discovered this after coming back from grocery shopping on our first day. We ended up leaving after 1 night, the rental people found us another place. So not a great place but not that bad either. The location was quite good.
Hope this helps a bit.
Kay
(By the way, this flat was not our choice, we were told at the last minute the flat we had booked was no longer available. The flat we ended up with (the 3rd in the saga) was great.)

Carrybean

That's the first flat I stayed in on Egerton Gardens BEFORE it was remodeled. If there's an orange, mosaic looking teapot still in the kitchen, I provided it. I had a ton of issues with it then but now it's been redone & looks better in the pictures.

At that time the TV had rabbit ears & the bathroom was very old but I'm sure it's better now. The bedroom is TINY.

It faces the street, not the small private park behind the building. I started booking the WONDERFUL studio directly across the hall several times after that experience (the housekeeper showed it to me) but sadly, that studio was sold.

It's a very good price for that area though.

Carrybean

BTW, small world huh, Kay?

KayF

Hi Carrybean, yes it is a small world! I must say, that whole apartment saga in London nearly put me of renting apartments all together but in the end, it was sorted out. Just a pain initially. We've booked an apartment in Nice over Christmas and I really, REALLY hope there are no issues with that one.
Kay

debstajm

Results are a bit of a concern. I'll keep looking thanks
Deb

Carrybean

That flat led me to the best one I ever rented though. If only the 2nd one hadn't been sold. I was there in June & wasn't wild about the front windows being open to the street with no security. Thankfully, it wasn't hot at night. Do love the location.

Mimar

Just want to point out that VRBO is Vacation Rental By Owner. All owners are different; experience with one does not apply to any other.

Personally I'm more comfortable renting via a well-known agency. It's some degree of insurance.

debstajm

Who is a well known Mimar? I would not know. there are quite a few.

KayF

And actually the flat we rented was on the VRBO website but turned out to be through an agency. So you can't say they are all through owners on that site.

Deb - you could try looking on www.slowtrav.com they have an area where they have recommendations for rental properties with reviews from people who've stayed there.
Kay

Mimar

Yes, on the Slow Travel web site, renters review their specific rental and also comment on the rental agency's service. I recently had a good experience with the agency A Place Like Home, which has quite a few London rentals.

You'll pay a bit more for an agency, but it's a form of insurance. Wasn't there a fairly recent thread in this forum on apartment rental fraud on apartments rented via VRBO? I can't find it now.

The well-known Mimar

Merseyheart

Hey, thanks for the reference to slowtrav.com. What a great website! I've been trying to find reviews of vacation apartments in England.