Begging your indulgence for starting yet another thread... but maybe it will be useful to others in the future.
We've decided to rent from A Place Like Home, provided we can find an available property from them for our dates. We are reassured by the one positive review of A Place Like Home, and it seems like a ringing endorsement to us that the much-raved-about "London Perfect" agency uses A Place Like Home to manage at least some of their properties.
We did gather that A Place Like Home has some peculiar conditions in their rental agreement (I'll look for the review that mentioned this -- I think it was a London Perfect review), including threatening to withhold part of security deposit for setting TV channels wrong!, but haven't heard any complaints about actual return of deposit.
Just in case anyone happens to think of other possibilities, our criteria again are: -full kitchen, since we both have food allergies and need to cook -big bed is a huge plus; we both have creaky backs and are afraid of a worn/uncomfortable bed -we'd prefer a place with dishwasher and washer/dryer -we're not so concerned with decor. Function is more important than beauty, given our budget. -we can only go a little way over $200 a night.
Has anyone happened to stay in any of the below, our top four choices? We haven't heard about availability yet. Those who were kind enough to post to the other thread will notice that we are trying for approximately the Kensington/Gloucester Road area, having decided that Parsons Green and Brompton feel too far outside the center of London for us.
That was my review of the London Perfect Property managed by A Place Called Home. They did return my deposit promptly, but the entire process of dealing with them was hugely frustrating.
I had a very difficult time getting them to acknowledge my payments ahead of time. They weren't there to meet us when we arrived, although they threatened a substantial fine if we were late. They weren't there when they said they would be to check us out, although there contract said we would forfeit the HUGE deposit if their representative didn't inspect the property in our presence. Then there were the bizarre house rules about changing the tv channels and I forget what else.
Personally, I'd avoid dealing with them because it was such a pain, although in the end it all turned out ok. Good luck!
I didn't check the prices but if they are under $200 a night you have a bargain I would have thought.
If it were me I would go with #2 largely on basis of outdoor space. I am always a little wary of ground floor in London due to potential security concerns - and could be noisier as well.
My experience with A Place Like Home was very good. Didn't notice any nonsense about the TV channels, but we didn't watch all that much TV.
All these flats look good and are well-located. I'd let transportation be the deciding factor -- unless you'll be there in the summer and want that outdoor space. That's a very hard-to-find feature in London.
Posts: 132 | Location: Seattle, WA USA | Registered: 11 March 2004
I love South Kensington, that is where I lived eons ago. Take the one with outdoor space, omg, how cool is that? Wouldn't you just love to own one of those....
Posts: 1372 | Location: Seattle - next is Isla Mujeres,MX in December, then its Paris in March, then hopefully England! | Registered: 02 May 2005
If it were me I would go with #2 largely on basis of outdoor space. I am always a little wary of ground floor in London due to potential security concerns - and could be noisier as well.
Wow, those are nice choices.
I agree, eliza. While #2 has that light and airiness feeling going for it--and, I do like the way it looks the best--I wondered about the foot traffic near the ground level, too. It looks as though it is directly on street level. After I enlarged the photo and had a look at it, it does look like a residential area. But, it's pretty difficult to tell without a client review.
Not sure when you are planning to travel, but if you are going to require accommodations during low season, your budget would probably be able to absorb it at 665 GBP, but during high season, it looks like a whopping 1,074 GBP! Not to mention, those may not even be the rates for 2008.
Cindy ~ "Follow your Bliss." Find where it is, and don't be afraid to follow it. ~ Joseph Campbell
Posts: 767 | Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA | Registered: 16 November 2005
Thanks for your comments, everyone. Marianne, we were really glad to have your review, and it's nice to be reminded that you liked dealing with them.
Chris's experience sounds really bad, though. Thanks for chiming in, Chris -- my husband and I agree that we are really nervous about the idea of someone not meeting us to check out, with the threat of a fine hanging over us.
Goodness, this is difficult! Finding a Paris apartment was no problem, but the London part is proving very tricky so far.
BTW this is for February 08, so yes, at least it won't be in the high season.
We're wondering now whether, given how skittish we are, we should just give in and stay at an apartment hotel. At least there wouldn't be any chance the management would stand us up when it was time to check out! It's just that most of them seem to have such teeny kitchens.
Now you guys are talking about my old neighborhood!
Location-wise, I'm less fond of #3's location. Not terrible or unsafe, I just don't think the environs are as much of an upper as some of the others. The Gloucester Road Tube is small and straightforward, if limited. Earl's Court is more complicated, though often necessary.
As for the others, throw a dart: or pick the closest to your favorite mode of transport.
I seriously may be misspeaking here, so CHECK this, but is this the agency that REQUIRES you to be met, at your expense, by a hire car at the airport if you don't arrive during business hours, and requires full payment before arrival? This area is soooo Tube-able. While completely within acceptable business practices, it struck me as a little cheeky.
But I think this is way, way less risky that trying Craigslist or something.
Don't be discouraged. You're doing far more research than 95 percent of people do before zapping their personal details off to some company. Things can go wrong with any booking. I've been stood up by hire cars, had boilers break down repeatedly, roof leaks, had bookings lost, and used the company again. It's how the company responds to these things that matters. Doing stuff like paying by credit card, confirming bookings BEFORE you leave, and getting local contact numbers helps.
At some point you just have to jump. Check some of the other destinations in the reviews: there ARE companies that people are warned away from.
Talking to the company in person, including about refund policies, may sway you one way or another. Tell them about your allergies (or anything else important to you), that way there's no "you expected an unreasonable standard of cleanliness" or anything. (Well, you do. If somebody else's food would make you sick/dead, you would too!)
This place might offer some protection in that if you walk in and it's obviously not right, you can interrogate (nicely!) the greeter until they do something. Just be clear about what you want. If a cleaning or fix will do it, say so. If you want a new place, but want to see it first, say so. If you want out, ask for a refund, and have the numbers of a couple of apartment/hotels in your wallet. (Or tube it to the club suites and ask if they'll give you a same-day discount!)
Another thing in your favor: It is low season.
I'm kind of a nervous person, so I know what you mean. Having a good plan B for everything (like the #s of alternative hotels) helps calm me.
If the worst thing that happens is you are forced to check into Vancouver Studios, I insist you go down to Westminster Bridge, stare at the view until your eyes dry up, then go buy yourselves something fantastic to commemorate the day, have a wonderful meal and REFUSE to feel bad. OK?
BlueHour, you are SO sweet -- thank you for following me around with reassuring advice. Yes, A Place Like Home does insist on their driver meeting anyone who arrives after 3:30 PM, and I agree that sounds rather cheeky. We haven't heard a peep back from A Place Like Home yet anyway, aside from their initial automated response, so who knows, this all might be moot. But I think you're right that at some point we're just going to have to take the plunge -- and we are absolutely going to have the Vancouver Studios contact information with us as a backup plan, no matter what!! We are currently looking hard at Two Hyde Park Apartments, http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g186338-d262237...-London_England.html which although it is just above what we wanted to spend, and in Bayswater at that, sounds like it has unusually complete kitchens and king-size beds that aren't just two twins pushed together. The reviews aren't 100% positive, but the negatives don't sound as worrisome to me as on many other reviews (we can clean bread crumbs out of our own toaster, and we might anyway). I've written to ask them about their rooms, and if what I hear back sounds good, I guess I might start yet another thread if nobody minds!
Again, so many thanks to everyone for their generosity in caring about the vacation of total strangers! We've already pledged to ourselves that we will repay your kindness by coming back to thoroughly review every place we stay.
and we are absolutely going to have the Vancouver Studios contact information with us as a backup plan
This may not be a good "back-up plan", as Vancouver Studios is often booked solid. I know that the past 2 times I've stayed there at least 1 pair of friends each time has tried to make a reservation to stay in the city with me, and Vancouver Studios was sold out already.
It also occurred to me that, if you're willing to stretch the budget slightly, Landmark Trust might be an option to consider. landmarktrust.org.uk
I have used them on several occasions for rentals in 3 countries on several occasions and they are FANTASTIC.
They are a charity that rehabs buildings and rents them out. Prince Charles is the royal patron.
I have not rented one of their London properties, but I have done walk-bys, so I can tell you about the neighborhoods, if you decide this appeals to you.
I think they are not more popular on these boards because they are low-tech: you can't view the properties online. The mechanism is you order a handbook for $25 from Vermont, choose your property, check availability (online, by calling Vermont or calling England) then book by calling England. (You can ask to have the $25 applied to the booking, I believe.)
The property I think you would be most interested in is 45 Cloth Fair, right next to St. Bartholomew the Great (in fact, if you watch 4 Weddings & a Funeral, the last wedding is filmed in the street right outside the property.) For February, prices start at around 1,000 gbp a week (#43, John Betjeman's flat, is also available, for less, but it only has twin beds.) They also do 3 and 4 day stays, and offer late discounts.
LT properties are great -- well equipped (does anyone really use a chinois on vacation?) loaded with books (but no TV). The staff are helpful, answering questions about properties
Prices are all over the place though -- they change literally week to week, and you can almost literally rent a cottage for 4 for the same money as a castle for 16. (Yeah, they give you the keys to the castle and then leave you alone to play!) Next year, invite all your friends and split the costs!
Maureen, thanks for the warning -- we will look hard at Vancouver Studios again before making our final decision.
BlueHour, I really, really appreciate that recommendation -- Landmark Trust properties sound really delightful, and the idea of giving our holiday money to a charitable cause seems like having our cake and eating it too. However, as of today's availability on the LT website, the two Cloth Fair flats and the Princelet Street flat are all at least partially taken during our stay in London. If you know of other London flats owned by LT, I'm still willing to order their handbook, but otherwise I'll just add it to our wish list for the future. (A pig sty? Multiple castles? A pineapple?! Sounds like the handbook is great reading in itself.)
Rats! Their only other London-area properties are at Hampton Court Palace, a couple of old grace-and-favour apartments. I think they start at 1250 or something gbp for 6-8 people. (I don't know how LT got a reputation for being expensive. Try getting a 3-4 bed suite with the same space and amenities anywhere in London for that money. And it's at the freakin' palace!)
Or you might split the time?
(I love the handbook. It's my Breakfast at Tiffany's. I wish myself into it when I'm having a bad day. If you like the concept, National Trust, National Trust for Scotland and Ireland, Vivat Trust and the Eminescu Trust in Romania also do similar work.)
But I think Hampton Court's a bit far out for this trip. Not undoable, but now it's crawling up with the money and the travel when I think you can REALLY get what you're looking for within your budget, in a central area. This is your tasting tour.
I think talking directly to an agency might help you get a better read (I know it's hard, with the time zones). You can ask them to go over details of the refund policy. No legit business is going to get freaked out by this. It's protection for them too. You sound like a very reasonable, polite person; if the conversation doesn't go well, it's really on them. Sometimes you can talk them out of scary policies. For example, I've been let into properties earlier, or at least allowed to drop off my bags, because they realize most Americans are arriving on early morning flights and it's really hard to sit in a cafe or park for nine hours until the technical check-in hour. Maybe they won't make you be picked up at the airport if you feel, as I do, that it's a bigger headache to have a driver than just get on the Tube. They might make you feel a thousand percent better. Or not. At least you'll know for sure.
Unhappy people are quick to report disasters. Happy people stay happily silent (I speak from professional experience). So lack of feedback may not be a bad thing at all.
I think that's about all the helpful advice I have on this particular topic. Other than to say you can definitely do this. I have struggled with this same issue, and I lived in London for 3 years, and have visited for over a quarter century.
You're going to find someplace. And it's going to be fine.
Great suggestions, BlueHour, thank you! (If you're ever in Northern California or if we overlap in London, we want to take you to lunch!)
This option doesn't work for our dates, but in case a future person is looking for a budget option with kitchen: City University's Walter Sickert Hall has rooms available year-round that have shared kitchens nearby. In the Angel district of Islington, not a bad neighborhood from what I can gather. http://www.city.ac.uk/ems/accomm/wsh.html
Slow Travel Talk 
