Our agency has run a survey with their clients to find out what makes them choose a vacation rental over a hotel stay during their trips to London.
We asked our guest to give us their opinions on the benefits of apartment rentals as well as any of the downsides. Here is a compilation of interesting points made by our clients which we believe can help you weigh your options when choosing which type of accommodation is most likely to suit your style when traveling to London for a holiday.
There is a belief that visitors to London who opt for a hotel stay will often see much of their holiday budget being spent on accommodations alone. Our guests found this to be rather true. For the same rates as a typical hotel, an apartment rental provided them with more value for their money and more choices regarding sizes and style. Cleaner and quieter, rentals have the added benefit of a kitchen. Our guests found that they could save money by dining at home rather than in restaurants every day. Even London studio, the smallest sized vacation rentals, is often larger and better equipped than a simple single standard London hotel room.
Hotels may provide breakfast and, if you are lucky, a little kettle in each room. Our clients state that this simply does not match up to the pleasure of doing your morning food shopping in the markets of London and meeting back "home" with friends and loved ones for a convivial meal.
Tips from our guests: If you are on a budget but want to avoid the terrible one / two star hotels of London, consider a vacation rental outside of the first zone of London. By renting in the Battersea, you are next to Chelsea and Knightsbridge is a short distance too.
An apartment like Eternity may be a perfect choice at a very affordable rate. Hoxton Square is also kissing the border of Shoreditch – a hip and happening place in central London. Opting for a 2 bedroom like Firefly can be an excellent way to save money, while being steps from Bloomsbury.
An area like Tower Bridge will put you close enough to enjoy Tower Hill and Saint-Paul's Cathedral. Consider a property located near a beautiful market called Othello or Hamlet, a one bedroom – 1-bathroom accommodation practically on the Thames river banks.
When choosing a London vacation rental you will have access to amenities that would be impossible to obtain in any place other than a 5 star London palace. A two bedroom apartment in Earls Court with its own garden such as Twelfth Night or a gem like Duchess, a Tower bridge penthouse with a terrasse overlooking London's skyline are real treasures and will make a London vacation unforgetable.
It is no secret that fans of short-term rentals are travelers with a taste for things private, charming and personal. If you like to do things your own way, at your own pace without rigid hotel rules, curfews, impersonal service then a vacation rental is for you. Not your first time in London? Some of our guests suggest that when traveling with friends in London, a personal home away from home adds amazing value and a richer experience to your stay. Entertaining friends in your London home with a great meal prepared in a fully stocked kitchen can make for an unforgetable evening …
Whether you are traveling with adults only, children or are just a group of friends looking to spend a fun time abroad, our agency caters for large and small groups. We asked families what made them opt for a vacation rental rather than a hotel suite.
As you can imagine, for a large family a single London hotel room will rarely provide adequate accommodations every one. You can choose to pick two room and cross your fingers that they will be on the same floor, reliably close to each other, safe, and if very lucky, adjoining one another. But there is always a price for this sort of "luxury" and with little children this avenue is not even a valid option. Being confined in the small space of one hotel room presents a problem for little ones who have now to roam and may very well turn the trip sour.
On the other hand traveling together is a great way to reduce costs by allowing everyone to share one lodging together. A vacation rental is the best solution for this type of vacation.
Some apartments welcome up to 6 or 7 guests with 3 bathrooms and separate toilets. South Kensington's Concerto is a very good example of this, as is Delicious, a luxury hideaway near the Portobello Market and Notting Hill. The benefits of this type of London rental are numerous; Each guest will enjoy an intimate space to retreat to, while social gatherings can be made in the living room or meals enjoyed in the kitchen. Separate bathrooms allow guests to make use of the sink and bathtub in different rooms without creating traffic in the morning.
Of course, with individual rooms at a London hotel you may get individual bathrooms, bedrooms and privacy at night since everyone is separated, but let's not forget that you sacrifice the pleasure to spend time together and share a unique experience in a relaxed way – the Very reason you opted for a family / friend vacation in the first place.
One of our guests who has a family of three young children suggests that one the plus side of a London rental is not having to dress the kids up and race down to the breakfast lobby of a hotel before the morning meal wraps up. This is perk that is hard to ignore!
So you are sold on the idea of vacation rentals? In our next article we feature the benefits of renting via an agency rather than through private owners … Read what our guests have to say about this!