Perfect Apt. for our London vacation
Submitted: December 23, 2012
Stayed: December 2012
My family of six stayed in this apt during our recent vacation to London. The apt itself is lovely, well-maintained, modern, clean and spacious. There was plenty of space for us - a couple and four children. The apt in person is just as it appears in the photographs here.
It is a basement level apt - and from the street you have to descend a narrow staircase with a turn to get to the front door (so not ideal for older guests or people with physical limitations). The apt still gets natural light even tho it is below ground (areas outside were dug out near the front and several windows).
When we arrived several things listed in this listing were missing (microwave, play station, ihome) but we emailed the owner/agent (Solly) and he promptly brought over the missing items (the next morning).
We loved the location, it was a few short blocks from the Marble Arch subway station, the shops on Oxford Street, and Hyde Park. There are mini markets within two blocks with grocery and other items.
This was our first experience renting a vacation apt as opposed to staying in a hotel. It was far more comfortable for travelling with kids, having a full kitchen came in handy and was cost-effective, and we enjoyed being in a neighborhood. The downside of this type of arrangement is it is risky as you do not know what you are getting until you arrive.
We had a problem upon arrival which was that the person who had arranged our stay (Pina) and with whom I had been in email contact leading up to our trip, told me to call her when we got to the airport so she could send the person with the key to the apt. We called Pina repeatedly but her phone was off or not working. This was not good since we came in at night with four kids, were on our way to the apt and had no where else to go. Fortunately I also had phone number for Solly who was my original contact, and although he did not know we were arriving he thankfully answered and arranged to meet us with the key. He was gracious, welcoming and extremely helpful, but had we not have happened to have had his cell phone and reached him (he was not expecting us at all) I do not know what we would have done. I have no idea what happend with Pina who just the day before said she would be waiting for my call.
We also had a situation where the boiler broke during our stay, but Solly attended to it promptly to have it replaced and brought us space heaters in the mean time. Overall I highly recommend this apt!!
Owner's Response: It was a really pleasure for us to accommodate Elisa and her lovely family
I am pleased that after a small hick up, we managed to check them in late at night without any delay and to buy new, the few items they needed that were missing
The boiler had been playing up and finally failed on us but I was really pleased to get a brand new boiler installed within a day, giving them access to one of our other nearby apartments for showers for that day
This apartment is a raised lower ground with a courtyard in the middle of the apartment which offers 1-2 windows in every room.
It is so well located being a few minutes’ walk from Marble Arch Station, Oxford St, Hyde Park and my favorite department store Selfridges. And now that we have installed a brand new boiler there is unlimited hot water and heating
Helpful votes: 3/3
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