Sunday, January 31, 2010

Avoiding Serviced Apartment Rip-Offs in London

By Rajul Chande

London serviced apartments provide a gorgeous sense of space in a big, busy city. However, this only occurs if you avoid the traps by doing proper research. This article will put you on the right path.

There are several advantages and disadvantages of serviced apartments that you should always take into account.

Advantages of London serviced apartments:

* "Greater space per dollar invested". Serviced apartments will often give you more space for similar money.

* "Freedom". A serviced apartment allows you to prepare your own meals (saving valuable cash!) - especially useful if you're with your family.

* "Feeling local". It "feels good" to have your own apartment in London. You may also feel more like a local!

* "Long stays". It's more comfortable to be in an apartment if visiting London for more than a few days.

* "Flexibility". A serviced apartment is usually more flexible than renting long-term (usually tied to at least a six-month contract in London).

Disadvantages of London serviced apartments:

* "Lack of hotel service". Hotels can often save you a bit of time and hassle, though remember that serviced apartments in London do increasingly include services.

* "Missing advice". A decent hotel concierge can often make your stay and you may miss this in some serviced apartments.

* "That special X factor?". Serviced apartments can't always compete with the extra "wow" that some hotels generate when they serve you especially well.

* "The unknown". You can't always tell what's included within a serviced apartment (e.g. will toilet paper be available on arrival?). It's essential to ask and check what's included in advance.

You could save around 20% by booking a serviced apartment instead of a similar hotel (though prices can always vary). Do always ask yourself: how essential are all the little "extras" you might get in a hotel when you compare them to the value for money (and often greater space) in a serviced apartment?

If you end up choosing a London serviced apartment, then you should take the following aspects into account before making your booking:

* You sometimes gain increased bargaining power if you book direct.

* Visit Britain has an accreditation scheme for serviced apartments. Do check it.

* Find out any extras which you might have to pay for before reserving (such as telephone costs).

* Take care with the specific apartment you choose. Don't trust photos on the internet and always keep your options open.

* Check out a few reviews...bad apartments are sometimes advertised in London as "luxury".

Please take care and always ensure you do your research before you book your serviced apartment in London. Check the London Hotels Insight blog which only features top-rated serviced apartments based on guest reviews.

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