Apartments Serviced

Serviced apartments - delivering real boys’ toys

It takes a lot to keep my brother entertained. He’s 25 and still requires constant stimulation from electronic gadgets, games consoles and music stations. And it seems unlikely he’ll ever grow out of it . . . sigh.

While this seems typical of many men (and I’m sure some women), withdrawal symptoms can set in when on holiday and the Play Station, PC and Nintendo Wi are left behind. But, blissfully, there is a solution . . .

Serviced apartments have cottoned on to the fact that men need entertaining – 24/7. With this in mind, serviced apartments frequently offer an impressive array of ‘techy toys’ to keep boys/teenagers and men glued to their seats and out of mischief.

On a recent family get-together in Newcastle, we booked into a serviced apartment which had some impressive electronics, which even managed to entice me. They included:

‘All singing, all dancing’ serviced apartments

If you’re ever concerned about spending a night in an unfamiliar city, away from your own bed and home comforts, there’s one way to calm frazzled nerves . . . serviced apartments.

Major developers have snapped up a niche marketplace in many major city centres, from London and Manchester to Leeds and Newcastle, offering the ultimate ‘all-singing, all-dancing’ serviced apartments.

By this I mean, serviced apartment providers have thought of everything. And that’s no exaggeration. Recession, or no recession, it seems a large proportion of individuals and families are intent luxurious living. Quality of sleep and home comforts, seemingly, aren’t something Brits are prepared to sacrifice.

To illustrate the point, I did a spot of research. Here’s a quick snapshot of the facilities you may experience when staying in a four or five star serviced apartment . . .

• Two kinds of pillow per guest
• Fluffy robes
• Organic/free range locally procured breakfasts
• Hand-blended aromatherapy spa products
• Pocket sprung mattress with memory foam
• Oranges for the juicer
• Restaurant delivery service
• Apple Mac entertainment system with i-Tunes

As you can see, serviced apartments have really nailed the luxury living concept. Even though two kinds of pillow per guest may seem a little too princess-like to be true, it seems that’s exactly what the marketplace demands. Hotels are becoming rather passé, with lack of space and regimental dining times, and guests are looking for more freedom and privacy. And as serviced apartments currently stand around 30% cheaper than hotels, for an increasing number of people all this pampering makes perfect sense.

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Serviced apartments and the suburbs

If you’re using serviced apartments for business purposes, you have to think practically. This generally entails choosing a serviced apartment which is slap bang in the central business district of a city, such as London, Leeds or Manchester.

This offers you access to all the major transport links, posh restaurants for entertaining clients, and allows you to remain in the business epicentre.

From the cityscape to pretty meadows

However, if you need a holiday and a good dose of peace and quiet, there’s always the possibility of choosing a serviced apartment in the leafy suburbs.

Admittedly, apartments in such locations aren’t as readily available, but there is certainly a smattering of this type of accommodation if you look hard enough.

And when you do find one through an internet search they tend to be fabulous. Design wise they may be situated in barn conversions or grand residences with acres of surrounding grassland. Many serviced apartments in the suburbs also offer relaxing spa facilities. Advantages of choosing serviced apartments with a more suburban feel include:-

• Added tranquillity
• A sense of escapism
• Freedom to enjoy country walks and rivers
• Access to hobbies or new interests such as bird watching or hiking

As with all successful holidays, it comes down to smart research. Rather than opting for a hotel, or the first bed and breakfast you can find, have a good look around the web for a quality serviced apartment in the suburbs. While cities can be exciting and vibrant places, singing birds and green meadows can certainly instil peace and relaxation.

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Serviced apartments for the lonely traveller

I’ve often discussed the benefits of serviced apartments for groups of friends, or colleagues working away on business. But what about individuals? Not everyone has the comfort of a travel companion when away from home. And whether it’s business or a social trip, many people find themselves having to sleep in a strange bed alone. So do serviced apartments and solitude mix?

Yes, in my experience. For some people kicking off their shoes and enjoying the luxury of a spacious serviced apartment is a dream come true. I stayed a couple of nights alone in a serviced apartment while on business, and the joys of a 42 inch plasma TV and the unlimited web access certainly removed any sense of loneliness.

Snuggling up in serviced apartments

Having my own fridge/freezer and a lovely kitchen, equipped with everything from a potato peeler to a toaster, also allowed me to prepare my own food. If my memory serves me correctly, I spent most of the evening snuggled up on a big leather sofa (one of those lovely L-shaped designs) watching DVDs and eating pizza. If I had stayed in a hotel, I’d probably have ended up ordering extortionately-priced beans on toast from room service. Not to mention raiding the mini bar.

There can also be a misconception that if you’re staying in a serviced apartment they’re not great value for money. Not true in my experience. Serviced apartments vary in size, and many are designed for up to two persons. As these are, on average, 30% cheaper than a hotel room of an equivalent standard you’ll still save money as a single occupant. And you’re likely to have a very safe and cosy night’s stay – even if you just have the TV and a teddy for company.

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Serviced apartments and the four-day weekend

When it comes to holidays in 2009, many of us are re-evaluating our traditional week or fortnightly break in sunnier climbs. Difficult financial situations have dictated, for many at least, that the purse strings need to be tightened. This means abandoning hot, tropical destinations and pina coladas in favour of a UK city or beach break – often for a long four-day weekend. While you may miss the airport excitement and G&T at 30,000 feet, with serviced apartments you can inject a desirable level of luxury into your holiday even in the UK.

I’m used to a five-star hotel – why should I choose serviced apartments?

Serviced apartments are one of the most in-vogue types of accommodation in the UK at present. Their spaciousness, homely feel and state-of-the-art technical facilities such as fast internet connections and sophisticated plasma screens, have been appreciated by guests looking for very practical yet superior temporary accommodation. And, as serviced apartments are around 30% cheaper than hotel accommodation of an equivalent standard, they certainly make sense for anyone looking to reign in their spending during the recession.

Your four day break in serviced apartments – city or seaside?

If you’ve set aside four days – perhaps a Monday and a Friday either side of a weekend - you need to pick your destination carefully. Make sure there’s enough to see and do, while offering all the relaxation you need from a holiday. Most serviced apartments are available in the UK’s major cities such as Manchester, London, Leeds, Newcastle and Liverpool. The surge in popularity of serviced apartments, however, has meant that certain coastal destinations and the more leafy suburbs of cities also have accommodation of this nature to offer. Do a little research on the web, and be sure to choose a destination and serviced apartment that meet your 2009 holiday requirements.

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Serviced apartments - it’s all in the amenities

With the credit crunch stinging us in all directions, hotels and serviced apartments are not going unscathed. And, as with many businesses, from shoe shops to supermarkets, beating the competition is crucial. For the likes of serviced apartments and hotels this means providing an impeccable service and gaining the edge over competitors. One way this can be achieved – for both hotels and serviced apartments – is through enhanced amenities.

Serviced apartments have the means to bump up the level of facilities pretty easily – and many are doing so in these testing times. Serviced apartments seem to have recognised there’s certain temptations that will appeal to various different clientele. Take a stereotypical family of four looking for a serviced apartment for instance…

• Mum
  White fluffy robes, thick bath sheets (warmed on a heated towel rail), a dishwasher and posh bathroom (plus fancy products) are generally among the perks which could ‘sell’ serviced apartments to the Mum of the family more effectively. Not forgetting nearby shopping facilities.
• Dad
  Serviced apartment owners seem to be thinking technical facilities and sophistication for the gent of the family in 2009. A safe place to park the family 4×4 (ideally undercover), a huge bath, dedicated office area, sizeable plasma screen in the lounge or bedroom (preferably both), and a comfortable chair/sofa are all selling points for Dad.
• Teenage son
  Aren’t most lads of this age driven by beer, food, TV and computers? With that in mind, a nice big fridge/freezer doesn’t go amiss for the male teen of the family in serviced apartments, along with DVD player, high-speed internet and a large bedroom with private TV. Whether parents decide to take their teenager’s lavish requirements into consideration is, of course, another matter.
• Teenage daughter
  For young ladies in the family, leisure activities can be the most appealing factor. From a personal point of view, I know that a 24-hour health club, swimming pool and a decent Jacuzzi were the overriding dream ‘terms-and-conditions’ for booking hotels or serviced apartments in my late teens. Come to think of it, they still are.

If you’re booking serviced apartments remember there’s plenty of competition out there. Shop around, request the special extra touches, and squeeze all you can out of the booking agent.

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Serviced apartments and playing happy families

Since I moved away to Manchester University around ten years ago, I’ve been living in a different city to my parents and grandparents.

I still go home to Nottingham to visit, but if my family want to come to Manchester the sleeping arrangements can pose a few issues. Unfortunately, I haven’t got the means - at this stage in my career at least - to afford a four-bedroom house to accommodate them en masse. So, we’ve had to find other solutions. Generally we all club together in the money department to put them up in hotels, B&Bs – and, more recently, serviced apartments. The latter have certainly proved the most successful.

Harmonious family living in serviced apartments

Serviced apartments have enabled me to enjoy the extra quality time with my folks, rather than having to head back to my own digs after drinks or dinner. As serviced apartments charge per apartment, rather than per person, it doesn’t cost a penny more for me to stay with them. And while it’s true that spending too much time with my parents and grandparents can be a recipe for disaster, we all get to enjoy our own space in serviced apartments.

When Mum’s fussing and Dad’s grumblings about the economy all become too much, rather than watching steam coming out of his ears, I can retreat politely to my own bedroom and close the door. In many of the serviced apartments we’ve experienced in Manchester there have even been plasma TVs in the bedrooms. So when Grandad is intent on watching re-runs of Norman Wisdom, and Dad’s insisting on Grand Designs, there’s no cause for contention.

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Serviced apartments - reaching for the stars

Hotels have followed an international grading system for many years. Official ratings – from 1 star up to five stars – provide a very measured indication of the quality and amenities which are offered in a hotel. For those desiring the likes of lavish bedrooms, health spas and Bollinger by the bottle, it makes sense to research four and five star accommodation as lower ratings simply won’t cut the mustard.

Serviced apartments – an accurate indication of quality

Fortunately, for business and leisure travellers, many serviced apartments have now adopted the same ratings system. When you search for serviced apartments on line, many websites now clearly grade the apartment with a star rating. As serviced apartments, by their very nature, are designed to provide a high level of amenities, most fall into the four and five-star category.

Five-star flair in serviced apartments

Serviced apartments really go to town when it comes to gaining an edge over the competition. Some of the facilities which may bump a four-star up into the ultimate five-star category include:

• In-apartment beauty treatments
• Personal trainers
• Personal shopping service
• Free hand-made spa products and toiletries
• Food delivery facilities from local restaurants
• On-site gym and pool

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Serviced apartments and architectural diversity

As the UK’s second city, Manchester is compelling to tourists and business people. With that in mind, property tycoons and developers have been quick to seize the market for serviced apartments.

Lofty living spaces

Architecturally, serviced apartments take many forms. Old, silent warehouses – a mere shadow of the city’s industrial past - have proved ideal for this type of accommodation, and developers have successfully transformed such derelict buildings into lofty living spaces. These often boast large, open-plan kitchens and roof-space bedrooms with elegant 18th century beamed ceilings.

Five-star finesse with serviced apartments

In contrast, smart new-builds with warm terracotta finishes have also been constructed solely for the purpose of serviced apartments. These can be found across the city. As 21st century buildings these are generally luxurious and cater exceptionally well for the temporary business traveller or tourist who desires five-star finesse away from home.

Church restoration and serviced apartments

In more unique cases, beautiful churches which lay abandoned in the city have been sandblasted and lifted back to their former glory. These apartments, naturally, are highly sought after.

Within these various architectural moulds in Manchester, there are many outstanding serviced apartments which have formed clear, successful models for neighbouring cities such as Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle to emulate. Areas of Manchester where serviced apartments have been particularly successful include:-

• Castlefield
• The Northern Quarter
• Salford Quays
• Deansgate

If you’re planning to visit Manchester for a temporary break, or a business rendezvous, serviced apartments provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy a comfortable stay whilst being at one with the city’s impressive architecture.

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Serviced apartments and the health spa experience

In order to meet the growing demands of guests seeking accommodation with wow-factor, many serviced apartments are now working in conjunction with local businesses. These often include gyms and health spas. Serviced apartments in Manchester seem to have got their act together when it comes to the benefits of joint enterprises.

Serviced apartments – just £5 for a day of poolside pampering

I recently visited a serviced apartment in the city which offered the use of an award-winning gym, just a few minutes’ walk from the health spa. Guests could order as many day passes as they required, at a cost of just £5 each. Whilst one could argue that swimming pools in hotels can be used free of charge, the serviced apartment room rate was just £60 a night so this seemed pretty good value for money. Some of the superb facilities on offer at the health club included:-

• Luxurious swimming pool with spa
• Gym
• Sauna
• Crystal steam room
• Exercise classes including pilates
• Treatments including massages, manicures and grooming

The gym was also state of the art, as you’d expect from an award-winning health club. While I prefer to be pampered rather than break into a swet, there were impressive machines available for use which included cardiovascular equipment, resistance machines and free weights. If you want to choose a serviced apartment with a pool, look out for these kind of joint enterprises with local health clubs. They’re great value for money.

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