Enjoy a sociable singles’ weekend with serviced apartments in Newcastle

Being single can, at times, feel like a drudge. But when you embrace singledom with friends it can actually be great fun. Over the last year, I’ve enjoyed several weekends away with single friends in some of the UK’s major cities. Last month, on a New Year’s mission to find and flirt with Geordie-land’s most eligible bachelors, eight of us booked two nights, in two four-bed serviced apartments, in the town centre - not far from the trendy Quayside area of Newcastle where there are plenty of bars and clubs.

Serviced apartments in Newcastle for open-plan living

The serviced apartments in Newcastle were bright, decorated with deep red furnishings and had a clean, contemporary feel. The main living area of the serviced apartments were an open plan affair, so we found ourselves wandering freely from sofa to fridge and regularly pouring ourselves another vodka, lime and soda. Although we had the luxury of two serviced apartments in Newcastle between eight of us, on Friday and Saturday evening we all piled into one apartment around 4pm for a meal and a few drinks.

A more sociable experience with serviced apartments in Newcastle

It certainly seems that serviced apartments in Newcastle lend themselves towards a highly sociable weekend. In comparison, when I’ve stayed with groups of friends in a Newcastle hotel, and had to run down corridors to knock on doors, the stay was more disjointed. The experience in two serviced apartments was certainly more relaxing and tailored towards us all staying together.

After a great night out in Newcastle, it was a lovely feeling to hit the pillow somewhere so homely. We even fried eggs for ourselves at 3am – not an available luxury in hotel accommodation!

So if anyone is looking to organise a girly get-together in Newcastle, it’s worth checking out serviced apartments both from a financial, and fun, perspective.

Tackling a home regeneration project? A serviced apartment in Liverpool could help you escape the impending chaos

The benefits of a serviced apartment for anyone in the midst of home regeneration projects have been drawn to my attention recently. A couple of family friends, both with a good level of disposable income, checked themselves into one of the plushest hotels in Liverpool in order to escape the chaos during a revamp of their home. While not everyone has the financial means to walk away from unfinished paintwork, bare floorboards and rubble while the builders get on with it, I found their extravagant choice of ‘bolt hole’ in Liverpool city centre quite astounding.

Serviced apartments versus hotels in Liverpool
Had they known about serviced apartments in Liverpool at the time, I’m sure they would have chosen this option. Clearly they wanted cleanliness, luxury and privacy. And while they will have escaped crumbling walls and excess dust in their hotel retreat, I’m sure a serviced apartment in Liverpool could have provided all they desired, and more, at a fraction of the cost.

Enjoy hotel-style accommodation with serviced apartments in Liverpool
In my experience, contemporary serviced apartments in Liverpool are equivalent to a hotel suite. The finish is generally very design-led; they are pristine in their cleanliness, as well as being lovely and roomy. I’m sure my family friends will have also ramped up the cost of their hotel accommodation by either dining in the hotel or at local restaurants in Liverpool. Serviced apartments in Liverpool would have benefited them in this way, as they could have cooked their own meals in fully-equipped kitchens within each serviced apartment.

Why not celebrate final university exams with serviced apartments in Liverpool?

For those of you who have endured university finals, you’ll be familiar with the overwhelming relief that comes with walking out of the last exam. So how do you celebrate such a milestone? Apart from legging it to the nearest bar to get drunk on cheap beer, there’s always the option of gathering a few mates together for a weekend in serviced apartments.

Serviced apartments in Liverpool – an eye-opener to students

When I finished university in Manchester, one of my friends was treated to a stay in one of the luxurious serviced apartments in Liverpool where he’d been studying journalism. To say the place was plush is an understatement. At that time I knew very little about serviced apartments but it opened my eyes to the facilities they offer. Although this particular apartment was the height of luxury, there are hundreds of very affordable serviced apartments in Liverpool which are of an excellent standard.

Our rendezvous in one of Liverpool’s finest serviced apartments

Five of our friends met up in the block of serviced apartments Liverpool. A day of shopping, drinking and general indulgence was followed by an early-evening rendezvous involving vodka and pizza - and a little taste of what it would be like to own our own apartment. From memory, I recall a very extravagant entry system and artistic staircase – coupled with the need to be grown up and considerate to other guests as we giddily headed off into Liverpool city centre.

If you’re studying at Liverpool University, or indeed any university in the North, I’d highly recommend serviced apartments as a way to let your hair down. For me, it marked the end of an era of scruffy student accommodation, and opened my eyes to the finer lodgings in life.

Combine the luxury of serviced apartments with a pampering day at a Manchester health club

Spa and pamper weekends in Manchester are perfect for rejuvenating flagging spirits, particularly in the cold winter months. In my experience, nothing beats being wrapped in a hot fluffy towel and having lashings of green mud applied to make a girl feel like a new woman. Such luxury Manchester weekends, however, can be on the pricey side. And particularly now, as most of us feel stung by the credit crunch, the chances of affording this self indulgence in Manchester diminish.

Serviced apartments and your Manchester spa experience

Serviced apartments in Manchester, however, can be a cost-effective alternative. Manchester has serviced apartments scattered liberally across the city – many offer high-spec luxury, and are equipped with home comforts such as king-size beds, power showers, designer sofas and spacious kitchens.

Although serviced apartments in Manchester don’t offer ‘spa facilities’ as such on the premises, there are numerous outstanding health clubs in Manchester city centre – just a short walk or taxi ride away from serviced apartments – which offer pamper days. From plunge rooms to steam rooms, to manicures and pedicures, there are lots of ways to recreate the Manchester spa-hotel experience.

Manchester serviced apartments – a shrewd alternative

Previously, I’ve simply booked a few friends and myself into a Manchester health club for a day. When we’d been massaged, bathed and polished we hit the town for girly cocktails. For a special occasion though, I’m thinking it would be even more fun to spend a night or two in first-class serviced apartments and make the most of the facilities. The often extortionate cost of spa weekends certainly makes the option of Manchester’s serviced apartments, combined with a local health club, seem a shrewd alternative.

If you’re relocating for a new job in Leeds, why not ease the transition stress with a serviced apartment?

If you’re relocating to Leeds, be it for work commitments or otherwise, it can be difficult to decide on permanent accommodation if you’re not familiar with the area. In this situation, there’s a lot to be said for using a serviced apartment to find your feet.

Businesses in Leeds are certainly recognising this. Before serviced apartments were vogue, corporate firms in Leeds often paid a relocation fee to their employee and organised local hotel accommodation for the initial period. However, serviced apartments are now considered a preferable option for a number of reasons.

Cost-effective serviced apartments in Leeds increase the comfort factor

It can be more cost effective, for one – many serviced apartments in Leeds are around 30% cheaper per night than a hotel. Then there’s the comfort factor. Staying in a hotel, particularly one of the budget chains, is hardly a home from home. Serviced apartments in Leeds, on the contrary, are designed to offer space, comfort and luxury. There’s also more privacy in a serviced apartment and they can feel safer and more secure than a hotel. This can be a particular plus for women who are moving to Leeds on their own.

Avoid hit-and-miss hotel food with a serviced apartment in Leeds

Starting a new job in a busy city such as Leeds can naturally be quite draining. That’s when the ‘serviced’ element of serviced apartments can really be appreciated. There’s no need for new-jobbers to worry about getting home to a messy flat, as serviced apartments in Leeds are generally cleaned to an impeccable standard. Kitchen facilities in serviced apartments also allow workers to prepare a nutritionally balanced meal at night if they wish, rather than relying on hit-and-miss hotel food.

Serviced apartments in Leeds could offer a financially prudent treat this Valentine’s Day

If you’re happily in love, Valentine’s Day is a welcome opportunity to shower gifts on your better half. While gents may hope to wine, dine, and whisk their lady away to a posh hotel, current financial strain may make this tricky. Serviced apartments in Leeds, however, offer an equally luxurious evening with all the romance you desire, for a fraction of the cost.

A few of my friends are toying with this idea for Valentine’s Day after we enjoyed a budget weekend in a serviced apartment in Leeds last month. The serviced apartment gave us two nights at considerably less expense than booking separate hotel rooms. We all hit Leeds town centre on Friday and Saturday night, and had a luxurious serviced apartment to lounge around in for the rest of the weekend.

Romance your loved one with a serviced apartment in Leeds

The idea to reserve a serviced apartment for Valentine’s Day in the centre of Leeds seems an ingenious thought to me. Couples can go out, savour a meal and fine wine in the centre of Leeds, and relax for the evening in a homely serviced apartment.

I can imagine Leeds’ ‘loft-style’ serviced apartments in converted Victorian buildings could be particularly romantic. And even if you live in the centre of Leeds, booking a serviced apartment offers a change of scene which will make Valentine’s Day more special. As Leeds’ serviced apartments provide well-equipped kitchens, there’s also the opportunity for couples to rustle up Champagne and strawberries for a romantic breakfast in bed. So if finances are a little tighter than usual this February 14th, serviced apartments could be a thrifty option.

Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be about just flowers and chocolates – serviced apartments in Manchester can give Mums a well-earned rest

We all know Mother’s Day is a green light to spoil our Mums rotten. Chocolates, bouquets of flowers, fluffy slippers and pink dressing gowns are among the traditional presents which may land in Mum’s lap. But if a more generous gesture is called for, a night or two in one of the serviced apartments in Manchester could provide a welcome break for hard-working Mums.

Serviced apartments in Manchester – Mums can take a rest from daily chores

The relaxing benefits of a couple of nights in one of the serviced apartments in Manchester cannot be underestimated. I know my Mum finds cleaning up after our family tiresome to say the least. Add the arduous responsibilities of paperwork, cooking, cleaning and shopping and I often feel she is on a treadmill of chores.

Serviced apartments in Manchester offer a welcome respite from these household tasks. One may argue that you may as well book a hotel room. But, unless you’re forking out for a hotel suite, which can be extortionate in Manchester city centre, hotel accommodation rarely provides a nice sofa to snuggle up on, fully-equipped kitchen (and cleaner) and all those familiar home comforts.

Combine serviced apartments in Manchester with theatre and shopping

This year, my plan is to book a night for Mum (and Dad) in one of Manchester’s stylish serviced apartments, along with a trip to the Palace Theatre. The comforts of serviced apartments should give Mum a lovely day and night, and hopefully provide a chance to switch off and enjoy herself.

Newcastle’s serviced apartments provide the perfect stop-over for hens and stags

If you’re of a certain age when friends start walking down the aisle you may well be invited to the preceding hen or stag dos. Newcastle is certainly a hot spot for lads and ladies looking to celebrate their last flash of ‘freedom’, but in my experience they’re notoriously difficult and pricey to organise.

One particular issue I’ve encountered on Newcastle hen dos is friends dispersing to different bars towards the end of the night, as Sambucas are downed and dancing becomes gradually more enthusiastic. If party members have individual rooms in a Newcastle hotel, the chances of reconvening to end the night together are pretty slim.

Serviced apartments in Newcastle for a fun night

As I’m planning my best friend’s hen do in Newcastle this summer, a proposed solution is to hire out several serviced apartments in Newcastle city centre. Hopefully we’ll be able to get our hands on several four-bed serviced apartments in some trendy renovated warehouses around Newcastle.

The benefits of serviced apartments in Newcastle are numerous. It’s certainly more cost-effective than asking friends to fork out for a hotel room. And, instead of us all being spread around a hotel, we’ll be in close quarters with four sleeping in each serviced apartment.

With the luxury of a clean and well-equipped kitchen within each serviced apartment, we’ll also be able to nurse our hangover over a decent breakfast, with no pressure to make it down to a hotel breakfast with bloodshot eyes and a banging headache.