Archive for the ‘Serviced Apartments’ Category
Serviced apartments - helping you do business
Monday, July 13th, 2009Serviced apartments can be more conducive to business than an average hotel room. And in the central business districts of cities such as Leeds and Manchester, more of an emphasis is placed on serviced apartments for this purpose. Business people in a variety of industries, from investment banking to PR, may require a serviced apartment for the following purposes:-
- Holding small meetings
- Conducting interviews
- Private work
- Entertaining clients
To facilitate business requirements and keep executive types sweet, serviced apartments for business often choose to provide the following basic services:-
- Wireless Internet access
- Office space
- Dedicated phone lines for fax/modem access
Serviced apartments which tend to be occupied by business executives, also play on the comfort factor and the sense of relaxation which a good living environment brings. Such apartments are likely to promote the likes of large living rooms, leather sofas, huge plasma TV screens (up to 42”) and king-size beds with luxurious mattresses.
There’s also the assurance of peace and quiet. It goes without saying that an apartment with good sound proofing and bedrooms away from the roadside, is likely to offer a good night’s sleep and a productive day at work. So if you’re away from home on business, it makes sense to keep these factors in mind when choosing a serviced apartment.
Serviced apartments and echoes of avant-garde
Friday, July 10th, 2009As serviced apartments have soared in popularity, there are now many conveniently dotted around cities such as Leeds and Manchester.
I recently stayed in a serviced apartment in Leeds which was fabulous - around twice the size of the average hotel room. The colour scheme was a striking red and black – trendy without trying too hard.
The lounge for instance featured black leather sofas and plump red cushions to snuggle and snooze in. I stayed in an avant-garde hotel in Barcelona a couple of years ago and the design of the serviced apartment, by pure coincidence, had strong echoes of that.
Playing on light and dark in serviced apartments
The designers had clearly paid a lot of attention to the lighting and ambience in this particular serviced apartment. Floor-to-ceiling windows allowed natural sunlight to flood in, while the bedroom played more on light and dark, with up-lighters and down-lighters providing soft illumination.
Some of the most impressive features of the serviced apartment which contributed to what can only be described as a luxurious experience, included:
- Intelligent locks on the doors (this gave us greater privacy and security)
- High-pressure walk-in shower
- 42-inch LCD television
- Complementary wireless Internet throughout
- Private gymnasium on site
The location of the apartment was also very convenient. A modern bar and grill was situated below the serviced apartments, and there was also a mini supermarket, newsagent and a takeaway. Being in the centre of Leeds, the apartment was also very close to all major transport links. As serviced apartments go, this was most certainly top spec.
Serviced apartments - for the man who has everything
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009My Dad is fortunate, or unfortunate depending how you look at it, to have a birthday and Father’s Day in the same week. Attempting to find two presents for the man who has everything is a difficult task. His requirements for electric drills, hacksaws and slippers have been well and truly met and surpassed, so this year my brother and I decided to opt for the ‘experience’, rather than a gift that will gather dust.
We booked theatre tickets, plus a night in plush serviced accommodation for the four of us (Mum came too). As Dad enjoys five-star everything, we went to town to find the crème de la crème of serviced apartments in Manchester.
Situated by the waterfront in Castlefield, some of the beautiful attributes of the serviced apartment included:-
- 42-inch plasma TV
- Free Wi-Fi and Sky TV
- On-demand music and movies
- Egyptian cotton towels – 900 thread count
- Pocket-sprung beds with memory foam
- Goose-down duvets
- Secure underground parking
From organic breakfasts to herbal teas in serviced apartments
Food is also very important to my Dad. In this particular serviced apartment a welcome basket was waiting for us which included organic bread and milk, freshly-squeezed orange juice, cereals, jams, chocolate biscuits and butter. As a big tea drinker, Dad was quick to exploit the extensive range of herbal and fruit teas which were complementary in the serviced apartment. Free-range and organic breakfasts were also available to order. As restaurant and food facilities are not always included in serviced apartments these little extras helped to take the rating up to five-star.
Serviced apartments - every excuse to stay in
Saturday, July 4th, 2009Like many individuals struggling with the recession, my friends are not exactly flushed with money. In fact, our Saturday night’s out in Manchester have slowly tapered off into evenings at home with a bottle of Rose and a bowl of nachos. And our current financial situation makes trying to book a summer holiday even more difficult.
However, we’ve come to a financially-shrewd decision this year that serviced apartments in a different city such as Newcastle or Leeds are the solution to keep us all comfortably out of the red – and allow us a change of scenery. All four of us have experienced this type of accommodation before and loved it. We also know that if we pick our serviced apartments carefully, we’ll want to spend time in the apartment and savour the luxury, rather than splashing out on expensive cocktails in the city.
Some of the facilities we’re expecting from our serviced apartments include:
- An Apple computer
- Flat screen TV with Sky
- iPod dock
- Free Wi-Fi
- DVD player
- King-size beds
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Fluffy robes and aromatherapy products
We’re also keen to ensure our serviced apartments look out over the city-scape so we can enjoy night-time views. With all these lovely luxurious facilities to enjoy in our serviced apartments we’re confident we can create our own fun this summer without the help of extortionate bars and over-priced restaurants.
Fulfilling a duty of care with serviced apartments
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009If you’re fortunate enough to be employed in a job which incorporates travel, it can add an exciting dimension to your working life. However, if your company is intent on cutting costs, hopes of five-star hotels and Champagne breakfasts can quickly be replaced by a more modest reality.
In our current precarious economic climate, many companies are under even greater financial pressure. With this in mind, a number of blue-chip companies and SMEs are turning to serviced apartments to control costs while still maintaining a duty of care to their employees. Certain business scenarios for which companies are choosing to take advantage of serviced apartments include:
- Temporary assignments
- Project work
- Business trips
Serviced apartments – A guarantee of quality
Whilst companies may want to tighten their budgets, they still have to provide accommodation of an acceptable standard for employees. After all, faulty showers and dingy rooms don’t exactly make staff feel appreciated. While firms may save 15-30% on an average hotel booking by choosing serviced apartments as an alternative, they can be sure that their staff (in the majority of cases) will be guaranteed an excellent level of accommodation.
Building client relationships through serviced apartments
Many serviced apartments and corporate firms are able to enjoy the mutual benefits of bookings. Companies which send their employees to conferences often need to book a number of serviced apartments which puts them in the perfect position to negotiate generous discounts. Very often, if the serviced apartments are of an excellent standard project managers will use the same location time and again. This quickly allows a rapport to be established between the business and booking agent.
Your summer shopping spree with serviced apartments
Sunday, June 28th, 2009Whilst I’m writing this blog black clouds overshadow the June sky. But, ever hopeful that the sun will eventually put his hat on and keep it there, I’ve noted a distinct absence of summery clothes in my wardrobe. And with bikinis, floaty skirts and sunglasses bringing hot pinks and patterns into the high street stores, temptation is only a shopping spree away . . .
Stay relaxed with shopping and serviced apartments
If you also fancy an opportunistic shopping trip in the city with a group of friends in anticipation of some decent weather, serviced apartments are an excellent way to achieve this. By reserving serviced apartments in a city centre such as Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle or Liverpool where there are a plethora of high-street shops and exclusive department stores, you can focus your energies into a day or weekend of retail therapy – without having to worry about transport home. If it’s a girly shopping spree, staying the night in serviced apartments also creates the opportunity to enjoy an evening meal in a fine restaurant or a few drinks on the town.
Avoid bus-hopping stress with serviced apartments
As most ladies will appreciate, shopping trips require a certain amount of energy – dealing with changing rooms and clothing removal throughout the day can be quite exhausting. With that in mind, aim to choose serviced apartments which are in the hub of the city centre rather than out-of-town. Being within five or ten minutes walking distance of the main city shopping strips removes the stress of bus hopping and bag carting.
Adding lustre to the Liverpool experience
Thursday, June 25th, 2009As many readers of my blog may be aware, Liverpool received the accolade of European Capital of Culture in 2008. This title has put Liverpool on the map as a worthy and cosmopolitan city to visit, and consequently a sharp rise in tourism has taken place. To accommodate visitors, eager to experience cultural delights such as Penny Lane, the Three Graces at Pier Head and the Echo Arena, there has been a considerable push to increase the number of serviced apartments in the city.
Serviced apartments – a sign of Liverpool’s more prosperous times
The increase in plush serviced apartments highlights Liverpool’s transformation from a region of relative deprivation in the 1960s, into a vibrant and premier European destination in 2009.
On my latest business-related stopover in Liverpool, for which I took advantage of a serviced apartment close to the waterfront, I was fortunate enough to savour some of the city’s attractions which contributed to it being named European Capital of Culture 2008. The city’s many art galleries were of particular interest to me. A few which I took time to enjoy include:
- Grade-I listed Bluecoat Arts Centre
- The Maritime Museum
- The Tate Liverpool
- Walker Art Gallery
Serviced apartments – in keeping with Liverpool’s artistry
Fittingly, many of the serviced apartments in Liverpool have been designed with artistry in mind. This appreciation of colour, aesthetic lines and merging of old with new was evident in the most recent block of serviced apartments I stayed in. The building itself was, in fact, an old warehouse which had been converted into modern serviced apartments incorporating brick walls, with clean, white decor. The blend was fresh and stylish, with a subtle nod to the city’s industrial past.
Warehouse-style serviced apartments in the North of England
Many serviced apartments across other northern UK cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham are also designed within old warehouses and display similar characteristics which particularly appeal to young, upwardly-mobile professionals.
Game, set, match with serviced apartments
Monday, June 22nd, 2009Summer is a time when many sports players are enjoying the peak of their season. Events such as the World Athletic Championships, the Olympic Games and Wimbledon are just a snapshot of the international high-profile events which take place from June through to August. But summer sport is by no means confined to the professionals. Amateur sports in Britain are extremely popular – everything from county tennis, through to friendly cricket meets and local swimming galas take place with enthusiastic regularity.
Less of a squeeze in serviced apartments
Which brings me to the benefits of serviced apartments for sports players. When I was younger and passionate about sports, I would travel across the country for my school and university to engage in all sorts of matches and meets. The accommodation we were squeezed into was, shall we say, less than luxurious. Halls of residences, with bare walls and shared bathrooms, weren’t exactly the epitome of comfort.
At the time, serviced apartments were not as prevalent as they are today. But in 2009 serviced apartments make the perfect temporary accommodation for sports teams. With up to five bedrooms per serviced apartment, they are a very comfortable means to accommodate players. Residing together in serviced apartments also allows a team to talk tactics and develop camaraderie. Okay, it may not be quite as cheap as a hall of residence, but for sports teams with a little cash in the pot, serviced apartments offer a much higher degree of comfort at a reasonable price.
Upping sticks and relocating to serviced apartments
Monday, June 8th, 2009The big move to serviced apartments - practicalities and planning
If you’re relocating to a new city such as Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool or Newcastle and have chosen serviced apartments as a ’stop gap’ residence while you wait to buy, you effectively have to tolerate two upheavals. You’re faced with two options - taking the ’self move’ route or calling in the professionals. In true credit-crunch fashion, here we discuss Do It Yourself tips.
Serviced apartments - Bring in the troops
As I recently moved into a new residence myself, I can fully appreciate the difficulties of doing things alone. I was fortunate to have a network of friends and family who were happy to carry suitcases and lug furniture up three flights of stairs. If your loved ones are worried about bad backs and bruises, dangling the proverbial carrot in front of their noses cannot be underestimated. I found the prospect of offering a pizza (plus unlimited wine and beer) at end of the day persuaded my slightly more hesitant friends (generally the blokes) to prise themselves away from their Playstations and get their arms around a box or two.
Serviced apartments - Boxes and bubble wrap
Of course, when you’re moving to a serviced apartment, you can’t just rely on friends. Well before moving day arrives, aim to pack up everything but your bare essentials. Bubble wrap your goods, and tape up boxes so your possessions are safe.
Powering your way into serviced apartments
The other trick when moving is to hire a decent-sized van or truck for the job. This makes loading and unloading all your paraphernalia easier. It also means if you’re travelling to a serviced apartment in a new city, you can complete the move in one trip.
Serviced apartments versus ‘hit and miss’ hotels
Friday, June 5th, 2009If you’ve ever lugged your suitcase excitedly into the reception of a hotel, only to feel a wave of disappointment wash over you, you’ll understand if I say hotels can be ‘hit and miss’. Frustratingly, star ratings and pictures in brochures are not always a true indication of a hotel’s quality. On a recent trip to Leeds, a glossy magazine shot of an illuminated reception area appeared to be lacking a lot of love when I saw it in its wall-paper peeling glory. The room itself was equally drab.
Serviced apartments - leaving nothing to the imagination
In my experience, serviced apartments can be a more reliable form of accommodation. Websites offering serviced apartments tend to be very explicit in their descriptions and each apartment is advertised on its own merits via high-quality photographs. This is in contrast to hotel chains which have an irritating habit of photographing one room (usually the best kept one) - it’s then down to luck and availability which one you receive.
Serviced apartments - bringing clarity to your booking
Serviced apartments tend to clearly specify all facilities - from the larger amenities, to the important little touches. This means you know precisely what you’re paying for. Here’s a few examples of the level of detail you may expect when reserving serviced apartments:
- Fully-equipped kitchen
- Plasma TVs and broadband
- Hi-fi system plus iPod dock and CD player
- Wooden flooring
- Work desk
- Bathroom products
- Power shower
- Air conditioning
- Car parking